Epistolar Legacy of Academician M. Kholodnyi: Plots of Letters of the War Period and Last Years of His Life (1941-1953)

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to analyze the epistolary heritage of the last years of life of the outstanding Ukrainian botanist, Academician of the NAS of Ukraine M. Kholodnyi. The scientist’s correspondence is stored at the Institute for Archival Studies of V. I. Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine and the Central State Archive of Higher Authorities and Administration of Ukraine. The methodology of work is based on the use of source, archival, chronological, comparative, biographical and prosopographic research methods. Scientific novelty. For the first time the epistolary heritage of M. Kholodnyi of the war period and the last years of the scientist's life was comprehensively studied (1941-1953). The circle of addressees and correspondents of the scientist is outlined. The main topics and story lines of his correspondence are identified. The study of M. H. Kholodny’s epistolary legacy has made it possible to extend our knowledge of the tragic pages of the scientist’s life, his activities and scientific work, his worldview, range of thinking and civic position. Conclusions. The epistolary legacy of the аcademician M. Kholodnyi of the war period and his last years is a valuable and insufficiently researched source for study the scientific biography and work of the scientist. During this period M. Kholodnyi actively corresponded with such well-known biologists as P. Baranov, O. Bohomolets, V. Vernadsky, M. Liubynskyi, O. Liubyshchev, M. Maksymov, Ya. Romashko, M. Chailakhian. Analysis of M. Kholodnyi’s correspondence showed that epistolary documents contain important information which could help us to become more familiar with M. Kholodnyi’s scientific biography, his living and working conditions during the evacuation, scientific priorities and achievements of the researcher, creative laboratory of the scientist, his worldview, relationships with other biologists, fight against false scientists for scientific truth, attitude to nature.

Keywords

• m. kholodnyi, epistolary heritage, institute for archival studies of v. i. vernadsky national library of ukraine, national academy of sciences of ukraine, botany.