When Olha Aleksic got here to Harvard as a graduate pupil from Ukraine, it was to review the historical past of Christianity on the Divinity College. Throughout an internship in Widener Library’s Slavic division, she found her ardour for libraries, which then led to a profession in assortment growth and a reference librarianship working with Ukrainian supplies.
Almost 20 years later, it was Aleksic, now Harvard Library’s Ukrainian bibliographer, who greeted the primary girl of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, on the Widener. It was a key cease in Zelenska’s go to to the College, which was celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Harvard Ukrainian Analysis Institute.
In the course of the Sept. 24 go to, Aleksic launched Zelenska to Harvard Library’s Ukrainian collections, one of many largest and most complete exterior of Europe. Among the many precious Ukrainian objects in Harvard’s collections are Ivan Fedorov’s “Apostol” and “Primer” (1574), the primary books printed in Ukraine.
“The primary girl particularly selected to go to Harvard Library as a result of libraries are locations the place historical past might be preserved,” famous Aleksic.
Zelenska was formally welcomed within the Widener Rotunda by Martha Whitehead, vp for the Harvard Library and College librarian.
“We see our collections as an important useful resource for Harvard’s Ukrainian Research packages and as a treasure trove for the distinguished visiting students who come to work and research on the Ukrainian Analysis Institute,” mentioned Whitehead. “Our Ukrainian collections will inform the story of Ukraine and its folks far into the long run.”
Zelenska famous her deep appreciation for Harvard Library’s contribution to Ukrainian Research, presenting Whitehead with “Ukraine and Ukrainians,” an artwork guide by Ivan Honchar, so as to add to Harvard’s assortment.
“This can be a crucial quantity that gives in-depth details about Ukraine and Ukrainians. We’re so happy to reward it to Harvard Library,” Zelenska mentioned.
Accepting the books on behalf of the library, Whitehead emphasised its longstanding dedication to its world collections and increasing world data.
“We acquire and protect world voices for current and future generations of students,” she mentioned. “Our collections are an important useful resource for Harvard’s Ukrainian Research packages, and we wish the complete vary of Ukrainian thought and expertise to be represented right here.”
Zelenska additionally gave Harvard Library three war-damaged books: a youngsters’s guide by Oleksandr (Sashko) Dermanskyi; a novel translated from English to Ukrainian by Heather Gudenkauf; and an autobiography by Pavlo Belianskyi. The books had been rescued from a ruined warehouse of the Faktor Druk printing home in Kharkiv, which was struck by a missile in Could 2024.
Conservators at Harvard Library’s Preservation Companies are at present creating customized enclosures for the books to protect and defend them towards additional injury. A part of Harvard Library’s mission is to protect data for the long run. It has lengthy rescued and preserved books and cultural supplies from locations the place they’re endangered.
“One in every of our key strategic priorities is preserving data for the long run,” mentioned Whitehead. “We now have a wonderful staff in our Collections Care Lab who will guarantee the very best care of those books, and our artistic librarians will discover alternatives to have our customers expertise their influence.”
Amongst her different stops, Zelenska additionally spoke at Harvard’s Ukrainian Analysis Institute. To view the video, go to its web site.
