George Y. Shevelov Papers, 1922-2001

Summary Information

Abstract

The papers comprise correspondence, writings, memoirs, personal documents, research notes, printed materials, photographs of Iurii Shevel'ov, prominent scholar, Slavic linguist, philologist, literary historian, and literary critic, longtime professor of Slavic philology at Columbia University.

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in five series.

• Series I: Correspondence, 1950-2001
• Subseries I.1: Correspondence with Individuals, 1950-2001
• Subseries I.2: Correspondence with Organizations, 1951-2001
• Series II: Writings, 1926-1990s
• Subseries II.1: Memoirs "Ia - mene - meni", undated
• Subseries II.2: Articles and Monographs, 1929-1998
• Subseries II.3: Reviews, 1940s-1990s (see also Subseries II.2: Articles and Monographs--Off-prints and reprints bound in two volumes, Box 23), 1940s-1990s
• Subseries II.4: Fragments, undated
• Subseries II.5: Poetry, 1926-1969
• Subseries II.6: Drafts, Notes, and Research Materials, 1930s-1990s
• Series III: Documents, Biographical and Background Materials, 1945-2000
• Series IV: Photographs, 1922-1994
• Series V: Writings by others, undated, 1970s-2001

Description

Scope and Content

The bulk of the collection consists of Iurii Shevel'ov's professional and personal correspondence, his manuscripts and research notes. There are also documents, biographical and background materials, photographs, and writings by other authors. The material in the collection is arranged in five series.

Shevel'ov corresponded with many prominent scholars, writers, and literary critics including Peeter Arumaa, Ivan Bahrianyi, Vasyl' Barka, Dmytro Chyzhevs'kyi, Petr Grigorenko, Roman Jakobson, Milan Kundera, Horace Lunt, Mihajlo Mihajlov, George Szell, Boris Unbegaun, Wiktor Weintraub, and many others.

The collection contains Shevel'ov's writings in a variety of genres, such as his early poetry, professional articles, monographs, reviews, and essays (including works of his student years), memoirs, etc. Files include published and unpublished works, extensive drafts and research notes, fragments and uncompleted manuscripts.

Photographs in the collection primarily are Shevel'ov's photos of 1970s-1990s but there are also photos of other people including such prominent figures as Hanna Nakonechna and Vasyl' Simovych, his family and friends.

There are cross-references provided throughout the finding aid. When the cross-reference refers to another item within the same series, the reference includes the specific name or title and box and folder number (this also applies to the references within same subseries and sub-subseries). If the cross-reference is to an item in another series, the reference includes the series number, series name, folder title, and box and folder numbers (this also applies to references to the items in another subseries and sub-subseries).

• Series I: Correspondence, 1950-2001

  The series consists of Shevel'ov's professional and personal correspondence with various people and organizations and includes letters from many prominent figures. Correspondence may include various related materials, such as manuscripts and clippings. Organized into two subseries.

• Series II: Writings, 1926-1990s

  The series comprises articles, monographs, papers presented at conferences and congresses, talks, memoirs, reviews, poetry, extensive research notes and drafts. Arranged in six subseries.

• Series III: Documents, Biographical and Background Materials, 1945-2000

  Documents include some MUR related documents and acknowledgement and certificate of 1990s. Biographical and background materials include articles about Shevel'ov, reviews on his writings, and bibliography of his works.

• Series IV: Photographs, 1922-1994

  This series contains color prints of group and individual Shevelov's photographs. There is also black and white prints of Vasyl' Simovych and his family and friends photographs dated 1922-1923.

• Series V: Writings by others, undated, 1970s-2001

  Contains typescripts and holograph manuscripts of writings by various authors and books edited by Shevel'ov; many with authors' inscriptions.

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

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 has no restrictions.

This collection is located on-site.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); George Y. Shevelov Papers; Box and Folder; Bakhmeteff Archive, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Accrual

No additional materials 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

Correspondence: Source of acquisition--George Y. Shevelov. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1981.

Correspondence: Source of acquisition--George Y. Shevelov. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1982.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Correspondence Accessioned 1981.

Correspondence Accessioned 1982.

Correspondence Processed 09/--/81.

Correspondence Revised 05/--/83.

Papers Processed Katia Shraga 07/--/2010.

Finding aid Written Katia Shraga 07/--/2010.

Revision Description

2010-10-14 xml document instance created by Carrie Hintz

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form

Subject

History / Biographical Note

Biographical Note

Iurii Shevel'ov (aka George Y.Shevelov, pseudonyms Iurii Sherekh, Hryhorii Shevchuk, and others), Slavic linguist, philologist, essayist, literary historian, and literary critic; full member of the Shevchenko Scientific Society since 1949 and of the Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences since 1945, was born 17 December 1908 in Kharkiv (some sources, however, indicate Łomża, Poland, then part of the Russian Empire). He studied under Leonid Bulakhovsky at Kharkiv University, graduated and lectured there in Slavic linguistics (1939–1943). He emigrated to Germany during the war and received his Ph.D. degree frоm the Free University of Munich in 1949. He taught there from 1946 to 1949, and then at the University of Lund, Sweden form 1950 to 1952. He was one of the organizers of émigré literary life in Germany and was a vice-president of the literary association "MUR" (1945–1949). After settling in the United States, he served as lecturer in Russian and Ukrainian at Harvard University (1952–1954), associate professor (1954–1958) and professor of Slavic philology at Columbia University from 1958 to his retirement in 1977. He was a founding member of the "Slovo", Association of Ukrainian Writers in Exile. From 1959 to 1961 and from 1981 to 1986 Shevel'ov served as President of the Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences in New York, and editor in-chief of the Ukrainian émigré journal Suchasnist' (1978–1981). In 1991, Shevel'ov became a foreign member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

Iurii Shevel'ov is the author of numerous books and articles on Slavic philology and linguistics and the history of literature and literary criticism. He died 12 April 2002 in New York.