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[FEMINISM vs TRADITIONAL VALUES IN CARPATHIA] Iliustrovanyi Kaliendar–almanakh “Zhinochoi doli”. Na zvychainyi rik 1927. [The Illustrated Almanac–Calendar of “Zhinochya dolia”. For the Common Year 1927]

[Olena Kysilevska, ed]

Item #2624

Kolomiya: Drukarnia M. Boichuka for Redaktsiia chasopysu “Zhinocha Dolia”, 1926. 22.5 x 15 cm. [I–XXXII], 163, [1], 12 pp. ads; ills. in text. Library cloth. In Ukrainian. Good to very good.In black cloth binding from 1950s, blind–stamped “Kan. Ukr. Instytut Prosvita” on the front board. Rubbed board corners, minor creases and some discoloration. Book block trimmed to the boards. Publisher’s paper cover not preserved. Library sticker, numbers and marks in ink and pencil, some grease on the front flyleaf. A round rubber stamp of Biblioteka Kanadiisko–Ukrainskoho Instytuta Prosvity on the title (stamped twice), pages 31, 85, 111, 135. A glue or damp 2 cm. spot across pages 132—151. Occasional glue marks scattered across the block, mostly marginally placed.Both rubber stamps and the embossed Kan. Ukr. Instytut Prosvita indicate Kanadiisko–Ukrainskyi Instytut “Prosvita” [Canadian Ukrainian Institute “Prosvita”], one of the earliest (not to be confused with Toronto–based Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies) overseas branches of the noted Prosvita enlightenment and revival union. Active from 1916 in Winnipeg, served as a key entity of the Diasporia for decades.

The editor, Olena Kysilevska-Simenovych (1869-1956) was one of few women activists who contributed to establishing the norms of open civil society and championed suffrage through independant initiative. The earliest known thematic periodical Kysilevska issued ran 1893-1896. A member of such local feminist circles like Tovarystvo “Ruskyi zhinochyi kruzhok”, she also relied on the pro-nationalist Plast scouting organisation as well as on the living interests of her readers. As a feminist, she ran some educational activities. As a writer and an editor she attracted editors of similar worldview and managed to create early feminist Zhinocha dolia [Woman’s fate] that was, with pauses, issued from 1925 to 1939 as a monthly or as a biweekly, with voluminous supplements like the present almanac. The total number of supplements and separately issued almanacs, guides and cookbooks by the Zhnocha dolia exceeded 15 titles. It’s easy to understand that the owners of such calendars were predominantly educated women, as the reading in the second part, the almananac, is clearly focused on topics of interest for a literate, active, modern lady. The calendar is highlighted by an art deco vignetted frame signed I. Kosinin. Ivan Kosynin (1883-1959), initially a promising musician, suffered a hand trauma and re–learned a second profession of a graphic artist.
He gained experience in Journal de la Mode and quickly brought Vienna secession style to the Western Ukraine. The Na novyi shliakh almanac takes up most of the edition and is constructed of 40 various reading pieces. Those mostly are nationalistiс (though non-radical) short texts, excerpts from belles-lettres, songs and a strand of poetry showcasing an impressive evolution of the recognized Ukrainian women’s poetry by the 1920s: from Olena Pchilka and Dniprova Chaika to Khrystia Alchevska and Liudmyla Voloshka.

As a notable self–organization effort, information on past women's association meetings is provided, also advice on how to hold non–drinking feasts and activities in reading clubs; reminiscing that the Carpathians historically suffered from heavy alcohol consumption. A special part of the almanac is devoted to children’s care and kitchen recipes, saving local recipes of pea cutlets, rye wine, yushka sour mushroom soup, kolachi bread etc.
Notable is the language, full of localities and preserving the Carpathian identity. The Polonisms and rarely heard Carpathian terms joined in with a specific version of orthography, evoke an image of secluded and self— sufficient community. This non—agressive, rooted in religious traditions, caring but firm intonation serves as a rare example of rising Eastern European suffrage, one that differs drastically from Bolshevik’s state–mandated programs of the Bolsheviks (e.g. Alexandra Kollontai programs). With a known run of the original Zhinochya dolia biweekly of 2500 at its height, we can estimate the circulation of this almanac is likely also in the low thousands or even less.

Rare. Not in WorldCat, not in KVK. According to Ilnytska, 2 copies are held at Ukrainian libraries.

Price: $1,200.00