« 2024. # 2 (176)

The Ethnology Notebooks. 2024. № 2 (176), 323—335

UDK [94+39]-057.4(438)”189/196″:930.2(477+4)”193/202″

DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/nz2024.02.323

THE FIGURE OF YAKUB HOFFMAN IN UKRAINIAN AND FOREIGN HISTORIOGRAPHY (1930S — 2020S)

YAREMCHUK Valentyna

  • ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3445-3027
  • Junior researcher, Thе Ethnology Institute
  • of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine,
  • Department of Modern Ethnology,
  • 15, Svobody Avenue, 79000, Lviv, Ukraine,
  • Contacts: e-mail: v_viktorivna@ukr.net

Abstract. The relevance of this article is determined by the need to clarify the nature, completeness and reliability of knowledge about the scientific work of the famous researcher of the interwar period Yakub Hoffman in the field of history and ethnography on the territory of historical and ethnographic Volyn. The novelty of the publication is that for the first time the works of Ukrainian and foreign authors dedicated to the life and scientific activity of Ya. Hoffman have been systematized and analyzed. The facts are presented, which prove a noticeable intensification of the study of the biography of an outstanding Polish figure over the last quarter of a century.

The object of research is the works dedicated to Ya. Hoffman, and the subject is their ethnographic component.

The purpose of the article is to highlight the historiographical aspect of research into Ya. Hoffman’s scientific activity. The task is to analyze publications in foreign and domestic Polish-language popular scientific publications of the interwar period (30s of the 20th century), memories of Ukrainian researchers from the post-war diaspora (50s—80s) and research by modern authors (1991—2020s).

The methodological basis of the article is the methods of historiographical analysis and synthesis and the comparative-historical method. With their help, the historiographical heritage related to the study of Ya. Hoffman’s life path and creative activity was systematized, which made it possible to critically examine the available works of predecessors and contemporaries, compare the results obtained by them, and establish the completeness of coverage of the current topic.

On the basis of the analysis of the historiography devoted to the life and scientific heritage of Ya. Hoffman, it was established that the scientific activity and historical and cultural heritage of the scientist have not been comprehensively studied until now.

After assessing the state of research into Ya. Hoffman’s multifaceted activity, it was concluded that the socio-political and cultural layers of the scientist’s scientific heritage are the most studied. It has been established that despite the great attention paid to Ya. Hoffman’s work, his ethnographic works are still poorly studied.

The importance of a comprehensive consideration of the ethnographic studies of Ya. Hoffman as one of the leading ethnographers in the Volyn region is determined in order to clarify their significance for the development of modern Ukrainian ethnology.

Keywords: Yakub Hoffman, Poland, Volyn, Second Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, ethnography, traditional culture, historiography, interwar period.

Received 19.03.2024

REFERENCES

  • Chartkowski, A. (1930). Encyklopedia of Volynia in 8 scientific works — a useful work of primary school teachers. Morning express, 179, 3 [in Polish].
  • Kaden-Bandrowski, J. (1931). «Rochnik Volynski». Gazeta Warszawska, 195, 1—2 [in Polish].
  • (1931). Another golden book of local history «Rochnik Volynski». Kurjer Warszawski, 176, 1—2 [in Polish].
  • Broda, St. (1937). «Rochnik Volynski» and school needs in terms of taking into account regional material in teaching. The voice of Volynski’s teachers, 5—6, 81—90 [in Polish].
  • Chartkowski, A. (1930). «Rochnik Volynski». Volyn Land, 27 (108), 2—3 [in Polish].
  • Niec, U. (1938). Scientific movement in Volynia. Volyn Land, 1, 168 [in Polish].
  • Dublyanskyi, A. (1936, september 13). Volyn society of friends of science. Ukrainian field. Lutsk [in Ukrainian].
  • (1939). Volyn Bibliography. Volyn. A social, political and economic weekly, 9 (322), 2 [in Polish].
  • (1935). List of collaborators. Polish Biographical Dictionary (Vol. 1). Krakow: Polish Academy of Skills [in Polish].
  • Kuchynski, S. (1937). Scientific beginnings in Volyn. Polish-Ukrainian bulletin, 36, 403 [in Polish].
  • (1936). Album Index of the Senate and Sejm of the Republic of Poland and the Silesian Sejm. Term 1935—1940. Krakow: People’s Printing House [in Polish].
  • Hutsulyak, M. (1976). About the near from afar (Rivnenska Ukrainian Gymnasium 1923—1939). Vancouver: At the author’s expense [in Ukrainian].
  • Shumovskyi, Yu. (1951). From the history of the Ukrainian Rivne District Museum. We and the world. Paris, 7, 44—47 [in Ukrainian].
  • Sveshnikov, I. (1974). History of the population of Subcarpathia, Podillia and Volhynia at the end of the 3rd and the beginning of the 2nd millennium n. e. Kyiv: Naukova dumka [in Ukrainian].
  • Sveshnikov, I., & Nikolchenko, Yu. (1982). Handbook of archeology of Ukraine. Rivne region. Kyiv: Naukova dumka [in Ukrainian].
  • Bukhalo, G. (1991). Our Motherland — Volyn: (to the history of the Volyn Germans of the 14th century — 1940). Velika Volyn: past and present (theses of the regional scientific conference). Rivne [in Ukrainian].
  • Kotys, O. (Ed.). (2020). Yakub Hoffman. In the East of Europe: the interwar prosperity of Volyn. In O. Kotys. Burn this book (Pp. 22—26). Lutsk: blue folder [in Ukrainian].
  • Dobrochynska, V. (2004). Volynia pages of activities of the Polish family of Jakub and Jadwiga Hoffmann (1921—1939). Slavic Herald, 4, 57—64 [in Ukrainian].
  • Hytriy, Ch. (2011). (Ed.). A scientist, a teacher, a sensitive friend — Hoffmann Yakub. The past of the Rivne region is both distant and near. In Ch. Hytriy. Burn this book (Pp. 232—237). Rivne: DM [in Ukrainian].
  • Yarmoshyk, I. (2010). Historical and local studies of  (1896—1964) and his pedagogical and organizational activities in the study of Bolin in the 1930s. Intelligentsia and power, 20, 240—251 [in Ukrainian].
  • Danilicheva, V. (2021). Yakub is a teacher, researcher of Volyn, public figure. Volyn Monitor, 6/25, 4—5 [in Ukrainian].
  • Danilicheva, V. (1996). On the history of the Polish population in the Rivne region in the 19th and the first half of the 20th centuries. Scientific notes of the Rivne Regional History Museum, 1, 52—57 [in Ukrainian].
  • Danilicheva, V. (Ed.). (2022). Yakub — teacher, researcher of Volyn, public figure. Volyn (Rivnenshchyna) is multi-ethnic: History of national minorities. In V. Danilicheva. Burn this book (Pp. 281—285). Rivne: O. Zen [in Ukrainian].
  • Buslenko, V. (Ed.). (1996). Yakob Hoffman — Ambassador to the Diet. Our dear family… Volyn in the destinies of the regions and human documents (Vol. 2). In V. Buslenko. Burn this book (Pp. 272—273). Lutsk: Tower [in Ukrainian].
  • Olszewska, M. Polish-Ukrainian relations in Volynia in the years 1921—1939. Selected problems. Retrieved From: file:///C:/Users/Admin/Desktop/319-345%20Olszewska.pdf. (Last accessed: 19/03/2014) [in Polish].
  • Medrzecki, W. (2005). Polish intelligentsia in Volynia in the interwar period. Warszawa: Twarda [in Polish].
  • Tersky, S. (Ed.). (2010). Hoffman Yakub. History of archaeological research and historical local history of Volyn: monograph. In S. Tersky. Burn this book (Pp. 184—185). Lviv: Lviv Polytechnic [in Ukrainian].
  • Dmytruk, V. (1997). Yakub Hoffman is a researcher of Volyn in the interwar period. Volyn Museum: history and modernity (theses and materials of the 1st scientific and practical conference dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the Volyn Museum of Local History and the Kolodyazhne Literary and Memorial Museum of Lesya Ukrainka). Lutsk [in Ukrainian].
  • Dobrochynska, V. (2002). Local history studies of Polish researchers in Volyn (1921—1939). Theoretical and applied problems of country studies and local studies (materials of the First All-Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Conference). Rivne [in Ukrainian].
  • Prishchepa, O. (2002). Yakub Hoffman — organizer of studies of the history and culture of Volyn. Ethnocultural heritage of Rivne Polissia. Rivne, 2, 101—103 [in Ukrainian].
  • Prokopchuk, V. Historical local history in the Volyn Voivodeship (19211939). Retrieved from: http://dspace.kpnu.edu.ua:8080/jspui/bitstream/123456789/1712/1/istorichne (Last accessed: 06.03.2024) [in Ukrainian].
  • Gurina, V. Researcher of Great Volyn, who described more than a thousand settlements. Retrieved from: https://history.rayon.in.ua/news/358422-doslidnik-velikoyi-volini-iakii-opisav-ponad-tisiachu-naselenih-punktiv (Last accessed: 06.03.2024) [in Ukrainian].
  • Piotrovska, D. (2006). On the activities of Polish services for the protection of archaeological monuments in Western Ukraine in 1919—1939. Archaeological research of Lviv University. Lviv, 9, 67—88. URL: file:///C:/Users/Admin/Desktop/5-24.pdf [in Ukrainian].
  • Prishchepa, B. (2008). Historical local history of Volyn. Rivne: PP DM [in Ukrainian].
  • Prishchepa, O. (Ed.). (2006). Rivne addresses of Yakub Hoffman. The streets of Rivne: a look into the past. In O. Prishchepa. Burn this book (Pp. 74—76). Rivne [in Ukrainian].
  • Mashirovsky, V. (1996). Pages of the history of the Museum. Scientific notes of the Rivne Regional History Museum, 1, 7—11 [in Ukrainian].
  • Yarmoshyk, I. (2010). The main directions of the historical and regional study of Volynia by Polish scientists in the 1930s. Volyn historical notes (Vol. 4, pp. 37—46) [in Ukrainian].
  • Ukrainets, A. (1992). Ethnographic studies in Volyn (based on the materials of funds No. 366 and 160 of F. Shteingel and J. Hoffman). Past and present of Volyn. Local history: history, achievements, perspectives (theses of the report and announcement of the 2nd regional «Great Volyn» and 6th regional historical and regional conference). Lutsk [in Ukrainian].
  • Ukrainets, A. (1998). Rivne region in the studies of Polish ethnographers (20—30s of the 20th century). Slavic Herald, 1, 81—84 [in Ukrainian].
  • Polishchuk, Ya. (2009). Rivne. A journey through the ages: essays on the history of the city. Rivne: Volynski Oberehy [in Ukrainian].
  • Bendyuk, N. Analysis of the history of pysankarst research in southern Volhynia and Ostrozhchyna in particular. The history of museology, monument preservation, local history and tourism in Ostroh and Volyn. Retrieved from: 36.pdf (Last accessed: 03/06/2024) [in Ukrainian].
  • Martynyuk, V., & Yazevych, I. (2019). From the history of geographical studies of Volyn Polesia in the international period (1921—1939) by Polish scientists. Slupskie prece geograficzne, 16, 83—92 [in Ukrainian].
  • Kind-Voytyuk, N. (2011). Volyn society of friends of science in the study of the history and monuments of the Volyn voivodship (1935—1939). Proceedings, 9/2, 88—90 [in Ukrainian].
  • Kind-Voytiuk, N. (2008) Scientific societies of the Second Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the study of the history and monuments of the Volyn Voivodeship (1921—1939). Local history, 1—4, 22—27. Retrieved from: 03-Kind-Vijtyuk.pdf (Last accessed: 03.06.2024) [in Ukrainian].
  • Kind-Voityuk, N. Research of the history and monuments of the Volyn Voivodeship by scientific societies of the Second Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1921—1939. Historical studies. Retrieved from: Doslidzhennia_istorii_ta_pamiatok_Volynskoho_voievodstva_naukovymy_tovarystvamy.pdf (Last accessed: 03/06/2024) [in Ukrainian].
  • Poperetska, L (2008). Hoffman Yakub is a researcher of the Volyn region. Historical and cultural heritage of Dubna: legal, historical, artistic and museum aspects (materials of the scientific and practical conference dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the creation of the State Historical and Cultural Reserve of Dubna). Dubno [in Ukrainian].
  • Oshurkevich, O. (1992). Ethnographic materials on the pages of the «Volynsky Yearbook» (1930—1939). Past and present of Volyn. Local history: history, achievements, perspectives (theses of the report and notice of the 2nd regional «Greater Volyn» and 6th regional historical and regional conference). Lutsk [in Ukrainian].
  • Tatarkin, V. (1993). «Volynsky Yearbook» by Yakub Hoffman is an important source for studying the past of the Volyn region. Materials of the IV scientific and local history conference «Ostrog on the threshold of the 900th anniversary». Ostrig [in Ukrainian].
  • Yarmoshyk, I. (2010). Listopadowe (1830—1831) and Sichnewe (1963) Polish uprisings against tsarism in the pages of the magazine «Rocznik Woіyсski» (1930s). History of Ukraine. Retrieved from: November and January.pdf. (Last accessed: 06.03.2024) [in Ukrainian].
  • Zinevych, E. (1997, november 15). Scientific centers in Volyn during the twentieth interwar period (1921—1939). Seven days, 8 [in Ukrainian].
  • Danilewicz-Zielinska, M. (1996). Overlooked: Memories of Jakub Hoffman in «Rochnik Volynski». Historical Notebooks, 117 [in Polish].
  • Kondracki, T. (2006). Polish Historical Society in the years 1918—1939. Torun: GRADO Scientific Publishing House [in Polish].
  • Shvedova-Vodka, H. (1998). Bibliographical works of Yakub Hoffman on the pages of Volynskyi Yearbook (1931—1939). Bulletin of the Book Chamber, 11, 27—28 [in Ukrainian].
  • Shvedova-Vodka, H. (Ed.). (2011). Bibliographical works of Yakub Hoffman on the pages of «Volynsky Yearbook» (1931—1939). Theory, history, organization and methodology of bibliography. In H. Shvedova-Vodka. Burn this book (Pp. 378—381). Rivne [in Ukrainian].
  • Kulik, L. (1996). Yakub Hoffman and the study of Volyn culture. A word to young researchers (a collection of materials and theses of the interuniversity scientific-theoretical conference). Rivne [in Ukrainian].
  • Yarmoshyk, I. (2010). The participation of Volyn researchers in the preparation of the materials of «Polskiego slownika biograficznego» in the 1930s. Scientific bulletin of Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University. Retrieved from: file:///C:/Users/Admin/Desktop/Iarmoshyk.pdf (Last accessed: 06.03.2024) [in Ukrainian].
  • Zinevych, E. (1996, march 16). 100th anniversary of Yakub Hoffman. Seven days, 5 [in Ukrainian].
  • Yakub Hoffman (1896—1964): bibliographic essay for the 120th anniversary of his birth. Volyn researchers. Dates and fates. Retrieved from: Hofman.pdf. (Last accessed: 06.03.2024) [in Ukrainian].
  • To the 125th anniversary of the birth of Yakub Hoffman. Central Bank of Rivne. Retrieved from: https://rivnecbs.com.ua/anniversaries/31-do-125-rokiv-vid-dnja-narodzhennja-jakuba-gofmana. (Last accessed 06.03.2024) [in Ukrainian].
  • Gargas, K. Hoffman Jakub (1896—1964). Retrieved from: (archive.org) (Last accessed 06.03.2024) [in Polish].
  • Mushirovsky, V. (Ed.). (1998). Prominent public and cultural figures of the region in the studies of the Rivne Museum of Local History. Activists of science and art of the native region in the development of Ukrainian national culture. In V. Mushirovsky. Burn this book (Pp. 62—65). Rivne [in Ukrainian].
  • Gurina, V. Virtual exhibitions ROB. Yakub Hoffman (1896—1964) was a researcher of the Volyn region. Retrieved from: http://libr.rv.ua/ua/virt/210/ (Last accessed 06.03.2024) [in Ukrainian].
  • Hryschuk, L. (2008). The streets of Rivne will tell you: a bibliographic index. Rivne: Rivne CBS [in Ukrainian].
  • Kubiyovych, V. (Ed.). (1994). Hoffman Yakub. Encyclopedia of Ukrainian Studies (Vol. 2). Kyiv [in Ukrainian].
  • Pashchuk, I. (2005). Literary and local history encyclopedia of the Rivne region. Rivne: Volynski obеrеhy [in Ukrainian].
  • Kostrytsia, M. (Ed). (2006). Hoffman Jakub. Encyclopedia of modern Ukraine (Vol. 6). Kyiv: Institute of Encyclopedic Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine [in Ukrainian].
  • Okhrimenko, H. (Ed.). (2006). Yakub Hoffman [1896—1964]. Essays on the culture of ancient Volyn. In Okhrimenko H. Burn this book (P. 19). Lutsk: Volyn Oblast Printing House [in Ukrainian].
  • Kovalskyi, M. (Ed.). (2019). Hoffmann Yakub. Ostroh Academy: history and modernity of the cultural and educational center. In M. Kovalskyi. Burn this book (Pp. 147—148). Ostrog: NaUOA [in Ukrainian].
  • (2000).Deputies and senators of the Republic of Poland 1919—1939. Biographical dictionary (Vol. II.) Warsaw: Sejm Publishing House [in Polish].
  • Sreniowka, K. (1994). Hoffman Jakub. Dictionary of Polish historians. Warsaw [in Polish].
  • Kind-Voytiuk, N. (2019). Sources for studying the history and preservation of monuments in Volyn in the 1920s and 1930s. Local history, 4, 134—142. Retrieved from: 15-Kind.pdf. (Last accessed 06.03.2024) [in Ukrainian].
  • Vytkalov, V. (2011). Cultural and artistic practice of the Volyn region in archival documents and materials: a retrospective analysis. Bulletin of the Mariupol State University series: Philosophy, cultural studies, sociology, 1, 26—33. Retrieved from: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/kulturno-hudozhestvennaya-praktika-volynskogo-kraya-v-arhivnyh-dokumentah-i-materialah-retrospektivnyy-analiz-1/viewer (Last accessed 06.03.2024) [in Ukrainian].
  • Dobrochynska, V. (2000). Periodicals of the Volyn Voivodeship in the interwar period (1921—1939). Scientific Bulletin of Lesia Ukrainka State University: Series: Historical Sciences, 3, 86—89 [in Ukrainian].

Read»

Our authors
Wax candle as ukrainian Christmas and epiphany ritualistic text
For the first time in native ethnology the article has brought some results of special study in sign functionality of a wax candle under the context of Ukrainian Christmas and Epiphany ritualistic text (ritualism of Christmas Eve, New Year, Epiphany Eve and Feast of Epiphany). The study has stated extremely high semiotic position of a wax candle as projection of Sun, mediator between the spheres of sacral and prophane elements, symbolic analogue of human existence, apotropy, cultural symbol re-establishing borders of acculturated space.
Read »

Maternity ritualism by volhynians in publications of the second half XIX to the early XXI cc.
In the article have been considered some basic landmarks for fixing and publication of ethnographic materials on the maternity rites of Volhynia with analytical study in ritual elements, their kinds and territories of origin. The article has also raised a problem of gaps in studies of maternity rites of Ukrainian historio-ethnographic Volhynia.
Read »

On field exploration of russian and belarusian ethnologists and etnolinguists in Ukrainian Polisia 1945—1980s
In the study based on a wide range of literary materials have been comprehensively characterised field research in Polisia of Ukraine, performed by Russian and Belarusian ethnologists during 1945—1980s as well as Moscow ethnolinguists and other researchers from ethnologic centres of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus in the course of realization of Ethnolinguistic Atlas of Polisia program. Particular attention has been paid to geography, methods, themes and research results of scientific projects.
Read »

Traditional folk clothes of velikobychkovsky hutsuly of XIX — the first half of XX century
In the study based upon numerous field materials, literature sources as well as ethnographic, historio-cultural and regional museum collections has been performed complex analysis in traditional folk clothes by Hutzul population of Velyky Bychkiv village in Transcarpathian region. Detailed descriptions of femi­nine and masculine clothing complexes of the mentioned area have been presented. In characterizing of those main attention has been paid to the detail of cut in separate components of dress; cut of feminine shirt has been added as an illustration.
Read »