Mihkel Aitsam

Mihkel Aitsam (December 1, 1877 – June 17, 1953) was an Estonian writer, journalist, and local historian.

Biography Mihkel Aitsam was born at the Aitsamaa farm in Sääla, Wiek County, in the Governorate of Estonia, the son of (1833–1913) and Mari Aitsam (née Laasi, 1846–1915). Aitsam started contributing to the newspaper in 1893, and later he also wrote for and Olewik. In 1904, some of his short stories were published in Teataja and also in several other political newspapers that he contributed to. In 1906, when his father's farm was destroyed by Russian , he settled in Tallinn and, at the invitation of Karl August Hermann, started working in the editorial office of the newspaper Hüüdja, where he remained until the newspaper office closed.

Later he worked as an administrator of the and contributed to several newspapers, including two Russian newspapers in Saint Petersburg. He started working in the editorial office of the Estonian newspaper Päewaleht in 1918.

From 1905 to 1907, Aitsam participated in the Russian Revolution of 1905.

Works Autobiography 1937: 1905. aasta Läänemaal (1905 in )

Historical novels and short stories 1937: Hiiu lossist Siberisse (From Hiiu Castle to Siberia) 1937: Sunnitöölise märgi all (Under the Mark of a Forced Laborer) 1938: Metsavennad (The Forest Brothers) 1938: Soontagana kanged mehed (Strong Men with Armor) 1939: Eestimaa kuningas (The King of Estonia) 1939: Laanekotkas (The Golden Eagle) 1939: Rahutused Rae mõisas (Unrest at ) 1940: Hiislari tütar (The Pagan Priest's Daughter) 1940: Käskjalg eksiteel (The Messenger Gone Astray)

Plays Four plays, among which the best known is Salmisto (1925)

Almanacs and albums 1937: Eesti Selts "Lootus" 60-aastane (The Estonian : 60 Years) 1939: Tallinna Eesti Põllumeeste Selts (The ) 1939: EELK Wigala koguduse ja kiriku ajalugu: 1339–1939 (History of Vigala EELC Parish and Church: 1339–1939)

Manuscripts 1905. a revolutsioon ja selle ohvrid Eestis (The 1905 Revolution and Its Victims in Estonia); published in 2011 (Tartu: Ilmamaa) Vigala kihelkonna ajalugu (History of Vigala Parish)

Articles 1920: "Tallinna Eesti näituse ajalugu" (History of the Estonian Exhibition in Tallinn). Päewaleht, September 19, page 3 1934: "Keiser Nikolai I tütred Kose-Uuemõisas talgutel" (Emperor Nicholas I's Daughters at Work in Kose-Uuemõisa). Päewaleht, December 24, page 9 1939: "Rahutused Rae mõisas" (Unrest at ). Päewaleht, May 16, page 4

Awards and recognitions 1935: Order of the Estonian Red Cross, 3rd class 1937: Order of the White Star, 4th class

Family Mihkel Aitsam married Ann Kops (1884–1960) in 1908. They were the parents of the photographer (1913–1999) and the grandparents of the journalist (born 1955).