Arpad Danos, Paul Sakss and their five children (late 1920s). In the back row, from left, are Ariadna Sakss, Vera (friend of Olga’s), Arpad Danos Sr, wife of Professor Bamburg (no information on the Bamburgs, who are presumably friends of the adults), Paul Sakss and Professor Bamburg. In the front row, from left, are Michael, Jan and Arpad Danos, and Jogita Sakss.

Michael Danos, aged ten, 1932.

Jogita, Mary and Ariadna Sakss, early 1930s.

Riga: revelry on the beach, 4 July 1943. Misha is kneeling on the right.

Olga and Michael Danos in Riga, early 1940s. I like to think that Olga is wearing one of her own fashion creations.

Michael Danos, aged twenty-one, 1943.

Michael Danos, pole vaulting, early 1940s.

Olga at the wedding of Michael Danos and Helga Heimers, Hanover, 1949. Olga is in a dress of her own design; a very decorous Heimers aunt is standing behind her.

Michael and Helga Danos at 31 Rohrbacher Street, Heidelberg, circa 1949. Helga and Mischka sit on either side of the artful arrangement of branches with which they decorated their new apartment.

Michael and Helga Danos in bed with Stauvers, Heidelberg, circa 1950. On the bed is the ‘beautiful big down quilt’ that Mischka and Helga wanted to take to America. Photograph by Dailonis Stauvers.

Hans Jensen with Maria Meyer, early 1950s.

Michael Danos and Helmut Steinwedel at the blackboard, Heidelberg, circa 1950. Mischka is on the left. Steinwedel, on the right, was a student of Jensen’s who was both a guest at Mischka and Helga’s first dinner party and the co-author of Mischka’s first published article.

Ariadna Sakss with her children, 29 July 1956. The children are Neraida (aged nine), Egons (six) and Paulis (three). This photograph was enclosed by Ariadna in a letter to Olga re-establishing contact after her return to Riga from exile in the Soviet Union.

Olga with Johanna and Tamara Danos, 1956.

Olga with two-year-old Johanna Danos and Martha Michael Danos, with daughter Johanna Heimers, Florida, 1955. The photograph has details under his arm, mid 1950s. written on the back by Martha Heimers.

Michael Danos, with daughter Johanna under his arm, mid 1950s.

Michael Danos and myself, Washington, DC, 1996. I think the turbulent water is the C&O Canal (usually very calm) near our house in Washington, with the Potomac River behind. It was probably taken during the 1996 floods. Photograph by David Fitzpatrick.