« 2026. # 1 (187)

The Ethnology Notebooks. 2026. № 1 (187), 193—200

UDK 94(477) 929:94](477.82)”19/20″

DOI https://doi.org/10.15407//nz2026.01.193

The date the article was first submitted to the publication 14.01.2026

The date the article was accepted for publication after review 28.01.2026

The date of publication (publication)

THE SHUMOVSKY FAMILY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE FORMATION OF REGIONAL MEMORY

SKAKALSKA Іryna

  • ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8705-7971
  • Doctor of History Science, Professor, Head of the Department
  • of Ukrainian Language and Literature, History and Methods
  • of Their Teaching Kremenets Taras Shevchenko Regional Academy
  • of Humanities and Pedagogy,
  • 1, Lyceyna Str., 47003, Kremenets, Ukraine,
  • Conacts: e-mail: Irunas@ukr.net

Abstract. The relevance of the article is due to the need to find out the contribution of representatives of the famous Volyn family of Shumovsky to the cultural, scientific and public life of the region. The study focuses on the problem of preserving and representing family heritage as a component of the regional historical memory of Volyn. Sources of personal origin, archival materials, museum exhibitions and initiatives aimed at popularizing the history of the family in the modern cultural space are analyzed. Special attention is paid to the ethnographic interests of the family members, their scientific expeditions, and the collection of monuments of folk culture and everyday life, which reflects the desire to preserve the spiritual and material traditions of Volyn. The role of the Shumovsky family in forming the moral and spiritual guidelines of the community, in combining scientific research with a Christian worldview, patronage and service to society is emphasized. The ascetic work of Yuri Shumovsky in preserving monuments of the past is analyzed. He conducted archaeological excavations in the territory of Volhynia as a delegate of the Warsaw Archaeological Museum, wrote a number of works that he published in contemporary magazines. Through popular science publications, the scientist promoted the preservation and protection of monuments of the past, appealed to local residents to join in the preservation of archaeological and ethnographic finds and transfer them to museums. His brother Petro Shumovsky carried out local history research and published the monograph «Ostrig».

The methodological basis of the article is the method of prosopography.

The main attention is paid to how the memory of Shumovsky is integrated into the public history of the region, influences the formation of local identity and becomes a factor in preserving the cultural continuity of generations. The article emphasizes the importance of family history as a tool for understanding the past of Volhynia and the Kremenchchyna and the development of modern practices of commemoration.

Keywords: Yuri Shumovsky, ethnology, folk religiosity, historical memory, spiritual culture, national heritage, civic competence, Kremenets.

REFERENCES

  • Shamara, S.O. (2007). The role of rural clergy in educational and national-cultural activities in the Dnieper Ukraine region (second half of the 19th — early 20th century). Zbirnyk naukovykh prats. Seriia «Istoriia ta heohrafiia», 25—26, 33 [in Ukrainian].
  • Dobrochynska, V.A., & Postolovskyi, R.M. (Ed.), (2010). Yurii Shumovskyi: milestones of life and activity (1908—2004). In: R.M. Postolovskyi. Aktualni problemy vitchyznianoi ta vsesvitnoi istorii (Vol. 19, pp. 68—73). Rivne: RDHU [in Ukrainian].
  • Pshenychnyi, M. (2018). Our family did not idle: A narrative-essay in letters and memories to the 110th anniversary of Yurii Shumovskyi’s birth. Dubno: MP [in Ukrainian].
  • Yaremchuk, V. (2018). Yurii Shumovskyi as an ethnographer and archaeologist: historiographical aspect. The Ethnology notebooks, 4 (142), 967—975. Retrieved from: https://nz.lviv.ua/2018-4-20/ [in Ukrainian].
  • Yaremchuk, V. (2025). Ethnographic activity of Yurii Shumovskyi. Kyiv: Naukova dumka [in Ukrainian].
  • Udod, O.A. (2021). Historical memory. Retrieved from: http://resource.history.org.ua/cgi-bin/eiu/history.exe [in Uk-rainian].
  • Smolin, P. (Ed.). (2005). Dubno, my princely city! Lutsk [in Ukrainian].
  • Rivnenskyi Ukrainian Lyceum. Retrieved from: https://rug.rv.ua/index.php?do=static&page=kabist [in Ukrainian].
  • Shumovskyi, Yu. (1994). The ruined nest, or the history of one priestly family in Volyn (Vol. 1). Savannah, USA [in Ukrainian].
  • Shumovskyi, Yu. (1994). The ruined nest, or the history of one priestly family in Volyn (Vol. 2, p. 41). Savannah, USA [in Ukrainian].
  • Skakalska, I. (2010). Memoirs of Yurii Shumovskyi as a source on the history of the spiritual intelligentsia of Volyn in the first half of the 20th century. Aktualni problemy vitchyznianoi ta vsesvitnoi istorii (P. 247). Rivne State University for the Humanities [in Ukrainian].
  • Archaeological sites in the Dubieсski district. Good day [in Polish].
  • 13.Shumovskyi, Yu. (1994). The ruined nest, or the history of one priestly family in Volyn (Vol. 3, p. 137). Savannah, USA [in Ukrainian].
  • 14.Sereda, O., & Stasio, I. Shumovskyi Arsen. Retrieved from: https://biograma.net.ua/shumovskyy-arsen/ [in Ukrainian].
  • 15.(1957). Ukrainian engineers in the world. Visti ukrainskykh inzheneriv, 2, 151 [in Ukrainian].
  • 16.Samchuk, U. (2007). On a white horse. On a black horse: Memories and impressions. Ostroh; Lutsk: Tverdynia [in Ukrainian].
  • 17.Shumovskyi, A. (1962). A bow to the Holy Pochaiv Lavra. Toronto [in Ukrainian].
  • 18.Voitovych, S. (2000). Petro Shumovskyi (1902—1966). In: Ostrozky enlighteners of the 16th—20th centuries (P. 203). Ostroh [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 »

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 »

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 »

On bessarabian and moldavian ukrainians in the studies of historical ethnography
The article has thrown some light upon a sum of scientific findings got during XIX to XXI cc. in historio-ethnographic studies of Bessarabia and Moldavian Ukrainians. In the pre­sent paper has been given author’s answer to the problem of lacking progress as for the numerous themes concerning Ukrainians. State and achievements of the research-works in Ukrainians’ material and spiritual culture by the scientists of Moldavia and Ukraine through the years of independence has been exposed.
Read »