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« 2026. # 2 (188)

The Ethnology Notebooks. 2026. № 2 (188), 482—487

UDK 069:7]:373(477-22):[39:323.1]

DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/

  • Received: 11.03.2026
  • Accepted: 20.03.2026
  • Published: ??.??.2026

THE ROLE OF RURAL SCHOOL MUSEUMS IN PRESERVING ETHNIC IDENTITY

HERUS Lyudmyla

  • ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5931-3816
  • Doctor of Sciences in History, 
  • Сandidate of Аrts (Ph. D), Head of the Department of Folk Art,
  • The Institute of Ethnology of the National Academy
  • of Sciences of Ukraine,
  • 15, Svobody Avenue, 79000, Lviv, Ukraine,
  • Contacts: e-mail: ludmilagerus@gmail.com

Abstract. Introduction. The world community recognizes intangible cultural heritage as an independent spiritual phenomenon and an integral part of human civilization, which has a number of important social functions. A special role in solving these problems is played by practitioners of rural school museums. Despite the globalization trends of post-industrial society, a stable structure is still evident in many Ukrainian villages, and a careful attitude towards traditions has been preserved.

The purpose of this article is to consider the prerequisites for the creation of rural school museums, to highlight the areas of their activity, to clarify the significance of historical and local history work in the educational sphere, in particular, to identify the impact of the activities of rural school museums on the younger generation’s awareness of the importance of cultural memory and the preservation of ethnic identity.

The object of the study is the historical and cultural prerequisites for the formation of rural school museums, and the subject is the expositions and artifacts of these museums. The source base was the materials collected by the author from the archive of the Institute of Ethnology of the NAS of Ukraine, the historical and cultural background of the formation of the Didushytskyi Museum collection, and the subject is the artefacts of this collection. The source base consists of materials collected by the author, which are stored in the Archives of the Institute of Ethnology of the NAS of Ukraine.

Conclusions. In the current situation of the disappearance of traditional cultural objects, the village school and local history museum act as the main translators of ethnocultural heritage. The village school museum is a real custodian of things that characterize the evolutionary development of the area, the uniqueness of local crafts, objects, and preserve the memory of heroes and famous countrymen. Creating conditions favorable for the existence and development of traditions also depends on the implementation of scientific and educational, publishing, propaganda, and exhibition activities.

Keywords: ethnology, intangible cultural heritage, rural school museum, decorative and applied arts, exhibition, museum pedagogy, identity.

REFERENCES

  • Text of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Retrieved from: https://ich.unesco.org/en/convention (access date: 28.02.2026).
  • Archive of the Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. F. I. Op. 2. Od. coll. 581 в [in Ukrainian].
  • Archive of the Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. F. I. Op. 2. Od. coll. 596в [in Ukrainian].
  • Archive of the Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. F. I. Op. 2. Od. coll. 599а [in Ukrainian].
  • Archive of the Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. F. I. Op. 2. Od. coll. 767 [in Ukrainian].
  • Archive of the Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. F. I. Op. 2. Od. coll. 772 [in Ukrainian].
  • Archive of the Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. F. I. Op. 2. Od. coll. 784а [in Ukrainian].
  • (2004, May 19). Zazhynki on the spiritual field of Pohorilivka: opening of the museum. Bukovynske Veche [in Ukrainian].
  • School Museum of the History of the Village of Pohorilivka — the Center for Local History. Retrieved from: https://nadoest.com/shkilenij-muzej-istoriyi-sela-pogorilivka–centr-krayeznavchoy (access date: 28.02.2026).
  • Herus, L. (2020). Preservation of intangible cultural heritage: Ukrainian experience. The Ethnology notebooks, 1, 3—14 [in Ukrainian]. 
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