THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION'S FIRST CENTURY

The history of the Ukrainian National Association is documented in a new book by Dr. Myron Kuropas, "Ukrainian Citadel: The First Hundred Years of The Ukrainian National Association," to be published by The University of Toronto Press. In this special 12-page pullout section of The Weekly, prepared on the occasion of our publisher's centennial, we offer excerpts from Dr. Kuropas' pre-publication manuscript, reprinted with permission from the author. (Please note that the Ukrainian National Association (UNA) was known as the Ruskyi Narodnyi Soyuz (RNS) for the first 20 years of its existence.)

The 1930s

Although the 1930s were a time of great economic, political and social uncertainty in the United States, it was a decade when the Ukrainian National Association really came into its own. Bolstered by the so-called "military immigration" and the rise of Ukrainian nationalism within the community, as well as among the leadership cadres of the organization, the UNA was able to continue its focus on Ukraine providing moral and financial support for nationalistic organizations in eastern Galicia; publicize, mobilize and support demonstrations throughout the United States protesting Polish pacification and Ukraine's Great Famine; lobby the U.S. government regarding the Famine, an effort which resulted in the introduction of a Congressional bill condemning Soviet actions in Ukraine.

It also provided economic assistance to members hard-hit by the Depression; increased the UNA base in Canada, enrolled some 10,000 new members, representing a phenomenal growth factor of 30 percent, published a history of the UNA and the Ukrainian American community, developed a youth outreach program which included the publication of The Ukrainian Weekly, and initiated the Ukrainian Youth League of North America.

Illustrations Published:

• 1934: Plaque designed by the renowned artist Alexander Archipenko to mark the 40th anniversary of the Ukrainian National Association.
  
  
• 1937: A group photo of the delegates and officers present at the 15th Convention of the UNA held in Washington on May 10-15, 1937.
  
  
• 1939: "From the days of the UNA's sports fame" reads the caption written on the back of this 1939 photo taken at "Soyuz Day" in Chicago. Pictured are the members of the UNA Branch 125 baseball team. Seen in the second row, first from left, is Gloria Podola (Paschen).

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, February 20, 1994, No. 8, Vol. LXII

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