Paulina Mongird

[6] Mongird was the first professional photographer to capture the architecture, landscapes, and daily activities in the towns of Palanga, Kretinga, and Gargždai.

Between 1899 and 1924, Mongird created postcards depicting notable sites, such as manors in Palanga, Kretinga, and Vaitkuškis, along with portraits of Lithuanian grand dukes.

[10] Her talents were recognized by the Tyszkiewicz counts, prominent patrons who invited her to photograph family members and commissioned her to create albums documenting the manor estates in Palanga and Kretinga.

[12] One of her works, "Birutė Hill in Palanga", is preserved in the Historical Collections of Vilnius University Library and included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World project.

Her niece Janina Wrotnowska (née Walicka) described Mongird’s life in her memoirs, excerpts of which appear in The First Photographers of the Coast: Paulina Mongirdaitė and Ignas Stropus by Jolanta Klietkutė.

[21] Photographer and writer Jolanta Klietkutė has played a key role in reviving Mongird’s legacy through her research and publications.