Ancient Sumy Land

21-32

Authors: Lobko N. V. PhD (History), Assosiate Professor (Ukraine), Sumy State University. ORCID: 0000-0002- 3401-7295.

In this article, the author analyzes works on genealogy published in the periodical literature of the Ukrainian diaspora in the mid-to-late 20th – early 21st centuries. Genealogy is a specialized history subject addressing an issue of reconstitution of the past of ancestry, designation of family connections. During the Soviet period, genealogy as science did not develop, although Ukrainian genealogy studies continued thanks to scientists working in emigration. In 1963, they established Ukrainian Genealogical and Heraldry Society. Such scientists as Oleksander Ohloblyn, Viacheslav Seniutovych-Berezhnyi, Antin Kushchynskyi, Luibomyr Vynar worked on problems of Ukrainian genealogy in emigration. Their scientific work was not studied in the Soviet historiography because these scientists were considered “Ukrainian non-Soviet nationalists”. Now, the times have changed, and their scientific heritage draws more and more attention from modern researchers, but the question of the contribution of the Ukrainian diaspora periodic literature to the development of genealogy isn’t covered enough in the historiography. Ukrainian emigrated scientists published the results of their studies in such journals of the Ukrainian diaspora as Ukrainskyi Istoryk, Vyzvolnyi Shliakh, Suchasnist. On the pages of these journals, one can find genealogical explorations, historical and biography projects, autobiographical materials, dedicated to the life and work of various political persons and cultural figures. Such explorations included date and place of birth, names and surnames of parents, parents origin, and all information about the person in the article, as well as information about their spouse and children. The author believes that such interest in genealogical information by emigrated scientists could be explained, firstly, by the desire to preserve the generational bridge and memory about their origin. Secondly, researchers understood that genealogical information often shed light upon deeds and views of the influential personalities of that period. Moreover, genealogy can provide materials helping to find out the role and meaning of family connections and relations in the process of personality development. Comparing the publications of diaspora journals dedicated to various outstanding people to the publications in the Soviet periodical literature, we can make the following conclusions. Diaspora scientists paid more attention to the lineage of a person and tried to bring to the reader’s attention all information. At the same time, it was improper to talk about this in the Soviet Union, as it could result in negative consequences. Having analyzed the genealogical materials, published in the various periodical literature of the Ukrainian diaspora mid-to-late 20th century, the author has made the following conclusions. Ukrainian genealogical research continued thanks to scientists who worked in emigration. In their explorations, they paid attention to the lineage of a person and tried to bring all the information to the attention of the readers. Nevertheless, diaspora scientists weren’t able to conduct profound genealogical studies, because they were distanced from genealogical sources kept in the Soviet archives. For sure, it made the basis of their studies much narrower and that is why these scientists had to process the materials they brought with them or to look for new ones in the local archives and libraries.

40-52

Authors: Rumyantsev O. Y. PhD, Associate Professor of Russian Language and Slavic Studies, University of Palermo (Italy). ORCID: 0000-0002-1348-8645.

The article deals with the activities of E.D.Onatsky (Onac’kyj) in the Kingdom of Italy in the early 30s of the XX century. The Ukrainian researcher, journalist and politician came to Italy as the head of the Press-office of the Ukrainian diplomatic mission in Italy. He carried out scientific, journalistic and politic activities in the interwar period. During this period, Italy changed its foreign strategy: it proposed a Pact of four, became one of the main political players in Europe, signed a cooperation agreement with the USSR. The Ukrainian political activities in this period were under attention of the Italian political police. The active phase of observation was in 1933-1934, when the Soviet authorities openly criticized the development of the Ukrainian activity in Italy. The spies didn’t know the specifics of Ukrainian identity and they usually perceived Onatsky’s figure through the Russian worldview. The economic activity of the Onatskys, who rented rooms to guests arriving from other countries, is becoming another element of suspicion about the figure of the Ukrainian activist. The research is based on the documentation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy, on Onatsky’s diaries and on the results of research carried out by other scientists.

66-75

Authors: Artiukh V. O. PhD (Philosophy), Associate Professor (Ukraine). ORCID: 0000-0003-4119-1571.

The article traces the genesis and specific features of the “Prosvita” fellowship centres’ activity on the territory of the Okhtyrka county (Kharkiv province) during the period of the Ukrainian revolution (1917-1921) and the first years of Soviet authority. Such forms of the fellowship’s activity as establishing the primary education, holding theatrical performances, organizing educational libraries functioning are covered within the article. The national nature of the fellowship’s activity is emphasized. The fact, that the “Prosvita” centres of the Okhtyrka county started their activity right after establishing the Ukrainian Central Rada in Kyiv, is stated. During the UNR period “Prosvita” centres of the Okhtyrka county supported the revolutionary parliament of Ukraine and its policy. Actually, they played the role of the Central Rada’s centres in the region. As for the relationship between the “Prosvita” centres and Bolshevik authority, the following statement is highlighted. During the first half of 1919 the Bolsheviks impeded the development of the “Prosvita” centres and considered the latest to be counterrevolutionary organizations. After Denikin Volunteer Army had occupied the region the repressions against the members of the fellowship intensified. Since the middle of 1920 Bolshevik authorities had been implementing the policy of state controlling the “Prosvita” centres. Due to the county department of public education and Bolshevik political education activities 35 centres of this organization existed on the territory of the Okhtyrka county in 1921. Meanwhile Bolshevik authorities tried to struggle with and close those “Prosvita” centres, which featured the spirit of “Ukrainian chauvinism” and “petliurivshchina”. In 1922 the remains of “Prosvita” centres finally disappeared on the territory of the county, turning into reading houses or village buildings. In the article the author comes to a conclusion that during its short six-year history (1917-1922) the “Prosvita” centres of the Okhtyrka county provided the cultural ascension, which accompanied national-liberation struggle of the Ukrainian people. The “Prosvita” movement laid the main organizational foundation for involving the masses into active participating in those processes.