Viktor Gorenko Papers, 1890s-1990s
Summary Information
Abstract
The papers are comprised of documents, photographs, correspondence and an audio recording relating to the life of Viktor Gorenko and the literary legacy of his elder sister, Anna Akhmatova (1889-1966). They document the life in emigration of Viktor Gorenko and his naturalization as a US citizen.
At a Glance
- Call No.:
- BA#0556
- Bib ID:
- 12573187 View CLIO record
- Creator(s):
- Gorenko, Viktor Andreevich
- Repository:
- Rare Book and Manuscript Library
- Physical Description:
- .42 linear feet (1 document box)
- Language(s):
-
English
, Russian
.
- Access:
- You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
-
This collection is located on-site.
This collection has no restrictions.
Description
Summary
The bulk of the collection consists of documents detailing the emigration and naturalization of Viktor Gorenko. These include a Chinese-issued stateless person passport, letters of reference and employment, and affidavits of support. A large part of the collection consists of newspaper clippings concerning Anna Akhmatova, including obituaries and reviews of translations of her work into English.
The correspondence from Akhmatova herself is limited to brief affectionate notes on the reverse of photographs and empty envelopes addressed to Gorenko. Other correspondence includes a postcard from Lev Nikolaevich Gumilev (Akhmatova's son), a letter from Andrei Andreevich Gorenko (nephew of Viktor Gorenko and Akhmatova) and letters from American academics to Gorenko's widow Catherine.
For preservation purposes, the items in this collection have been placed in plastic document holders and acid-free paper.
Arrangement
The papers are arranged into three series.
Using the Collection
Restrictions on Access
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
This collection is located on-site.
This collection has no restrictions.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Reproductions may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the collection must be requested from the Chair of the Bakhmeteff Committee. The RBML approves permission to publish that which it physically owns; the responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Viktor Gorenko Papers; Box and Folder; Bakhmeteff Archive, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Accrual
No additions are expected
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
2016-2017-M158: Source of acquisition--Carson Family. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--2017.
About the Finding Aid / Processing Information
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Processing Information
Papers processed by Marlow Davis (GSAS), June 2017.
Finding aid written by Marlow Davis (GSAS), June 2017.
Revision Description
2017-06-14 File created.
2017-06-16 XML document instance created by Catherine C. Ricciardi
2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.
Biographical / Historical
Viktor Andreevich Gorenko was born on September 29, 1896, to a Russian noble family. His elder sister was the poet Anna Akhmatova (nee Gorenko). Gorenko graduated from the Naval Cadet Corps in Petrograd in July 1916 and served in the Russian Imperial Black Sea Fleet until the October 1917 Revolution. He fled to the Russian Far East and then to Shanghai, China, where he remained until 1946. Gorenko was admitted to the United States on a 45-day visa in January, 1947. When deportation proceedings were opened against him the following year, he presented a number of documents attesting to his hardworking character and anti-communist sentiments in his defense. Gorenko became a naturalized US citizen in 1959. He received at least two letters from Akhmatova in Leningrad, as well as signed photographs of the author, in the early 1960s. Viktor Gorenko died in New York on February 4, 1976.
Subject Headings
The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through
CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries,
and through ArchiveGRID,
a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.
All links open new windows.
Box 1 Folder 1
Akhmatova, Anna to Viktor Gorenko, 18 December 1964. (empty envelope)
Box 1 Folder 1
Akhmatova, Anna to Viktor Gorenko. undated (empty envelope), undated
Box 1 Folder 1
Chervinsky, Alexander to Joseph Carson, 11 December 1994.
Box 1 Folder 1
Gorenko, Andrew to Catherine Gorenko, 10 January 1955.
Box 1 Folder 1
Gorenko, Viktor to Sue Hyland and Margaret Carson, 30 December 1971.
Box 1 Folder 1
Gumilev, Lev to Viktor Gorenko. Postcard, 27 January 1974.
Box 1 Folder 1
Gumilev, Lev to Viktor Gorenko, undated (empty envelope), undated
Box 1 Folder 1
Ketchian, Sonia to Catherine Gorenko, 15 August 1983.
Box 1 Folder 1
Ketchian, Sonia to Catherine Gorenko, 21 February 1984. (1 duplicate copy)
Box 1 Folder 1
Proffer, Carl to Catherine Gorenko, Postcard 24 March 1976.
Box 1 Folder 1
Proffer, Carl to Catherine Gorenko, 20 October [1976].
Box 1 Folder 1
Strachan, John to Viktor Gorenko, 6 September 1967.
Box 1 Folder 1
Telegram to Viktor Gorenko on Anna Akhmatova's illness, 1 February 1966. (author not stated. 1 duplicate copy)
Box 1 Folder 3
Letter of Reference for Viktor Gorenko. Sweetfood Manufacturing Co., Shanghai, 19 July 1932.
Box 1 Folder 3
Letter of Reference for Viktor Gorenko. Russian Merchant Marine Association, Shanghai, 25 August 1932. (1 duplicate)
Box 1 Folder 3
Letter of Employment for Viktor Gorenko. Moller & Co., Shanghai, 12 September 1932.
Box 1 Folder 3
Letter of Employment for Viktor Gorenko. James Neil & Co., Shanghai, 5 January 1933.
Box 1 Folder 3
Letter of Reference for Viktor Gorenko. Moller & Co., Shanghai, 10 January 1933.
Box 1 Folder 3
Certificate of Discharge for Viktor Gorenko. Board of Trade, Shanghai, 12 January 1933.
Box 1 Folder 3
Letter of Reference for Viktor Gorenko. Yung An Steam Navigation Co., Shanghai, 3 April 1933.
Box 1 Folder 3
Letter of Employment for Viktor Gorenko. James Neil & Co., Shanghai, 5 April 1933.
Box 1 Folder 3
Letter of Employment for Viktor Gorenko. James Neil & Co., Shanghai, 30 April 1940.
Box 1 Folder 3
Bank Pass-Book of Viktor Gorenko issued by Dai-Ichi Ginko, Yokohama, 22 May 1940.
Box 1 Folder 3
Letter of Employment for Viktor Gorenko. James Neil & Co., Shanghai, 20 July 1940. (1 duplicate)
Box 1 Folder 3
Letter of Reference for Viktor Gorenko. Russian Mercantile Marine Association, Shanghai, 20 July 1940.
Box 1 Folder 3
Letter of Reference for Viktor Gorenko. H.M.S. Belfast, 24 November 1945.
Box 1 Folder 3
Stateless-Person Passport of Viktor Gorenko. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shanghai, 17 May 1946.
Box 1 Folder 3
Letter of Reference for Viktor Gorenko. Ralli Brothers Ltd., Shanghai, 14 June 1946. (copy; original absent)
Box 1 Folder 3
Letter of Reference for Viktor Gorenko. Association of Former Russian Naval Officers in America, New York, 20 August 1947. (1 duplicate)
Box 1 Folder 3
Letter of Reference for Viktor Gorenko. Reuters, Ltd., Shanghai, 29 December 1947.
Box 1 Folder 3
Letter of Reference for Viktor Gorenko. Vladimir C. Poletika, New York, 22 May 1948. (1 duplicate).
Box 1 Folder 3
Letter of Reference for Viktor Gorenko. USAT "Cardinal O'Connell," Fort Mason, Calif, 2 June 1948.
Box 1 Folder 3
Affidavit of Witness in Application for Relief from Deportation Proceedings for Viktor Gorenko, signed by Albert Heikky, Seattle, 12 October 1948.
Box 1 Folder 3
Affidavit of Witness in Application for Relief from Deportation Proceedings for Viktor Gorenko, signed by Ernest Tingvall, Seattle, 12 October 1948.
Box 1 Folder 3
Affidavit of Witness in Application for Relief from Deportation Proceedings for Viktor Gorenko, signed by Vladimir Poletika, New York, 14 October 1948.
Box 1 Folder 3
Letter of Employment for Viktor Gorenko. Northwest Protective Service, Seattle, 28 October 1948. (1 duplicate).
Box 1 Folder 3
Receipt of recommended decision in deportation proceedings for Viktor Gorenko. US Immigration and Nationalization Service, New York, 11 October 1950. (unsigned)
Box 1 Folder 3
Letter of Reference for Viktor Gorenko. Signed Anna Batchkovsky, Catherine Los-Olchensky, and Constantin C. Yavorsky, New York, 3 January 1951.
Box 1 Folder 3
Deportation Proceedings for Viktor Gorenko, US Immigration and Naturalization Service, 22 March1951.
Box 1 Folder 3
Report of Chest X-Ray of Viktor Gorenko, St. Luke's Hospital, 31 July 1952.
Box 1 Folder 3
Letter of Employment of Viktor Gorenko. Columbia University in the City of New York, 5 August 1954.
Box 1 Folder 3
Bank Account Statement of Viktor Gorenko. Flatbush Savings Bank, New York, 6 August 1954.
Box 1 Folder 3
Affidavit of Reference for Viktor Gorenko. Signed Anna Batchkovsky, Constantin C. Yavorsky, and Catherine Los-Olchensky, New York, 7 August 1954. (1 duplicate)
Box 1 Folder 3
Brokerage Account Statement of Viktor Gorenko. McDonnell & Co., New York, 9 August 1954. (1 duplicate).
Box 1 Folder 3
Brokerage Account Statement of Viktor Gorenko. Bache & Co., New York, 11 August 1954.
Box 1 Folder 3
Affidavit of Reference for Viktor Gorenko. Signed Anna Batchkovsky, Constantin C. Yavorsky, and Catherine Los-Olchensky, New York, 7 August 1954. Notarized 10 February1956.
Box 1 Folder 3
Certificate of Naturalization of Viktor Gorenko, 9, June 1959
Box 1 Folder 4
7" vinyl audio recording. Anna Akhmatova Reads Lyric Poetry of 1913-1940 . Melodiia, 1963.
Box 1 Folder 5
"3 Soviet Writers Return to Favor". New York Times, 26 December 1954.
Box 1 Folder 5
"Stalinist Jailing of Poet's Son Told". New York Times, 9 January 1962.
Box 1 Folder 5
"Anna Akhmatova, Leading Soviet Poet, Is Dead". New York Times, 6 March1966.
Box 1 Folder 5
"Anna Akhmatova, Russian Poetess". Sunday Tribune, 6 March1966.
Box 1 Folder 5
"A Russian Sappho". New York Times, 9 March1966.
Box 1 Folder 5
"Soviet Annual Honors Silenced Poets". New York Times, 6 December 1972.
Box 1 Folder 5
"Cries and Whispers". Time, 23 July 1973.
Box 1 Folder 5
"Samizdat from a Basement in Ann Arbor". New York Times Book Review, 29 February1976.
Box 1 Folder 5
"A Russian Poet's Life and Poems". New York Times Book Review, 26 December 1976. (1 duplicate).
Box 1 Folder 5
"The Moscow Book Fair". American Educator, December 1977.
Box 1 Folder 5
"A-Soviet Rather Than Anti-Soviet" New York Times, 20 December 1981. (1 duplicate).
Box 1 Folder 5
"Poems with a Heroine". New York Review of Books, 19 January 1984.
Box 1 Folder 5
"Writing for the Nation". Times Literary Supplement, 9 March 1984.
Box 1 Folder 5
"Poetic Justice". Time, 5 September 1988. (1 duplicate).
Box 1 Folder 5
"Versing History: The Poetry of Anna Akhmatova". The Nation, 9 March 1992.
Box 1 Folder 5
"Russia's Cassandra, Russia's Antigone". New York Times Book Review, 1 January 1995.
Box 1 Folder 6
Papers of the Ethnographic Department. USSR Geographic Society. , Signed on the cover by Lev Gumilev to Viktor Gorenko in pencil, 1966
Box 1 Folder 6
Anna Akhmatova in Portraits and Photographs . State Literature Museum, 1989.
Box 1 Folder 7
Icon card in memory of Viktor Gorenko, 4 February 1976.
Box 1 Folder 7
Death notice of Viktor Gorenko New York Times, 6 February 1976.
Box 1 Folder 7
Funeral expenses of Viktor Gorenko, 7, February1976
Box 1 Folder 8
Appraisal of collection.
Box 1 Folder 8
Item list from donor.