Ukrainian-Americans in the Midwest, 1990-1991
A Guide to the Collection of Oral History Interviews at Indiana University
Bloomington
Finding aid prepared by the staff of the Center for
the Study of History and Memory with a grant from the National Endowment for the
Humanities Division of Preservation and Access, 2000-2002
Overview of the Collection
Repository
Indiana University Center for Documentary Research and Practice
Indiana University
Franklin Hall 0030B
601 E. Kirkwood Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405
Phone: 812/855-2856
Fax: 812/855-0002
E-mail: ohrc@indiana.edu
https://cdrp.mediaschool.indiana.edu
Creator
Indiana University Center for the
Study of History and Memory
TitleUkrainian-Americans in the Midwest, 1990-1991
Project No.
ohrc099
Interviews
12 interviews. Audiotapes, transcripts, and collateral
materials.
Physical Location
Interviews are housed in Franklin Hall, Room 0030B. Copies of interview transcripts are also held by the IU Libraries University
Archives.
Contact archives@indiana.edu for more information. For other locations housing the interviews
from this project, please contact the Center for Documentary Research and Practice office.
Language
Materials are in English and Ukranian
Abstract
This project examines the lives of Ukrainian-American immigrants.
Two of the interviews are conducted in Ukrainian. The time periods covered are
the 1930s-1990s. The interviewees discuss immigration, traditions, religion and
Ukrainian-American community organizations. Some of major topics are the United
States culture, Ukrainian-American youth organizations, Ukrainian religious
ceremonies in the United States, and Ukrainian language and culture
instruction. Ukrainian wedding and holiday traditions are also discussed.
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains twelve interviews conducted over one year. The interviews range from 30 to 389 minutes. All interviews
consist of audio tapes and some have typed transcripts.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Oral history interviews conducted by the Indiana University Center for the
Study of History and Memory from 1968 to the present, with particular focus on the
history of twentieth-century America and the Midwest.
Usage Restrictions
The archive of the Center for Documentary Research and Practice at Indiana University is open
to the use of researchers. Copies of transcript pages are available only when such copies
are permitted by the deed of gift. Scholars must honor any
restrictions the interviewee placed on the use of the interview. Since some of our earlier
(pre-computer) transcripts do not exist in final form, any editing marks in a transcript
(deletions, additions, corrections) are to be quoted as marked. Audio files may not be copied for
patrons unless the deed of gift permits it, and a transcript is unavailable for that
interview. The same rules of use that apply to a transcript apply to the audio interview.
Interviews may not be reproduced in full for any public use, but excerpted quotes may be
used as long as researchers fully cite the data in their research, including accession
number, interview date, interviewee's and interviewer's name, and page(s).
Preferred Citation
[interviewee first name last name] interview, by [interviewer first name last
name], [interview date(s)], [call number], [project name], Center for Documentary Research and Practice, Indiana University,
Bloomington, [page number(s) or tape
number and side if no transcript; if digital audio and no transcript, cite time when quote occurs].
Interview List
Interviewee
Hulewicz, Maria
March 11,
1991
Call Number
90-058
Physical Description
Not transcribed; 5 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 282 minutes;
interview conducted in Ukrainian
Ukrainian
Interviewer
Huk, Chrystyna
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Maria Hulewicz of, Goshen, Indiana, discusses the
Ukrainian-American community, her life history, and religion.
-
Keywords
-
-
Place Names
- Goshen, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- Ukrainian-American churches
- Ukrainian-American community
- Ukrainian-Americans
Interviewee
Lah, Marta
February 12,
1991
Call Number
90-057
Physical Description
Not transcribed; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 46 minutes
Interviewer
Huk, Chrystyna
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Marta Lah, of Lafayette, Indiana, discusses her ethnic
background and education. Lah's father is an immigrant from the Ukraine and her
mother is from Austria. She describes speaking German and Ukrainian in her home
as a child. She also discusses the Ukrainian ethnic community in Chicago and
her involvement at the Ukrainian school.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Inland Steel Company
- Plast
- St. Nicolas Ukrainian School
-
-
Occupation Names
- tailor
- welder
-
-
Place Names
- Austria
- East Chicago, Indiana
- Gary, Indiana
- Poland
- Portage, Indiana
- Samir, Ukraine
-
-
Subjects
- family history
- German language
- holiday traditions
- Plast camp
- Ukrainian-American community
- Ukrainian-American organizations
- Ukrainian church
- Ukrainian language
- Ukrainian school
- World War II
Interviewee
Liber, Maria
March 26,
1991
Call Number
90-059
Physical Description
Not transcribed; 7 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 389 minutes;
interview conducted in Ukrainian
Interviewer
Huk, Chrystyna
Access Status
Restricted: Contact the Center for Documentary Research and Practice for more information.
Scope and Content Note
Maria Liber, of Crown Point, Indiana, discusses the
Ukrainian-American community, her life history, and religious traditions.
-
Keywords
-
-
Subjects
- Ukrainian-American churches
- Ukrainian-American community
Interviewee
Medynsky, Irene
May 24,
1991
Call Number
90-060
Physical Description
171 pages; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 119 minutes
Interviewer
Huk, Chrystyna
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Irene Medynsky, of East Hammond, Indiana, discusses her life as
a Ukrainian-American woman in Munster, Indiana. She describes her education at
a Ukrainian-American boarding school in the United States, her traditional
wedding ceremony and her children. She discusses Ukrainian-American
organizations and the traditional cultural education of her children.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- St. Basil's Academy
- Ukrainian Congress Committee of America
- Ukrainian Youth Association
-
-
Place Names
- Buchutz, Ukraine
- East Hammond, Indiana
- Galacia, Ukraine
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
-
-
Subjects
- boarding school
- education
- educational youth organizations
- first generation Ukrainian-American
- Ukrainian-American organizations
- Ukrainian-Americans
- Ukrainian foodways
- Ukrainian holiday traditions
- Ukrainian wedding traditions
Interviewee
Ostapchuk, Eugenia
March 13,
1991
Call Number
90-063
Physical Description
185 pages; 3 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 137 minutes
Interviewer
Huk, Chrystyna
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Eugenia Ostapchuk of Elkhart, Indiana, born 1912, discusses her
life as an immigrant to Elkhart, Indiana and her life in the Ukraine. She
discusses customs, education, and community involvement in the Ukraine. She
also talks about religious customs and Ukrainian organizations in the United
States. Her ties with the Ukraine spans the Russian Revolution, World War I,
Polish occupation, World War II, and the Cold War.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church
- Ukrainian Congress Committee of America
- Ukrainian National Women's League of America
-
-
Family Names
- Dijurd
- Feisser
- Marcwich
- Najuk
- Papp
- Sacawash
-
-
Personal Names
- Horan, John
- Pershum, Mike
-
-
Place Names
- Elkhart, Indiana
- Massachusetts
- Sapka, Zbaraz, Ukraine
- Zalusha, Zbaraz, Ukraine
-
-
Subjects
- choir
- economic conditions
- employment
- Greek Catholic church
- Polish occupation
- Soviet occupation
- Ukrainian-Americans
- Ukrainian Catholic church
- Ukrainian cooperatives
- Ukrainian education
- Ukrainian farming
- Ukrainian holiday traditions
- Ukrainian nationalist movement
- Ukrainian wedding traditions
- World War II
Interviewee
Stadnik, Jo
August 20,
1990
Call Number
90-054
Physical Description
Not transcribed; 3 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 155
minutes
Interviewer
Huk, Chrystyna
Access Status
Restricted: contact the Center of Documentary Research and Practice for more information.
Scope and Content Note
Jo Stadnik, of Hammond, Indiana, discusses her family background
and her experience with Ukrainian education and tradition. She discusses her
ethnic identity and pride. Stadnik describes her involvement with the Ukrainian
Orthodox church. She also shares her work experiences during World War II.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- AMOCO
- General American Corporation
- Inland Steel Company
- St. Michael's Sisterhood of Our Lady of Perpetual
Health
- St. Michael's Ukrainian Orthodox Church
- St. Nicolas Russian Orthodox Church
- Standard Steel
- Ukrainian Orthodox League
-
-
-
Occupation Names
- homemaker
- steelworker
-
-
Personal Names
- Stadnik, Michael
- Verminski, Peter
-
-
Place Names
- Czechoslovakia
- Hammond, Indiana
- Velega, Austria-Hungary
-
-
Subjects
- church activities
- church calendar
- church choir
- church construction
- church memorial
- employment
- ethnic identity
- family history
- fundraising
- gardening
- gender roles
- Great Depression
- house structure
- leisure activities
- schooling
- Ukrainian-American churches
- Ukrainian community
- Ukrainian dance
- Ukrainian education
- Ukrainian festivals
- Ukrainian foodways
- Ukrainian language
- Ukrainian occupations
- World War II
Interviewee
Vaughn, Katherine
June 23,
1991
Call Number
90-061
Physical Description
Not transcribed; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 81
minutes
Interviewer
Huk, Chrystyna
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Katherine Vaughn, of Munster, Indiana, discusses her life as a
Ukrainian-American woman. She describes Ukrainian holiday and religious
traditions that she practices with her family. She shares the American
traditions that are followed in her household. She also discusses growing up in
a family that was different because of their ethnic heritage and how this
affected her. Katherine describes her pride in her ethnic background and her
desire to continue her ethnic education.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Indiana University
- St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church
-
-
Place Names
- Iowa City, Iowa
- Munster, Indiana
-
-
Subjects
- church organizations
- ethnic education
- gender roles
- holy communion
- religious celebrations
- Roman Catholic church
- St. Nicolas celebration
- Ukrainian-American community
- Ukrainian Catholic church
-
Ukrainian Christmas: Traditions,
Folk Customs, and Recipes
- Ukrainian foodways
- Ukrainian holiday traditions
Interviewee
Wasylowsky, Anna
August 6,
1990
Call Number
90-052
Physical Description
Not transcribed; 1 tape, 1 7/8 ips, 30 minutes
Interviewer
Huk, Chrystyna
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Anna Wasylowsky, interviewed in her home in Munster, Indiana,
describes the Ukrainian community. She discusses her involvement with Ukrainian
organizations such as the Ukrainian National Women's Leagues and the Ukrainian
National Association. She also shares her work as a sponsor, notary, typist,
and clerical worker for refugees applying for immigration to the United States
after World War II.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Ukrainian National Association
- Ukrainian National Women's League of America
-
-
Place Names
- Chicago, Illinois
- Ukraine
-
-
Subjects
- Communism
- cultural division
- fundraising
- refugee applications
- refugee employment
- refugee immigration
- refugee sponsorship
- Ukrainian-American churches
- Ukrainian-American community
- Ukrainian-Americans
- Ukrainian community
- Ukrainian ethnic education
- Ukrainian famine
- Ukrainian holiday traditions
- Ukrainian organizations
Interviewee
Wasylowsky, Geraldine
August 21,
1990
Call Number
90-055
Physical Description
Not transcribed; 3 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 139
minutes
Interviewer
Huk, Chrystyna
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Geraldine Wasylowsky of, Munster, Indiana, discusses her life as
the child of a Ukrainian Immigrant. She describes her childhood experiences,
her profession as a high school history teacher, and how she integrates
Ukrainian history and customs into the classroom. She discusses Ukrainian
historical literature, art, and heroes. Ms. Wasylowsky also shares her feelings
about her ethnic background and her pride in her heritage.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Chicago Museum of Science and Industry
- Delta Delta Delta Sorority
-
News-Star
Newspaper
- Northwestern University
- St. Nicolas Byzantine Catholic Church
- St. Nicolas Catholic School
- Ukrainian Congress Committee of America
- Ukrainian National Association
- Ukrainian National Women's League of America
-
-
-
Personal Names
- Aldreich, Ira
- Manning, Clarence A.
- Shevchenko, Tara
-
-
Place Names
- Chicago, Illinois
- Kiev, Ukraine
- Munster, Indiana
- Paramesh, Ukraine
- Wynetka, Illinois
-
-
Subjects
- church
bazaar
- ethnic prejudice
- family history
- gender roles
- religious calendar dispute
- Ukrainian American art
- Ukrainian Catholic grammar school
- Ukrainian Easter egg exhibits
- Ukrainian foodways
- Ukrainian historical literature
- Ukrainian independence
- Ukrainian language
-
Ukrainian
Literature
- Ukrainian newspapers
- Ukrainian organizations
- Ukrainian traditions
- union work
- Venetian Nights
- World War II
Interviewee
Werkiansky, Wasylyna
November 15,
1990
Call Number
90-056
Not transcribed; 2 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 89
minutes
Interviewer
Huk, Chrystyna
Access Status
Restricted: contact the Center for Documentary Research and Practice for more information
Scope and Content Note
Wasylyna Werkiansky of Elkhart, Indiana, discusses her life in
the Ukraine and her immigration to the United States after World War II. She
describes her home village of LaPushna, Ukraine, the layout of their farm and
house. She also discusses the Romanian, Soviet, and German occupations of the
Ukraine. Wasylyna discusses her family's escape from Soviet rule after the war.
She explains their life in the displaced persons camps in Germany and the life
they made in the United States.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Church World Services
- International Relief Association
- Plast
-
-
-
Personal Names
- Raybright, George
-
-
Place Names
- Bochwana, Ukraine
- Brooklyn, New York
- Elkhart, Indiana
- Kalisberg, German
- LaPushna, Ukraine
- Munich, Germany
- Neumarkt, Germany
- New York, New York
-
-
Subjects
- American liberation
- Church of the Brethren
- displaced persons camps
- Easter
- German school
- holiday clothing
- inheritance customs
- refugee sponsorship
- religious holidays
- Romanian occupation
- Soviet repatriation
- Ukrainian-American churches
- Ukrainian-American community
- Ukrainian-Americans
- Ukrainian Easter eggs
- Ukrainian foodways
- Ukrainian organizations
- Ukrainian Orthodox church
- Ukrainian school
- Ukrainian village layout
- Ukrainian village life
- World War II
Interviewee
Wojtechko, Emil
August 2,
1990
Call Number
90-051
Physical Description
Not transcribed; 5 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 243
minutes
Interviewer
Huk, Chrystyna
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Emil Wojtechko, of Illinois, discusses his experiences as a
Ukrainian growing up in his home country and then his immigration to the United
States. He explains the layout and jobs in his small village, and his
education. Emil also discusses Polish and Soviet occupation of the Ukraine. He
then shares the experiences of his family during World War II during German
occupation and their stay in displaced persons camps throughout Germany after
the war. Emil goes on to describe his immigration to the United States and his
education after he arrived. He discusses his career, family, and Ukrainian
pride.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- United States Army
-
-
Occupation Names
- farmer
- mason
- steelworker
-
-
Place Names
- Ambridge, Pennsylvania
- Czechoslovakia
- Dabranil, Ukraine
- Dachau, Germany
- Karlsfeld, Germany
- Kolberg, Germany
- Monee, Illinois
- New York, New York
- Poland
- Ruhr, Germany
- Swiko, Germany
- Ternava, Ukraine
- Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
- Zwickau, Germany
-
-
Subjects
- farming
- house structure
- inheritance customs
- Polish occupation
- Ukrainian-American churches
- Ukrainian-American community
- Ukrainian-Americans
- Ukrainian army
- Ukrainian education
- Ukrainian independence
- Ukrainian life
Interviewee
Wojtechko, Maria
August 8,
1990
Call Number
90-053
Physical Description
Not transcribed; 3 tapes, 1 7/8 ips, 125
minutes
Interviewer
Huk, Chrystyna
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Maria Wojtechko, of Illinois, born March 26, 1919, discusses her
life as the child of Ukrainian immigrants. She discusses housing, education,
and language in the Ukrainian community. Maria describes her Ukrainian ethnic
education, learning to play the mandolin, and ethnic dancing. She also
discusses the financial hardships of the Great depression, work during World
War II, and her marriage. She concludes by briefly discussing raising her
children to be aware of their ethnic background.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Curtiss-Wright Corporation
- International Working Men's Association
- Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church
- Ukrainian-American Youth Association
-
-
Occupation Names
- steelworker
- welder
-
-
Personal Names
- Beck, Mary
-
-
Place Names
- Ambridge, Pennsylvania
- Illinois
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
-
-
Subjects
- child-rearing
- class differences
- club activity
- elementary education
- gender roles
- Great Depression
- immigration
- mandolin playing
- steel mills
- tenement housing
- Ukrainian language
- Ukrainian school
- Ukrainian traditions
- World War II
