Ukrainian Archives Research Articles

Перший український друкар Степан Дропан, а не Іван Федорович

Поява цієї статті спонукана першопублікацією перекладених із латинської мови двох давніх архівних документів, які дають підстави переглянути усталену досі дату виникнення українського друкарства. Йдеться про з’ясування у вищих органах юстиції Львівської округи 1791–1792 роках суперечки між ченцями Свято-Онуфріївського монастиря у Львові зі Львівським ставропігійним братством за право володіти друкарнею, подаровану 1460 року монастиреві львівським міщанином Степаном Дропаном. Справу цю віднайшов усередині 60-х років ХХ століття львівський дослідник Орест Мацюк, однак у своїй статті в журналі «Архіви України» йому вдалося процитувати лише окремі витяги з архівних документів.З’ясовуються обставини, через які інформація про вагоме наукове відкриття була заборонена владою.У статті ставиться питання про необхідність рішучого відходу українських дослідників нової генерації від нав’язаних іззовні ідеологічних стереотипів і догм.З першопублікацією та аналізом у цій статті заборонених раніше для оприлюднення архівних документів можна вважати науково доведеними такі факти: друкарство в Україну прийшло не зі Сходу, від росіян, а з Заходу — від німців; у Львові існувала українська друкарня до 1460 року; це відносить офіційну дату започаткування українського друкарства на 114 років раніше офіційної дотепер дати — час видання «Апостола» Івана Федоровича у Львові 1574 року; ім’я першого українського друкаря — Степан Дропан; Івана Федоровича слід вважати фундатором постійного українського друкарства; доцільно неупереджено осмислити житейський і творчий шлях цього видатного просвітника в контексті ролі України і тогочасного українського оточення в становленні його як книговидавця европейського рівня.

Досвід українських архівів у створенні цифрового фонду користування документами Національного архівного фонду

On the basis of synthesis of materials of the study conducted by the Ukrainian Research Institute of Archival Affairs and Records Keeping in 2018, information on the common practices of the Ukrainian archives in creation of the digital access fund was provided. The main problems, the solution of which can signifi cantly optimize organization of work of the digital access fund, was singled out.

Genealogy of Shevchenko’s mother Kateryna Boyko

The article explores the genealogy of Shevchenko’s mother Kateryna Boyko based on archival materials of the Central State Historical Archive of Ukraine in Kyiv, the State Archive of Kyiv Region and the State Archive of Cherkasy Region. The author investigated this family tree starting from the end of the 18th century and until 1859, when Shevchenko visited Ukraine for the last time. In particular, the history of the poet’s family in connection with his grandfather Omelian Boyko was analyzed. The assumption that family line of Shevchenko’s mother originates from Carpathian rebel and contemporary of Oleksa Dovbush Ivan Boyko was rejected. Some details about the closest relatives of T. Shevchenko, namely his uncle Pavlo, aunts Dariya, Yevdokiya and Anna, have been clarified. Information about two unknown writer’s aunts Varvara and Motria has been found.
 The assertion that the mother’s family line lacked descendants was refuted. The surnames in marriage of the five Shevchenko’s aunts, having maiden surname Boyko, have been determined. They were Varvara Kryvenko, Motria Zavaliy, Dariya Diachenko, Yevdokiya Diadenko, Hanna Shkurup. By now we have information about forty nine poet’s cousins, seventy four nephews and three great-grandchildren of his aunts. The comprehensive analysis of the archival materials allows the researcher to deny the existence of Ahafiya Yakymivna Boyko, the alleged poet’s mother according to some media reports.
 The article also refers to the administrative structure, nature and geography of the village Moryntsi in the first half of the 19th century. The life of Ukrainian peasants is discribed based on the story “Kniahynia” (“Princess”) by T. Shevchenko as well as archival documents and research works by V. Hrabovetskyi, V. Orlyk, L. Pohylevych, O. Stepanyshyna.

Pro-European views in the epistolary heritage of P. Kulish

Introduction. The epistolary heritage of Panteleimon Kulish is nebulized on the different archived establishments of not only Ukraine but also the world. Clear that it is not all places, where the manuscripts of P. Kulish are presently kept. Already the presence of this fact convincingly leads to the outstanding of the figure of P. Kulish and his value for the Ukrainian culture on the whole. His name many years not only was suppressed (his work was forbidden for the Ukrainian reader), and yet and wrong was trafficked, that inflicted incorrigible consequences for perception his descendants. Time to revive the invaluable forgotten treasures of not only Ukrainian literature but also culture came, therefore. To enter in a scientific appeal the epistolary achievements of Kulish as informative resource in the archives of Ukraine, that give an opportunity newly to read his folias and analyse pro-Europe conceptions of development of the Ukrainian culture and histories that are very actual in our stormy to us time . Actuality. In 1920th the considerable array of epistolary inheritance of Kulish is given out, that and put beginning to scientific approach in edition of epistolary texts of kulish. But, unfortunately, nobody more in detail is stopped on an aspect exactly of European principles of Kulish, that is formed on historical national soil: Ukraine is not only included in that but also creates him. The aim of the article consists in the scientific reconstruction of epistolary inheritance of Pantelejmon Kulish, Ukraine concentrated in archives, and also in the exposure of European principles, what creations of the Ukrainian national culture fixed in basis. Research methodology is based, first of all, on the methods of archive, and also on a biographic analysis (for the reconstruction of vital and creative way), on a historical analysis (for the recreation of chronologic limits in that there was correspondence between addressees), cultural and historical method (sent to the exposure of European principles of construction of Ukrainian society). Conclusions. Correspondence is an inexhaustible additional source in a study to not only activity or to history of person or establishment but also reflections of feelings, ideas, ideas that managed a sender in the moment of creation of sheet. Letters of Kulish are a living chronicle of our cultural and national life during a half a century – from a 40th to 90th XX century. Character Kulisha is character of living man, with her defects, alarms, eternal search of ideal, that changed opinions and looks, but inflexibly believed in truth of the Ukrainian national idea. Exactly on national principles lines up to the Europe an conception development and activity of any society. That is why Kulish was the first of that time Ukrainian European and it was brightly represented in his lettres. Key words: P. Kulish, lettre, epistola, European context, national self-definition.

НЕЛЕГАЛЬНІ МІГРАЦІЇ НА КОРДОНІ МІЖ РЕСПУБЛІКОЮ ПОЛЬЩА ТА УСРР НАПЕРЕДОДНІ ТА ПІД ЧАС ГОЛОДОМОРУ 1932–1933 рр.

The author of the article tracks the cases of illegal migration of the peasants, churchmen and workers from the territory of the Ukrainian SSR to the Poland during the Holodomor of 1932–1933 with the analysis of historiography, scientific publications and archived materials stored in the archives of Ukraine and abroad. The reasons of the sharp increase of the number of attempts of illegal migration from the USSR through the western border are analyzed on the cases of illegal migration in conditions of strengthening protection regime of the state border and the resistance of peasantry of Shepetivka district, which was in the direct proximity of the neighboring state. The author focuses on the social committees, which connected active politically element of the Ukrainian national society Tarnopolsky (in particular, Borshchiv, Chortkiv and Skalat powiats) and Volyn voivodeships of the Poland to help the starving and the refugees from the territory of the USSR. The measures taken by the Ukrainian Public Committee of the Rescue of Ukraine to gather information on the economic, political and grocery situations of the population of the USRR are analyzed. The article introduces to the scientific circulation the samples of the documentation of public committees that were used to obtain information from illegal migrants and for the building of the evidence base on the issue of the artificial nature of the famine in the Ukrainian SRR. Separately considered the possibility of making funds for permission to exit of Soviet citizens, who were in kinship with the residents of the Republic of Poland, to prevent the deportation of illegal migrants to the USSR border.

ПЕРШІ РЕЗУЛЬТАТИ ТА ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ МЕТЕОРОЛОГІЧНИХ СПОСТЕРЕЖЕНЬ В ОБСЕРВАТОРІЇ НА ГОРІ ПІП ІВАН

Chornohora is the highest mountain ridge in the Ukrainian Carpathians. There are six peaks with an altitude 2000 m. a.s.l. The range is a climatic barrier for air masses along the northwest – southeast. This study is important for understanding of the physical and geographical processes in the whole region. In addition, Chornohora not sufficiently researched compared to other mountain ranges of the Carpathians. The High-Mountain Meteorological and Astronomical Observatory (HMAO) at Pip Ivan Mt. was opened on July 29, 1938. The National Institute of Meteorology (Poland) served it. Copies of the data sheets Meteorological Observations Results (pol. Wyniki Spostrzezen Meteorologicznych) from the HMAO at Pip Ivan Mt. were successfully preserved in the private collections (October 1938 – July 1939). As is characteristic of these altitudes, there was a significant dynamics of changes in weather parameters from day to day. The average monthly atmospheric pressure values were lower for the winter months than for the summer months. The average temperature at Pip Ivan for 10 months was 0.8°С. It should be noted that the total rainfall during the study period at the station was 942.5 mm. Permanent snow cover on Pip Ivan Mt. laid from December 5 to April 9. The average wind speed for 10 months was 9.7 m s-1. Before the Second World War, there was also a branch of the Astronomical Observatory of the University of Warsaw. The place is remarkable in terms of distance from light sources. However, the average cloudiness in October 1938 – July 1939 at Pip Ivan was 7.6 (on a scale of 0-10). Within 10 months, the average cloudiness less than 20% were only 18 days. This is not enough for the astronomical observatories. From the available sources, we know that during the Soviet occupation (half of 1940 to June 1941) the weather station with a wide range of research was operated at the HMAO. We did not find any original records of observations of this period in Ukrainian archives. Probably after the collapse of the USSR, data stayed at the Archives of Russia’s Federation. After the Second World War, the Observatory was abandoned and subjected to destruction of the natural environment. Nowadays the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University and the University of Warsaw are actively restoring the building of the Observatory. The modern name of the institution is the International Scientific Center “Observatory” (ISC “Observatory”). There already works 24/7 Ukrainian-Polish mountain search and rescue service. Also the following subdivisions are planned: meteorological and astronomical observations, integrated research laboratories with a wide spectrum of research on the Earth and environment, the place of practice for students and shelter for tourists. Recently (February 22, 2019) Precarpathian University signed a grant agreement: “Adaptation of former observatory on the Pip Ivan mountain for the needs of alpine rescue service training center” which includes the installation of a modern Automatic Weather Station. Within the framework of which large-scale studies are planned to measure the following parameters: atmospheric pressure (PA), air temperature (mean – TM, minimum – TN and maximum – TX), cloud cover (CC), precipitation (RR), snow depth (SD), wind speed (WS) and direction (WDu). Based on the recorded indicators of the dry and moistened thermometer and the humidity sensor, timely and average values of water vapour pressure (VP), relative humidity (RH), dew point temperature (DWPT), vapour-pressure deficit (VPD) and as well as evapotranspiration (ET) will be calculated. Also In the Observatory solar radiation instruments are preparing to install, with a large range of investigated parameters – from sunshine duration (SUD) or albedo (AL) to the measurements of ultraviolet A (UV-A) and B (UV-B). The weather station will also include the air quality monitoring system, which will measure the chemical gases in the atmosphere (e.g. O3, SO2, Nx, CO i CO2). With the support of other institutions, the range of air quality monitoring will be expanded. The location for meteorological observations in the ISC “Observatory” is unique. In terms of scientific research, we will have continuous monitoring of atmosphere elements and of the natural environment as a whole at an altitude of over 2000 m a.s.l. Meteorological research at this station is reasonable and will be the main task of the Observatory. Also, the results of the observations will have practical application from day to day, such as timely warning of avalanche danger or as a search and rescue service. Given the great importance of this mountain ridge in terms of climate, as well as to understand the physical and geographical processes in the whole region, it is worth to use comprehensive researches of its environment. Along with the observations made in other parts of the Carpathians, it will allow us to understand better the climatic features as well as the whole environment of the Carpathian regions.

Hryhorii Kvitka-Osnovianenko Society in the Socio-Political Life of Kharkiv

The article discovers the circumstances of creation and activity of Hryhorii Kvitka-Osnovianenko Society in Kharkiv in 1912–1916.The article analyzes the political situation in Kharkiv before the WWI and the Revolution. It stresses the meaning of the Society in the formation of national consciousness and crystallization of views of those who supported the direction of Ukrainian independent political movement. The documents of the Gendarmerie and the Department for Protecting the Public Security and Order (Okhranka), which are kept in the Central State Historical Archive of Ukraine in Kyiv, have been used for writing the article.This paper discloses first events organized by the Society. In particular, there was an attempt of creating the Ukrainian theatre in Kharkiv, which was not realized due to the lack of resources. Before the WWI, the Society worked as a literary and art club, organized musical, dance, and literary evenings. The role of Mykola Mikhnovskyi and Hnat Khotkevych for development of the Society was huge. With the beginning of WWI, the Society’s members manifested their pro-Ukrainian position more often. In 1915, the most politically active youth of the town, which was united by the Ukrainian Student Community (Hromada), joined the Society. At this time, the Society became the place to present lections in Ukrainian history, exchange the experience about the organization of Ukrainian school and cultural life with people from Galicia. The meetings were dedicated not only to literature and art but also to the question of the political future of Ukrainians. This was obvious also for the police of tsarist Russia. They organized searches and arrests of Ukrainian activists in Kharkiv at 22 January 1916. Among the prosecuted were also the members of the Association. Hnat Khotkevych, one of the prominent figures of Society, was expelledoutside the Ukrainian lands. Despite the persecution, the Society continued its activity till 1916. However, the actions of its members increasingly radicalized. After the explosion of the February Revolution, political issues came to the forefront of the agenda. However, the importance of the Society for the development of the Ukrainian movement in Kharkiv before the Revolution cannot be overestimated.The article attachment contains a document in which officials of the Kharkiv Provincial Gendarme Department commented on the development of the Ukrainian movement in Kharkiv in 1912.

Історіографія та джерельна база розвитку метрологічного забезпечення в Україні (XX ст. – початок XXI ст.)

The article is devoted to the determination of the state of scientific elaboration of the problem of forming the system of metrological support in Ukraine during the 20th century - the beginning of the XXI century. The system of metrological support is scientific and organizational bases in combination with technical means, norms and rules is an effective means of achieving the necessary accuracy and quality of measurements in all spheres. During the ХХ century a network of research institutes in the field of metrology has been formed in Ukraine and a number of standards have been created. The most fruitful for the development of the reference base was the period of 1991 – the beginning of the XXI century. Despite a certain amount of scientific literature on metrology and metrological support, the process of deploying research and development of metrology in Ukraine during the ХХ century – beginning of the XXI century not received proper coverage in the historical literature. A classification of the main directions of research problems by subject-thematic basis. It is proved that the first chronological stage of historiography of the selected problem (1900 – the beginning of the twentieth century) was characterized by a small amount of scientific literature on the history of the formation and development of metrological support in Ukraine. The second stage, which began at the turn of 1917 – 1991, was observed a revival of interest in publications on the history of metrology, but the overwhelming majority of them are developments of an anniversary character. At three at the stage (after 1991), scientific works appeared directly devoted to the development of metrological support and the formation of a technical regulation system and the creation of standards in Ukraine. The initial bases of the problem under study are analyzed, the classification of attracted sources is carried out, their information potential is determined. As a result of processing a number of sources from the central and regional archives of Ukraine, a historical reconstruction of the formation of the system of the metrological service of Ukraine during 1901 – 1991 was carried out. As a result of the analysis of the well-known and little-known works of metrologists, museum collections, the article highlights the problem of creating a unique national reference Base Ukraine at the end of the ХХ – beginning of ХХІ centuries. The involvement of the current paperwork of the scientific departments of the NSC “Institute of Metrology”, educational institutions, patent statistical information made it possible to more accurately clarify the reorganization processes that occurred in the context of globalization of the world economy in the sphere of standardization and conformity assessment and integration of Ukraine into the world economy. A number of personal documents are brought to the source base, namely: autobiography, memoirs, correspondence, interview materials.

Epistolary style of educators and artists as a source of the history of the culture of Southern Ukraine in the XIX and early XX centuries

The purpose of the article is to determine the informative potential and representativeness of the epistolary activity of educators and artists for the study of the cultural development of Southern Ukraine in the XIX and early XX centuries. The methodological principles are the principles of historicity, objectivity, which made it possible to determine composition, structure, authenticity and informative possibilities of the letters, and source-study method as a system of research procedures. Scientific novelty. On the basis of the analysis of materials of the personal correspondence stored in the archives of Ukraine and published letters, the author revealed their informative possibilities for research. Namely, the contribution of cultural figures to the formation of the cultural space of the region, the functioning of educational institutions, theater life, and personal relations of cultural figures. Conclusions. Еpistolary activity of cultural figures are indispensable in view of their informative potential. It allows to recreate the living images of representatives of culture in certain life situations and interactions with the environment, reveals the inner world of the individual, the depth of emotional experiences of the respondent, which are not recorded in other types of sources.

«МENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO» – ВІЙСЬКОВИЙ СПОРТ У ЛЬВІВСЬКОМУ ГАРНІЗОНІ ДРУГОЇ РЕЧІ ПОСПОЛИТОЇ

There is an old proverb ‘a sound mind in a sound body’ which indicates that through sports one can modify people’s character. The purpose of this article is to show the activities and development of the Military Sports Clubs that existed as part of the departments and military institutions on Lviv’s garrison territory in 1921–1939. Their main task was not only to support the level of physical endurance but also to train their compatibility and desire to be the best. The starting point of this article are materials taken from Polish and Ukrainian archives, officially published documents and monographs, articles and the daily press that appeared in Lviv during the interwar period.

Cultural processes in Donbass region during the Second World War: historiographical discourse

The article is devoted to the discourse of historiography of cultural processes in the Donbass during the Second World War. The author analyzes the works of Soviet, Ukrainian and foreign historians on the topic. An essential feature of all the scientific research results of the Soviet period was the apologetics of the role of the Communist Party in cultural construction in Ukraine. At the same time, one can not deny the value of the scientific achievements of Soviet scholars who laid the foundations of modern Ukrainian historiography of the Second World War. With the achievement of Ukraine's independence, an attempt was made to broaden the research issues, in particular to characterize the dynamics of cultural processes during the war years. The researchers carried out significant work on the accumulation of material on certain aspects of cultural development, both in Ukraine and in Donbass in particular. Modern Ukrainian studies still have stereotypes, poorly studied regional studies, the topic of cramped memory, trauma, politics, psychological aspects of the war. Foreign historiography is important for a methodological and conceptual point of view, but scientific publication are deprived of materials from Ukrainian archives. Consequently, cultural processes in the Donbas during the Second World War did not become the subject of scientific research and require further consideration.

Memoirs and Letters of Polish Authors from the Western Krai (Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine) from the period of 1795–1918 – A Summary of the Project’s Outcomes and Characteristics of Research Perspectives

The article discusses the studies conducted in 2012–2017 at the Jan Kochanowski University under the research project entitled Memoirs and Letters of Polish Authors from the Western Krai (Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine) from the Period of 1795–1918. The project was implemented under the National Programme for the Development of Humanities by an international research team led by Professor Wiesław Caban. The study included inventorying and cataloguing the 19th-century diaries, memoirs and collections of letters of Polish authors from the so-called Western Krai (Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine) as well as the authors writing about these territories. Surveys of archival materials were conducted in libraries and archives in Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia (including Siberia), London and Paris. The outcome of the project is an online database of memoirs and letters available at the Jan Kochanowski University website and a series of publications of the most valuable memoirs from Russian, Lithuanian and Ukrainian archives.

Наукова співпраця І.Я. Франка та В.М. Перетца (за епістолярними джерелами)

Important source of a research of scientific activity and cooperation between outstanding Ukrainian scientists and organizers of national scientific life at the beginning of the 20th century, I. Ya. Franko and V. M. Peretts is their correspondence. The epistolary heritage of scientists is stored in the archives of Ukraine and Russia. I. Ya. Franko and V. M. Peretts’s correspondence which is stored in Department of manuscripts and textual studies of Shevchenko Institute of literature of the NAS of Ukraine and in the Russian state archive of literature and art became a source of article. The article studies, in addition to correspondence between scientists, V. M. Peretts’ letters to P. H. Zhytetskiy and M. S. Hrushevskyi, which refers to the scientific relationship between I. Ya. Franko and V. M. Peretts. Long-term scientific cooperation and the creative relations between the ingenious Ukrainian writer, the literary critic and the specialist in drama study I. Ya. Franko and the Ukrainian and Russian philologist, the researcher of ancient Ukrainian literature V. M. Peretts are covered in article on the basis of the analysis of epistolary documents. Their activities in research on manuscripts and studies on history of the Ukrainian literature and theatre are represented in the article. The mutual respect and appreciation of scientific achievements of each other are the cornerstone of broad scientific cooperation of scientists. The article pays attention to an active position of V. M. Peretts concerning establishment departments on study Ukrainian history, literature, language, ethnography and the right at the universities of Ukraine. The scientist’s initiative of establishment the department of Ukrainian and dialectology at the St. Volodymyr University in Kyiv is displayed. The head of the department V. M. Peretts found out that I. Ya. Franko’s activity in Kyiv could contribute to the development of the Ukrainian science and education.

Виконавська діяльність Лариси Руденко (за архівними матеріалами)

The article covers the performance of the famous Ukrainian opera singer Larysa Arkhipivna Rudenko based on archival materials of her Personal Fund [F. 120], which are stored in the Central State Archive-Museum of Literature and Art of Ukraine. The archival material is represented by periodicals of the late 30s and early 80s of the 20th century, in particular, articles about the artist’s creative activity and reviews of musical critics at her concerts. The above archival materials are first introduced into scientific circulation. The article reveals the peculiarities of L. Rudenko’s performance and her role in the development of Ukrainian vocal art in the second half of the 20th century. Unknown pages of the biography and performances of the outstanding opera singer L. A. Rudenko, student of the founder of the Ukrainian vocal school Olena Oleksandrivna Muravieva are considered. The main methods of the work of the outstanding vocal teacher O. Muravieva are described in the words of her famous pupils L. Rudenko and L. Yefremova. The first creative searches by L. Rudenko began during her studies at the Kyiv Tchaikovsky Conservatory. The figure of L. Rudenko is associated with the state archives of Ukraine, in particular: at the National Music Academy of Ukraine named after P. I. Tchaikovsky and presented by documents testifying to the high professionalism of L. Rudenko as a vocal teacher and personal fund of Larisa Rudenko of the Central State Archives-Museum of Literature and Art of Ukraine. The author analyses individual achievements of the performer on the example of her work on operatic parties. The attention is paid to the peculiarities of L. Rudenko’s work on women’s images: the full sound of the singer’s voice is harmoniously combined with a detailed elaborated scene drawing of a role. The performance of L. Rudenko is presented in the coverage of professional music criticism and periodicals. The significant influence of L. Rudenko’s performance on the development of Ukrainian operatic art of the second half of the 20th century has been proven.

Discovering the Archives of the Ukrainian Press Bureau in London (1931–1939)

The article is based on the first analysis of the archives of the Ukrainian Press Bureau in London (another name is the Ukrainian Bureau in London), yet unknown to experts in Ukraine and found by the author during his recent scholarly internship in the UK.It reveals the circumstances under which the Polish Institute in London acquired these Ukrainian archives after the Second World War; describes the institution itself as a non-governmental organization of the Polish community in the diaspora and its mission in the capital of Great Britain.The author makes the first-ever attempt to estimate the volume of the archival collection and describe the thematic structure of the main folders.

From the Royal Castle to school. King Stanisław August’s legacy and the Volhynian Gymnasium collections

The library and the cabinet collections of King of Poland Stanisław August Poniatowski reflect the trends of the Enlightement as well as the monarch’s interests. Their acquisition by one of the most important Polish schools, the Volhynian Gymnasium in Kremenets, saved them from dismemberment and gave rise to school collections. The acquisition was possible owing to history (the Partition of Poland, and the emergence of the Vilna Educational District) and a unique man – Tadeusz Czacki.The collections at the Volhynian Gymnasium in Kremenets was open to the public on a daily basis. In this way, the Polish King’s Stanisław August wish to have the collection available for masses came true, after his death regrettably. School collections were very valuable. Having originated from the royal collection of the last Polish King, they became a reminiscence of the national potential of a country that disappeared from the map of Europe in 1795.This article is a part of a future book and an attempt of documenting the transition of respective collections from the royal residence in Warsaw to Kremenets. The analysis of Polish, Lithuanian and Ukrainian archives enables to reconstruct the history of the royal collections and to show their quality and didactic utility.

Kongres Kupiectwa Polskiego w Toruniu w 1933 roku w świetle archiwaliów lwowskich

The historical sources focusing on present and former Polish lands and the Ukrainian archives in Lviv are not entirely penetrated yet. This concerns especially the materials dealing with the economic history. Therefore, during the queries conducted in the Central State Historical Archives of Ukraine in Lviv the archives relating to the Polish Merchant Congregation in Toruń, which was in 1933, were found. The congress in Toruń took place in a very unfavourable moment for Polish trade because of the Great Depression. Nonetheless, those who participated in the congregation made an attempt to improve the state of the Christian trade in Poland. Despite the fact that the postulates were partly realised, most problems concerning Polish merchants were not solved at that time.

Accessory and Witness - The Profession of the Lawyer under Stalin (1945–1953)

Drawing on research conducted in Russian and Ukrainian archives, this article explores the legal profession in the late Stalin-era USSR, with a focus on the years following the Second World War. During this period, the number of cases dealt with in the courts grew considerably, and calls to rehabilitate “socialist legality” became more pressing. It is against this backdrop that the article details the different professional aspects—social trajectories and daily practices—of the criminal lawyer's craft. It concludes that while their influence remained relatively weak and was rarely anchored in their legal capabilities, Soviet lawyers did develop economic and networking capacities that enabled them to maintain their autonomy and to fully participate in the dynamics of the Soviet society that emerged in the aftermath of the war. Despite their weak position and the purges they had suffered, lawyers found ways to gain privileged information about ongoing cases, and some of them played an intermediary role between the apparatus of repression and Soviet notables—particularly by participating in the system of bribery and clientelism. Their actions exemplified the ways that Soviets acclimatized to Stalin's dictatorship, working to bend and improve the rules and to create spaces of protection, mutual assistance, and exchange at the heart of the state and the party.

The history of detained Polish veterinarians in Switzerland 1940-1947

As part of the recent history of veterinary medicine in Switzerland, in Poland and in other countries biographies ofveterinarians among Polish soldiers detained to Switzerland during WWII are described. The information is derived from a number of Swiss and Ukrainian archives and personal contacts with descendants and colleagues of these veterinarians living in Switzerland and abroad.

The New Archival Documents that Confirm the Rectorship of St. Paisius Velichkovsky in the Cell of St. Constantine and in the Monastery of Simonos Petra on Mount Athos

The article focuses on the biographical sources of the hagiographic lists of St. Paisius Velichkovsky. Moreover, it provides for the first time some documentary evidence from the archives of Ukraine and Athos, confirming the facts of St. Paisius’ rectorship in the Cell of St. King Constantine in the Pantokratoros Monastery and of his dignity of a hegumen in the Simonopetra Monastery of Athos. This evidence opens a new page in the history of the Russian monasticism on Mount Athos and in the life of St. Paisius Velichkovsky, who attempted to restore the spiritual center of the Russian Svyatogorsky monastic life at the new location, in fact - to recreate a new Rossikon on Mount Athos after the fact that the old historic Russian Svyatogorsky St. Panteleimon Monastery (Old Rossikon) had passed into the hands of Greek monks by the middle of the 18th century .