On the 40th anniversary of the Ukrainian Historical Association (03/27/05)

On the 40th anniversary of the Ukrainian Historical Association

Following is the text of a statement from the World Scholarly Council of the Ukrainian World Congress marking the 40th anniversary of the Ukrainian Historical Association.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Ukrainian Historical Association (UHA), founded in the United States in April of 1965 by Profs. Lubomyr Wynar and Olexander Ohloblyn. Within a few years from its initial establishment, the UHA succeeded in uniting many prominent Ukrainian historians, as well as scholars from other auxiliary disciplines in the diaspora. Over the years it established branches in Australia, Canada and countries in Western and Central Europe. Following the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the UHA extended its work to Ukraine, where it presently has 10 branches, whose members are actively involved in the rebirth of scholarly historiography by organizing conferences at various academic and research institutions.

The Ukrainian Historical Association publishes the scholarly periodical Ukrainian Historian, the only Ukrainian international historical journal in the diaspora. Founded in 1964, one year earlier than the UHA, the journal marked its 40 years of uninterrupted publication in 2004 by printing as its 40th volume a special commemorative issue. The 40th anniversary of the journal was also commemorated last year in Ukraine with a number of conferences organized by prominent historians and held at various universities and cultural institutes. These conferences focused on examining the undisputed impact of the Ukrainian Historian in steering the direction of Ukrainian historiography in post-Soviet Ukraine. Today, this journal is regarded as a prestigious forum for the serious scholarly research of historians throughout the world, especially for the works by younger historians, many who are presently in Ukraine. Within Ukraine, scholars and academicians view the Ukrainian Historian as a premier historical serial publication that is a dominant force in shaping historical thought and in influencing the future direction of Ukrainian historical studies.

In addition to the Ukrainian Historian, the the UHA publishes a number of important serial monographs such as: Hrushevsky Epistolary Sources, Historical Monographs, Memoirs, Historical Studies and other works. In 1980, the UHA issued the first atlas ever to be published up until that time on Ukrainian history, "The Historical Atlas of Ukraine."

Since its founding, the UHA has been actively organizing and sponsoring historical conferences in Europe, Canada and in the U.S. In order to periodically bring together scholars from across the world, the UHA initiated The International Congress of Ukrainian Historians. The first International Congress was held in 2000 at Chernivtsi National University, followed by the second International Congress in 2003 and held at Kamianets-Podilskyi State University. Over 400 scholars from various countries participated in each congress. The third International Congress of Ukrainian Historians is planned for 2008.

In addition to serving as an organizer and sponsor of historical conferences, the UHA serves as patron for the continued development of the Mykhailo Hrushevskyi Museums in Kyiv and Lviv, and is also an important supporter for the growth of the Institute for Ukrainian Diaspora Studies, founded at the National University of Ostroh Academy.

The World Scholarly Council congratulates the UHA on its 40th anniversary and wishes it continued success in is future programs. We call upon the Ukrainian community to support the UHA as it continues its important work both within Ukraine and in the diaspora.

Presidium of the
World Scholarly Council:

Prof. Lubomyr Wynar, Ph.D., president (USA); Prof. Assya Humesky, Ph.D., vice-president (USA); Prof. Arkadii Zhukovsky, Ph.D., vice-president (France); Prof. Stepan Kozak, Ph.D., vice-president, (Poland); Prof. Oleh Kravchenko, Ph.D., vice-president (Canada); Prof. Osyp Martyniuk, Ph.D., secretary (USA).

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