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Vaclau Panucevich papers

 Collection
Identifier: IHRC2035

Abstract

Collection consists of correspondence, Displaced Persons documentation, notebooks, newsletters, newspaper clippings and event memorabilia.

Selected items from the collection have been digitized and are available in the University of Minnesota's U Media Archive and on the Digitizing Immigrant Letters project website (see "Digital material" below).

Dates

  • Creation: 1930-1990

Creator

Language of Materials

Belarusian, English, German

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS

Open for use in the Elmer L. Andersen Library reading room.

OWNERSHIP & LITERARY RIGHTS

This collection may be protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to obtain all necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials. Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provision of the copyright law.

For further information regarding the copyright, please contact the IHRCA.

HISTORICAL SKETCH

Panucevich (Papucevich), Vaclau (Вацлаў Пануцэвіч) (1910 - August 25, 1991) An editor of the "25 Sakavika" magazine, head of the Belarusian Scout Association in diaspora, vice-president of the Belarusian-American Catholic Association, journalist, publisher, translator, historian, political and cultural activist of the Belarusian diaspora in America. Born in a town of Malaja Olshanka near Grodno. Studied theology in the Catholic seminary. Was expelled from the seminary for his Belarusian nationalist activities. Beginning in 1936, V. Panucevich studied law at the Vilnia Stephan Batory (Polish: Wilno, Lithuanian: Vilnius) University. A member of the Belarusian Christian Democratic Party (BCDP) since 1935. Took part in the activities of the "Academic circle of the friends of Belarusian studies" (1936 - 1939). From 1935, he was a member of the editorial board of the "Student Tribune" (Studenckaja Trybuna), the youth supplement to the "Bielaruskaja Krynica" newspaper. In 1935, he became editor of the "25 Sakavika" magazine (1935-1938).After the split of the BCDP in 1936, he joined the "Belarusian Front" of the Rev. V. Gadleuski. Sentenced to a year in Polish prison for his editorial, "The state independence of Belarus" in the issue 8 "Belarusian Front" published on August 30, 1938.He was drafted into the Polish Army in September 1939, captured by the Soviets and soon released. Worked as a school teacher of Belarusian language and literature in the city of Harodnia (Grodno). As a member of the local chapter of the Belarusian National Committee (Bielaruski nacyjanalny kamitet) taught in Harodnia teachers courses. Between 1941 and 1944 worked for the German civil administration of the city of Baranavichy.Since 1944, in exile - first in DP camps in Germany, and after 1949 in the United States where he settled in Chicago. He was a head of the Association of Belarusian Scouts in exile, Secretary of the Belarusian-American National Council (1950), Vice-chairman of the Belarusian-American Catholic Association (May 1950).Founded the "Belarusian publishing company" (Bielaruskaja Vydavieckaja Siabryna) in the early 1960s. Published religious and historical journals "Belaruskaja Carkva" ("The Belarusian Church") and "Litva".Translated various Eastern (Byzantine Catholic and Orthodox) and Western (Roman Catholic) liturgical texts into Belarusian.His main works include:Zamojdz і Litva: Roznyja krainy і narody (Чыкага, 1953—19),З гісторыі Беларусі або Крывіччыны-Літвы» (Чыкага, 1965),Крывіцкая этнаграфічная прастора»,Зь гісторыі вышэйшых школ у Беларусі. 1. Віленская акадэмія»,Пачаткі хрысьціянства на нашых землях»,Плян Агінскага 1811 г.»,Сьв. Афрасіньня Полацкая» ("Бібліятэчка «БГА», ?),З гісторыі Беларусі альбо Крывіччыны-Літвы»,Вінцэсь Гадлеўскі…» («Спадчына», 1993),Літва і Беларусь»,Берасьцейская вунія» ("Бібліятэчка «БГА», ?),Сьвяты Язафат Кунцэвіч» (Чыкага, 1963; Полацк, «Сафія», 2000),Паўстаньне 1863 на Беларусі»,Гарадзеншчына ў нацыянальным руху ў 1918—1919 гадах» («Бацькаўшчын8 - 1960-я; «Пагоня», 1994),Беларуская Аўтакефальная Праваслаўная Царква» ("Бібліятэчка «БГА», ? Married to Irena Klara Panucevich (nee Budzka). Budźka Eduard (also spelled Budźka Advardy; Будзька Эдуард), teacher, economist, political leader. Eduard Budźka was born in the town of Budsłaŭ (Vialejka district) on March 22, 1882. Budźka entered the Belarusian national movement at an early age and was one of the pioneers in organizing the Belarusian colony in Riga at the turn of the century. He frequently contributed to the newspaper Naša Niva, often visited the editorial offices in Vilna, and was one of the most successful promoters of this newspaper in the countryside. Budźka lived and studied in St. Petersburg where he founded and edited the Belarusian newspaper, Śvietač, in 1916. He maintained close contacts with Belarusians in Miensk and assisted in organizing the Belarusian administration and Belarusian schools in his native region. Eduard Budźka was among the pioneers who convened the Belarusian political conference in Miensk in March of 1917 and the First All-Belarusian Congress in December of the same year. After the December Congress, he became very actively involved in the organization of Belarusian cooperative enterprises and Belarusian schools. Budźka was the secretary of the Commission for the establishment of the Belarusian State University by the Government of the BDR in Miensk, June 1918. He was the initiator in establishing the first Belarusian Teachers' Seminary in the town of Budsłaŭ in 1918. Budźka moved to Latvia from Poland in the early 1920s and was also involved in the organization of the Belarusian school system, and administered the Belarusian Teachers' Courses in Latvia. He returned to Poland and spent the years prior to World War II there.During World War II Budźka was active in the Belarusian school system and in numerous educational and commercial enterprises. After World War II he emigrated to the United States where he was active from 1950 on in the local Belarusian community. Eduard Budźka died in Chicago August 14, 1958.During his life he was a very prolific contributor to numerous Belarusian journals and his short reminiscences about the events and the personalities of the Belarusian movement during the first quarter of the century are of especial importance. Cheslau Budzka (Чэ́слаў Бу́дзька) (June 29,1913, Vilnia – August 15, 1985, Chicago)Belarusian activist, historian, teacher. Son of Edward Budzka (see below). Read history in the University of Stephan Batiry in Vilnia. Was a member of the Belarusian Student Union. In 1939 – 1941 lived in Vilnia working in publishing. From 1944 emigrated to Germany and worked as a teacher of Bealrusian history, language and literature in the Belarusian M. Bahdanovich gymnasium (Displaced Persons camps). Moved to Chicago in 1951. References: Źnič, Rome, no. 48, Nov. 1958. pp. 6-7; Biełarus, New York, no. 70, Sept. 30, 1958; Baćkaŭščyna, Munich, no. 430, Nov. 16, 1958.

Extent

2 Linear Feet

ORGANIZATION OF MATERIALS

Collection is divided into 5 series: Series 1 - Family correspondence and documentation; Series 2 - Cheslaw Budzka historical research and literary works; Series 3 - Historical research notes by Vaclaw Panucevich; Series 4 - Belarusian life in the United States; Series 5 - Religious life in Belarus and the Belarusian Diaspora.

PROVENANCE

Collection acquired from Irene Panucevich of Chicago, Illinois in 1994. It was processed in 2012 by Ihar Labacevich who also created the finding aid.

RELATED COLLECTIONS

Vitaut Kipel Papers (IHRC1210)

Title
Inventory of the Vaclau Panucevich papers.
Author
IHRC Archives
Date
2016
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding Aid in English

Collecting Area Details

Contact The Immigration History Research Center Archives Collecting Area

Contact:

612-625-4800