The 24th Annual J.B. Rudnyckyj Distinguished Lecture with Bohdan Krawchenko

 Poster for the Lecture Event (designed by Solomiya Shavala)

Dr. Krawchenko's talk at the U of M Archives & Special Collections 

The 24th Annual J.B. Rudnyckyj Distinguished Lecture took place on Wednesday, March 8, 2017, in the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections. The guest lecturer for the event was, Dr. Bohdan Krawchenko.  Dr.  Krawchenko began his talk, titled, Global (Dis) Order and Ukraine,  with providing an overview of the recent global, economic, political, and social changes. He spoke about the rise of nationalist and populist forces in the United States and in Europe, and how these forces challenge the established liberal and democratic values. In addition, the rise of an aggressive Russia,with a nationalist agenda, also poses a challenge and threat to the western democracies. Krawchenko successfully tied this in to the current situation in Ukraine, and how Ukrainian society has adapted and emerged with a vision on how to overcome many of the challenges currently facing it. After years of having Russia as its largest trading partner, the war, has forced Ukraine to become more competative in the global market, and seek new trade partners and opportunities . In the end this will be beneficial to Ukraine, and recent statistics have shown this to be true.

Bohdan Krawchenko is the director of the University of Central Asia (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan)  a bold educational initiative focused on the mountain communities of Central Asia and Afghanistan. While working in Ukraine, he directed the first institution to train civil servants and headed the Soros Foundation’s regional program on local governance. Dr. Krawchenko is also the former director of the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies.
 
The well-received lecture had around 100 members of the university and external communities in attendance. The talk was sponsored by the U of M Archives & Special Collections, the Slavic Collection (Elizabeth Dafoe Library), and the Department of German and Slavic Studies. Following the lecture, Bohdan Krawchenko continued to answer questions at the reception that followed his talk.

The 23rd Annual J.B. Rudnyckyj Distinguished Lecture with Vitaly Portnikov

 Dr. Roman Yereniuk presents a gift to the 2016 J.B. Rudnyckyj guest speaker, Vitaly Portnikov

at a luncheon held at St. Andrew's College, U of M, on Monday, March 21, 2016.

 Poster for the 23rd J.B. Rudnyckyj Distinguished Lecture, with Vitaly Portnikov.

 (Poster created by Solomiya Shavala)

The 23rd Annual J.B. Rudnyckyj Distinguished Lecture took place on Tuesday, March 22, 2016, in the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections. The guest lecturer for the event was, Vitaly
Pornikov.  His lecture titled, The Emergence of a Contemporary Ukrainian Civil Society.  Mr. Portnikov discussed the emergence of a civil society in Ukraine following the Orange and Euromaidan Revolutions that took place in 2004 and 2014 respectively, -- and in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine’s eastern oblasts of Donetsk and Luhansk. Special thanks goes to Dr. Myroslav Shkandrij (Department of German & Slavic Studies) for providing the simultaneous translation (from Ukrainian into English) of Mr. Portnikov's talk during the event.

Vitaly Pornikov is a journalist, author, political commentator and leading opinion maker from Kyiv, Ukraine, -- Portnikov has a large following in social media. His articles have appeared in publications around the world and is a frequent guest on TV shows.  He hosts a popular weekly radio program dealing with current affairs.  In addition, he has won numerous awards for his fearless commentary on events in Ukraine, Russia and Eastern Europe.

The well-received lecture had around 150 members of the university and external communities in attendance. The talk was sponsored by the U of M Archives & Special Collections, the Slavic Collection (Elizabeth Dafoe Library), and the Department of German and Slavic Studies. Following the lecture, Vitaly Portnikov continued to answer questions at the reception that followed his talk, and signed copies of two of his book, Bohorodytsia v synahozi (Mother of God in the Synagogue) and Tiurma dlia anholiv (Prison for Angels).

Istorychnyi Atlas Ukrainy = Historical Atlas of Ukraine

Istorychnyi Atlas Ukrainy = Historical Atlas of Ukraine

 

Cover of Istorychnyi Atlas Ukrainy (2015)

Page 208 of Istorychnyi Atlas Ukrainy showing the areas under control

of the Ukrainian Central Rada  in 1917 during the 'peaceful period'.

Researched and compiled by Ukrainian historian and cartographer, Iurii Loza,  the 320 page  Istorychnyi Atlas Ukrainy = Historical Atlas of Ukraine covers the ancient settlements of Ukrainian lands to the modern independent Ukrainian state. Special attention is paid to the various periods of Ukrainian history, and their respective territorial boundaries (e.g. Kyivan Rus; the Kingdom of Galicia-Volyn [Halyts'ko-Volyns'ke kniazivstvo]; the Ukrainian Kozak State; independent Ukraine [1918-1921]; Soviet Ukraine; and 21st century independent Ukraine). This new atlas builds upon Loza's earlier work which was published in 2010, and covers more recent events such as the 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia, and the ongoing conflict in the eastern Ukrainian Donetsk and Luhask oblasts.

The atlas is well illustrated with hundreds of  coloured maps covering important periods and eventsin Ukrainian history. A copy of the atlas is available in the Slavic Collection's Reference area, under the call number, Slav Ref  G 2151 S1 M37 2016

Historical Encyclopedia of Siberia = Istoricheskaia Entsiklopediia Sibiri

Cover of Volume 1 of the Historical Encyclopedia of Siberia (Istoricheskaia Entsiklopediia Sibiri)

The Historical Encyclopedia of Siberia (Novosibirsk: Izdatel'skii dom "Istoricheskoe nasledie Sibiri, 2010) is the first such encyclopedia covering the histiography of Siberia from ancient to modern times. This important resource covers the region in its entirety, and looks at its  economics, demographics and its historical development over the centuries.

The idea of creating an encyclopedia devoted to Siberia goes back to the early 1930s, but such a project did not materialize until after the fall of the Soviet Union, -- with the completed work published in 2010. The encyclopedia consist of 3-volumes with individual entries arranged in alphabetical order. There are over 4000 articles, reflecting well-known indiviuals, geography, events, etc., -- with about half of them being biographical  sketches of individuals born and/ or associated with Siberia. Accompanying the text are various illustrations, inlcuding: photographs, maps and diagrams. In total, over 400 academics were consulted from over 50 universities or academic institutions, stretching from St. Petersburg in the west, to Vladivostok in the far-east.

 The Historical Encyclopedia of Siberia is available in the Elizabeth Dafoe Library's  Slavic Collection (Call# " Slav DK 761 I885 2010.

Russian Pamphlet Collection

Raszkazy, anekdoty i stseny = Short stories, anecdotes and scenes from plays (Moscow, 1916) 

The Slavic Collection of the Elizabeth Dafoe Library holds a unique collection of small-sized Russian language publications, that were printed mainly in Russia at the turn of the twentieth-century.  These small imprints consist of Russian folk tales, song books, historical epics, etc..  Many of the publications from this collection contain colourful title covers that are reminiscent of the genre of this period.  The collection was donated to the Slavic Collection in 2010 by Professor Basil Rotoff.

This Russian Pamphlet Collection is available in the Slavic Collection's closed stack (inside room 234 Dafoe - The Slavic Collection Office).  Please ask the Slavic staff for assistance.

Ukrainian Pamphlets from Central and Western Europe

Zhyvotko's Ostrohozhyna, published in Prague, 1942

 Located in the Slavic Collection’s closed stacks, these mostly Ukrainian language publications were published in Central and Western Europe. They span from the early 1900s to the early 1980s, and consist of small-sized booklets from various private printing houses. The content of these publications include: republished works by such notable writers as Ivan Franko, Mykola Hohol’, Taras Shevchenko,  Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, and Volodymyr Vynnychenko; political and economic treaties; and original novellas. The collection encompasses nearly 150 such publications. 

The collection is held in the closed stacks of the Slavic Collection's Office in Room 234 Elizabeth Dafoe Library.  For further assistance, please contact  James Kominowski, the Slavic Librarian  at 204-474-9681, or e-mail:  James.Kominowski@Umanitoba.ca .

Dictionary of the Orawa Dialect

 Słownik gwary orawskiej (2011)

Słownik gwary orawskiej = Dictionary of the Orawa Dialect was edited and compiled by linguist, Jósef Kąś. The two-volume set published by Księgarnia Akademicka (Krakow, 2011), contains words used in the Orawa dialect in Poland, whose region borders Slovakia. The Polish Orawa and Slovak Orava (Slovak) regions  border each other, with  Kąś's dictionary focusing on the Polish portion of this geographical area. With over 35,000 words, this second revised edition contains nearly 7,000 additional words from the original 2003 edition.

This unique reference source is available in the Elizabeth Dafoe Library's Slavic Collection, under the call number: Slav Ref PG 6790 K35 2011

Prague in Old Picture Postcards

Praha na dobových pohlednicích, 1886-1930 = Prague in Old Picture Postcards, 1886-1939 conatins hundreds of photographs focusing on the old districts of the the capital city of the Czech Republic, Prague, including: Old Town, New Town, and the Jewish Town. Published in 1998 to commemorate the 650th anniversary of the founding of Prague, it covers the period when the city was under Habsburg rule, to the early years of independent Czechoslovakia. The book is edited by Edmund Orián, and published by Belle Epoque. A Czech and English version of the book were published, with the Slavic Collection holding only the Czech one.

The book is available to view in the Elizabeth Dafoe Library's Slavic Collection's Reference area, under call #:  Salv Ref DB 2620 P728 1998

Book on Flags and Emblems of Ukraine

  Cover of Ukraina: Herby ta Prapory = Ukraine: Coats of Arms and Flags

 Symbols of Hornostaivs'kyi  and Kalanchats'kyi Raions in the Kherson Oblast'

Professor Andriy Hrechylo, Head of the Ukrainian Heraldic Society, was instrumental in compiling,  Ukraina: Herby ta Prapory = Ukraine: Coats of Arms and Flags, a large format publication, that focuses on contemporary Ukrainian national, regional, and mucicipal symbols (published in 2010). The book is divided according to each oblast (province/ administrative unit), and includes the various raions (districts), cities and larger towns, that are located in each of the respective oblasts, along with their specific heraldry. The book is published through the Ukrainian Parliamentary Publishers.

This is the first thorough attempt to provide an inventory of more than 1,200 symbols of oblasts, raions, cities and tows of independent Ukraine. All regions of Ukraine are represented in this publication: from Transcarpathia in the west to the Donbas in the east; and Polissia in the north, to Crimea in the south. The book is available in the Elizabeth Dafoe Library's Slavic Collection's Reference area, under the call # Slav Ref CR 614.4 U39 2010.

Zielnik- Herbarzem

     Zielnik Herbarzem (1613)

Authored by Polish botanist Szymon Syreniusz Syrénski, the Zielnik Herbarzem often referred to as the Polish Herbarium, was printed in Krakow in 1613.  It was acquired by the University of Manitoba Libraries in 1950. The Herbarium is composed of 1,538 pages of Polish, Latin and German text and illustrations. It contains an index of illnesses and cures in Polish and three separate indices of plants in Latin, Polish and German. It provides the origins of some of the plants that are used for medicinal and culinary purposes. One such example, is the use of beer yeast in alleviating painful and swollen limbs.

This very rare antiquarian book is housed in the Rare Book Room of the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections, Call Number: Slav RBR  QK 41 S97 1613. To view the Zielnik Herbarzem, please visit the Archives & Special Collections, 330 Elizabeth Dafoe Library.

Studia Migracyjne - Przegląd Polonijny

Cover of issue 1 (2013) of Studia Migracyjne - Przegląd Polonijny

Studia Migracyjne - Przegląd Polonijny (Migration Studies -Review of the Polish Diaspora), is a quarterly journal published by the Polish Academy of Sciences. The peer-reviewed journal focuses on historical, political and economical trends affecting Poland's population. Besides articles focusing on the internal demographic trends in Poland, one will also find articles discussing the activities of the Polish diaspora community throughout the world. Some of the more recent articles look at the effects of Polish migration after Poland's assumption to the European Union.

The most recent issues are displayed on the Slavic Collection’s Current Periodical Shelf, while the older issues are available in the Slavic Collection's main stacks, under the call # Slav DK 4122 P79.

Belarusian reference tool for cities and towns

Cover of the Mahiliou voblasts (Mahiliouskaia voblasts'), Book III, Harady i vioski Belarusi

Introductory page to the section devoted to the
Mstsislauski district (Mstsislauski raion), Mahiliou voblasts

Starting in 2004, the Institute of Arts, Ethnography and Folklore, of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus has been putting together a series of volumes devoted to the voblasts (provinces) of Belarus, and their individual districts.  Harady i vioski Belarusi (Cities and towns of Belarus) is being published by the Petrus Brouski Belarusian Encyclopedia Publishing House, -- with each individual voblasts' having 2 or 3 volumes devoted to its various raions (districts). Anyone doing genealogical research will find this set of books a most welcome resource tool. One will find write-ups on the history of each city, town and village located within a voblasts' and district. Each volume contains: information about when a particular town was founded; what are some noteworthy events that took place over the centuries in the town and its surrounding areas; and what important buildings and landmarks exist in a district. A detailed map of each district accompanies the start of each chapter devoted to that district. As a note, this is an ongoing project, with one or two volumes being added to the series each year.

Harady i vioski Belarusi, is located in the Slavic Collection's Reference section under the call number, Slav DK 507.37 H37.

Ukrainian source for genealogical research

Cover of the volume of Istoriia mist i sil URSR, devoted to the 

Ternopil oblast (Ukr.: Ternopil's'ka oblast')

 Map of the Ternopil oblast' found within the above mentioned volume.

Between 1967-1974, the Institute of History for the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian S.S.R. (today, the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine) published a series of volumes, titled, Istoriia mist i sil URSR (The History of the Cities and Towns of the Ukrainian S.S.R) each one, devoted to an individual Ukrainian oblast (province or administrative unit). Within each volume, there is a detailed look at each of the oblast's various districts, or raions, with accompanying maps of each of these districts. For genealogists, this is truly a great resource for locating small villages, that may not usually appear on ordinary commercial maps. In addition, one will find write-ups on the history of each city, town and village located within that particular oblast'. Although each volume contains the Soviet-slant on Ukrainian history, it is still a great source  to obtain information about, say for example, --when a particular town was founded; what are some noteworthy events that took place over the centuries in the town and its surrounding areas; and what important buildings and landmarks exist in a district. It would be nice to see an updated version of this set of volumes in present-day, independent Ukraine. Perhaps such a project is currently underway -- one can only hope...

Istoriia mist i sil URSR, is located in the Slavic Collection's Reference section under the call number, Slav DK 511 I7.

New Book on the Russian Empire in Colour

Front cover of Nostalgia. The Russian Empire of Czar Nicholas II

 One of the restored photos by Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii, 

showing Georgian tea workers near Chavka, ca. 1910

Starting in 1909 until 1915, chemist and pioneer photographer, Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii, photographed the various peoples and places that comprised the vast Russian Empire. Using a method involving colour-sensitive glass plates and 3-coloured filters (blue, green and red), Prokudiin-Gorskii was able to capture the diverse nations, folklore and landscapes in colour. With the support of Tsar Nicholas II, the Transportation Ministry provided him with a specially equipped railway car, in order to accomplish this unique project.

Of the nearly 2000 photographs taken, 300 of them were meticulously restored by the Library of Congress, which had purchased the collection back in 1948 (Four years after the death of Prokudin-Gorskii). The restored images are showcased in the book, Nostalgia. The Russian Empire of Czar Nicholas II (by the German Publishing House, Gestalten). It is available in the Slavic Collection's Reference area, under the call number,  Slav Ref DK 262 P76 2012, -- with a circulating copy, held in St. Paul's Library (Fort Garry Campus,University of Manitoba).