Kyiv in printed editions 1918

Abstract

The presented research is substantively and conceptually related to the studies on the history of Kyiv. Against the backdrop of a critical analysis of the period of the revolutions, the First World War and the Civil Wars, the author reviews the printed publications of 1918 on various aspects of the capital's current life. The article uses books printed in the archives of the Book Сhamber of Ukraine. Among the latter are rare books such as a guide to Kiev, compiled by famous Ukrainian historian K. Shyrotsky, scientific works by Ukrainian art historian F. Ernst, and historian V. Prokopovych. These editions state the cultural achievements of Kyiv, demonstrate them in historical retrospect, and actualize the problem of their preservation. The issue of revolutionary vandalism arises with extreme urgency when invaluable works of art, objects of applied art, and original artifacts of everyday life are killed as a result of gunfire and street battles. Drawing on 1918 domestic publications, the author recounts the horrific loss of unique artistic values, including the private collections of M. Hrushevsky and V. Krichevsky. Historical works available in the archival archives reflect the widespread tendency of their popularization among different sections of society at that time. Informative in the context of the development of Kiev studies is a pocket (address-telephone) directory in Kiev in 1918, which presents the colorful and, in fact, full face of the capital, starting with the state authorities and ending with the small issues of the private life of ordinary people of Kiev.