Žiburėlis

Žiburėlis (diminutive of žiburys meaning 'light', 'beacon') later Lietuvos žiburėlis was a charitable society providing financial aid to gifted Lithuanian students. The society grew out of the Lithuanian National Revival, hopes of creating Lithuanian intelligentsia, and frustration over financial hardships faced by many young students.^[1]^[2] It was established in 1893 by Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė and Jadvyga Juškytė, and led by Felicija Bortkevičienė from 1903 until its dissolution in 1940.

History

It was established in 1893

Amerika pirtyje in 1899 donated some of the proceeds to Žiburėlis.^[2] In 1904, Povilas Višinskis suggested to publish and sell postcards.^[3] Up to 1900, the society distributed 3,258 rubles (1,629 U.S. dollars).^[2] By 1906, the amount grew to almost 8,000 rubles.^[1]

In 1903,

Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940.^[2]

Supported students

During its existence the society supported some 300 gifted students [1] many of whom who later became prominent figures in Lithuania, including forester Povilas Matulionis, writer Jonas Biliūnas, painter and composer Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, jurist Rapolas Skipitis, diplomat Jurgis Šaulys, doctor Petras Avižonis, linguist Kazimieras Būga, operatic tenor Kipras Petrauskas, painter Adomas Varnas, sculptors Petras Rimša and Juozas Zikaras, priest Antanas Viskantas,^[2] Prime Minister Ernestas Galvanauskas, Soviet revolutionary Vincas Mickevičius-Kapsukas, poet Julius Janonis.^[1]

References

^
ISSN 1392-0502
.

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Lapinskienė, Lionė (2012-04-02). ""Žiburėlio" draugija - tautai šviesti" (in Lithuanian). Respublika. Retrieved 2015-02-21.
^
ISBN 9986-458-99-4
.

[kati-1] 
ISSN 1392-0502
.

[lapi-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Lapinskienė, Lionė (2012-04-02). ""Žiburėlio" draugija - tautai šviesti" (in Lithuanian). Respublika. Retrieved 2015-02-21.

[striog-3] 
ISBN 9986-458-99-4
.

[1]

[2]

[3]