Skip to content
Call Us Today! 212-533-4646 | MON-FRI 12PM - 4PM (EST)
DONATE
SUBSCRIBE
Search for:
About Us
UNWLA 100
Publications
FAQ
Annual Report 2023
Annual Report 2022
Annual Report 2021
Initiatives
Advocate
Educate
Cultivate
Care
News
Newsletters
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Join UNWLA
Become a Member
Volunteer With Us
Donate to UNWLA
Members Portal
Calendar
Shop to Support Ukraine
Search for:
Print
Print Page
Download
Download Page
Download Right Page
Open
1
2-3
4-5
6-7
8-9
10-11
12-13
14-15
16-17
18-19
20-21
22-23
24-25
26-27
28-29
30-31
32-33
34-35
36-37
38-39
40
assist the Museum staff in numerous ways. She spoke briefly about the early history of the Ukrainian Museum, which started when the UNWLA purchased two floors of a building on New York’s Second Avenue to house a small collection of artifacts collected through the years and purchased for the World’s Fair in Chicago 1933. Ms. Hnateyko noted that the organization renovated the premises to suit the needs of a museum worthy of representing Ukraine’s artistic heritage and that the Ukrainian Museum officially opened in 1976 with a noteworthy exhibit of 800 of the most beautiful artifacts from all parts of Ukraine. In due course, she added, the UNWLA presented the Ukrainian Museum to the Ukrainian community at large, collecting a nominal rent of $2 per year for the space occupied by the Museum for the next 28 years. The keynote speaker of at the 30th anniversary celebration was Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Oleh Shamshur. In his remarks, the ambassador underscored the hard work of the Ukrainian National Women’ League of America in founding and supporting the Ukrainian Museum. Ms. Hnateyko, the current president of the Ukrainian Museum’s Board of Directors, and former Board President, Professor Ivan Luchechko, presented the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America with a plaque commemorating 30 years of service to the Museum. The plaque, accepted by UNWLA President Iryna Kurowyckyj, is inscribed with the following words: “In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Ukrainian Museum in New York, the Board of Directors presents this plaque to the UNWLA for founding the Ukrainian Museum and sincerely thanks the members of UNWLA for many years of work and financial support.” In my capacity as UNWLA President, I then greeted those who had gathered for this momentous event on behalf of the organization, thanking the speakers for their kind words of appreciation for the work done by our members, and acknowledging the contributions of our predecessors. “I accept this plaque in the name of the women who are no longer with us, women who had the vision and desire to create a museum that would be the home of Ukrainian culture and would preserve Ukraine’s arts and crafts for future generations. At this point, I must mention a woman without whose insistent determination we would not be a celebrating this anniversary—Ivanna Rozhankowska. We must honor Mrs. Rozhankowska because she was, in every way, a mover and shaker whose energy and vision helped shape the future of the Ukrainian Museum that we are celebrating today. We must also honor the first Board of Directors President, Aleksandra Riznyk, who paved the way for others by her exceptional administrative talents. Under the administration of her current successor, Olga Hnateyko, the Ukrainian Museum celebrates its 30th anniversary; the small collection of artifacts has become a world-class collection of artworks that are now housed in a spacious and modern new building. It gives me great pride that the woman who started this work was a UNWLA member and it gives me great pleasure to add that the woman who is now working to expand on the vision of our predecessors is also a UNWLA member.” In concluding my remarks, I also acknowledged the generosity of the Ukrainian community whose contributions throughout the years have made it possible for the Ukrainian Museum to grow and flourish. For readers unfamiliar with the background of the museum, I would like to provide some information that was previously published in the pages of Our Life magazine in January 1976. The article, written by Maria Barahura, appeared on page 19 of the issue, and is cited below: “In 1934, the UNWLA got an office space and in it housed some of the artifacts. Later, in 1953, it purchased a house in Philadelphia and moved the artifacts to this facility. From there the artifacts were moved to the Ukrainian Institute of America and a museum was established called Museum of National Creativity. The collection was housed there until 1973. On January 15, 1973 the Ukrainian Institute of America sent a letter to the UNWLA, stating the UNWLA had three months to remove its belongings. The members were very saddened by the news and the attitude of some of the members of Board of Directors of the Institute, but they got their act together and moved on with their work. The Ukrainian treasure was once again moved to Philadelphia and then to the new building of the Ukrainian National Association in Jersey City, New Jersey, cleaned and stored in boxes to wait for better days. From the perspective of time, it turned out for the better of the museum. Look where we are today. The UNWLA bought two floors of a building on Second Avenue in NYC in partnership with UCCA in 1974. The XVII UNWLA Convention elected Ivanna Rozhankowska as President of the organization. A Видання C оюзу Українок A мерики - перевидано в електронному форматі в 2012 році . A рхів C У A - Ню Йорк , Н . Й . C Ш A.
Page load link
Go to Top
1 
2-3 
4-5 
6-7 
8-9 
10-11 
12-13 
14-15 
16-17 
18-19 
20-21 
22-23 
24-25 
26-27 
28-29 
30-31 
32-33 
34-35 
36-37 
38-39 
40 
