In 1977, Soyuzivka, then owned by the Ukrainian National Association, marked its 25th summer season. The jubilee season at the UNA estate began over the American Independence Day holiday weekend, July 2-4, with a special entertainment program that celebrated the anniversary. During the 10-week summer season, scores of young people worked at Soyuzivka, as seen in the group photo above. The summer workers are joined in the photo by Soyuzivka’s managers, Walter Kwas and Daniel Slobodian (seated, respectively, sixth and seventh from right). Today, the property is known as Soyuzivka Heritage Center and it is owned by the Ukrainian National Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was established as the charitable arm of the UNA in 1992.
A photo archive of UNA history has been launched on the UNA website. It is a work in progress that will be expanded and refined. To take a look, go to unainc.org/una/the-una-is-125-years-old/.