A Shevchenko Literary Society (1873–1891) as the forerunner of Shevchenko Scientific Society in Lviv (1892–1939) in the context of the unity of Ukrainian lands

Abstract

Based on the review of the archival data, this article highlights the activi­ties of the Schevchenko Literary Society as the forerunner of the Schevchenko Scientific Society in Lviv. The article investigates the general history of the Shevchenko Society, the events and conditions leading to its establishment, its structure, finances, operation of the printing house, and publishing activity. The participation of Galician public figures such as O. Barvinskyi, Om. Ogonovskyi, K. Sushkevych, S. Kachala, I. Franko and those of Transdniprian Ukraine – O. Konyskyi, M. Drahomanov, V. Antonovych, E. Myloradovych, M. Zhuchenko is discussed. The establishment of the Shevchenko Society was in keeping with the national aspirations of Ukrainians divided by the borders of two empires. The joint work of the Galician and Transdniprian intellectuals contributed to the creation of a common Trans-Ukrainian intellectual space, to overcoming the boundaries for the activities of Ukrainians in the educational sphere, and to bringing to the forefront the ideas of all-Ukrainian unity. The article provides an in-depth coverage of the events and conditions leading to the establishment of the Society, the creation and adoption of its charter, finances, scientific and literary work, and publishing activity. The article highlights the important role of the Shevchenko Literary Society’s printing house in the publishing activity and fulfillment of its main charter task to aid in the development of the Ukrainian language and literature. Therefore, it performed a special role in the field of literature and self-education, combining popular science with cultural and educational work, especially in the 1880s. The importance of the main printed magazines of the Society, “Pravda” and “Zorya”, in carrying out its leading tasks is emphasized. The cooperation of the Shev­chenko Society with foreign scientific institutions and organizations has been studied to a limited extent. The article provides the reasoning for the transformation of the Schevchenko Literary Society into the Schevchenko Scientific Society in Lviv, given that Ukrainian science in the western Ukrainian lands has been driven by this institution.