All-Ukrainian Day of Local History

Since 2017, the list of holidays and memorable dates has included the All-Ukrainian Day of Local History. It was established in memory of the creation of the Ukrainian Committee of Local History in Kharkiv in 1925, which became the predecessor of the modern National Union of Local Historians of Ukraine. This event is now commemorated by a memorial plaque installed on the wall of the Kharkiv Regional Children and Youth Creativity Palace.

Of course, long before the establishment of the Committee, there was amateur local history, which manifested itself in various historical conditions through local history expeditions and excursions, museums and exhibitions, popular books and articles. In the second half of the 20th century, local history formed into an independent scientific field and became a widespread public movement.

Kharkiv residents have always been at the forefront of local history research, with leading roles played by scholars from Karazin University. It was here that the first Center for Local History in Ukraine was established, bearing the illustrious name of our Slobozhansky compatriot, Hero of Ukraine, and academician Petro Tronko.

In essence, it is not only creative unions and other public organizations that engage in local history to some extent, but each of us is also a local historian. We not only know a lot about our native land and pass this knowledge on to others, but together we write its history. Everyone has their own native corner, and together they make up our common great homeland. The history of the country, its people, moves from the past to the future, absorbing new facts and enriching itself with new colors and stories.

We congratulate everyone on this holiday! We invite you to view the new online exhibition "Ode to Kharkiv," prepared for the All-Ukrainian Day of Local History by the team of the Petro Tronko Center for Ukrainian Studies and Local Lore.