Chicagoland in “Torontoland”

By John Pidkowich

On March 25, the UNF Toronto Community Centre was graced with the visit of the distinguished Dr. Myron and Lesia Kuropas from Chicago. Community-minded persons gathered for the opportunity to hear Myron Kuropas give an afternoon talk on his latest book Ukrainians of Chicagoland by Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America Series. The book is regarded as a gift to Ukrainians in Chicagoland on the occasion of the 100^th Anniversary of the founding of St. Nicholas Parish (in 1902), the formal beginning of the community with roots going back to the 1880’s.

Sponsored by the Ukrainian Women’s Organization of Canada, Natalie Bundza-Iwanytzkyj, President, opened the event and welcomed everyone, especially the Kuropas’ who visit Toronto only all too infrequently. Worthy of a fine long-time friend, Mykhaylo Wawryshyn felt privileged and honoured to introduce Myron Kuropas whom he believes is “the most notable American of Ukrainian origin with the greatest combined impact on the Ukrainian American Community, the United States and on Ukraine itself”.

Myron Kuropas holds a Ph.D. in History and is an adjunct professor at Northern Illinois University. He has spent many years studying and has written three books on Ukrainian Immigration history. Dr. Kuropas started his talk from the perspective of his research and personal experiences from his own involvement in the Ukrainian American community. Akin to Canada in many ways, he acknowledges the Ukrainian Immigration’s concern for Ukraine for nearly 100 years. Concern for how their brethren in Ukraine are coping with life and the Homeland’s struggle for freedom, however important, was detrimental to the long-term well-being of the Ukrainian Community in North America. Young people are not getting involved in the Community and taking positions of responsibility and leadership, even though they were taught the Ukrainian language, culture and traditions at community centres, schools and at home. In writing about the Ukrainian Immigration in America, Dr. Kuropas examines the role played by our institutions in the community’s development.

Dr. Kuropas provided the community’s historical background and backdrop of events and colourful personalities, all focused on the central question of identity and how community members defined themselves under prevailing circumstances in periods before WWI, during the World Wars and after WWII in the last century.

The first Ukrainian immigrants to America came in the 1880’s to work as “strikebreakers” in the coal mines of Eastern Pennsylvania. They had little education and no national identity other than calling themselves “Ruthenians” or Rusyny. However, strong faith in their church, primarily Graeco-Catholic held them together as a group. The Roman Catholic Church in America, in the hands of the Irish, would not accept married priests and parishes defined along ethnic or national lines. Dr. Kuropas was adept in presenting the convoluted way Greek Catholic Ruthenians were confused, at first, and told that they were also Orthodox. Aside from establishing the Ruthenian Graeco-Catholic Church, several priests founded the benevolent fraternal association Russkyi Narodnnyi Soyuz. It was renamed the Ukrainian National Association (UNA) in 1915 with the growing awareness of a Ukrainian national identity in Ukraine and subsequent proclamation of an independent Ukrainian state in 1918. The “identity question” posed before WWI was “Who is Ukrainian?” and “Who is Ruthenian (Rusyn)?”

After the Bolshevik Revolution, WWI and brief period of Ukrainian statehood, the Communists took over Ukraine and Hetmansti took the stand to defend Ukraine, its people and freedom. In America, Hetmantsi called for young men to sign up for the American National Guard. The Hetmantsi Army as it was known staged “Blue Army” vs. “Yellow Army” manouerves and remained ready for battle when the time came to free Ukraine. Upon recognition of the Soviet Union by the United States in 1933, the FBI investigated allegations by B’nai Brith (infiltrated by Soviet agents) that the Hetmantsi on American soil are Nazi sympathizers designed to overthrow the Soviet Union. The Hetmantsi panicked and dissolved, leaving a weakened Organization for the Democratic Freedom of Ukraine (ODVU) to raise and nurture a Ukrainian national identity among Ukrainian Americans. The “identity question” posed in the Interwar period was “Who is a Communist, Monarchist  or Nationalist?”

After WWII, the ally relationship between the United States and Stalin’s Soviet Union had soured and Ukrainian Communists in the US now had to take cover and hide. More familiar to us in recent times, are the Melnykivtsi and Banderivtsi faction that split the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalist (OUN) established by Colonel Evhen Konovalets in the 1930’s. The “identity question” posed after WWII was “What brand of nationalist are you, Melnykivtsi or Banderivtsi?”

Dr. Kuropas rhetorically posed his own question to the audience, namely, “how do we understand this phantom (of national identity)?” His own response is writing books on the history of the Ukrainian Immigration in America, not only for us but, for all Americans. In particular, Ukrainians of Chicagoland is a portrayal of Americans of Ukrainian descent in a positive light. The multitude of archival materials and photographs held privately, housed in museums and collected by library institutions is largely unknown to our Community with little written for the public at large. Books by Arcadia Publishing follow a standardised formula, written specifically for the American mind. The format is 100-120 pages with a minimum of 200 images with the intent to portray a community – its history, people, leading figures and institutions etc.

Taking questions, Dr. Kuropas gave examples of significant Chicago community events such as the decision to observe a single church calendar, protest and benefit results of a stronger community in “Ukrainian Village”. Also, the Ukraine Pavilion at Chicago’s World Fair in 1933 was a huge success, organized by the community into three sections – Folk Art, Modern Art and famous Restaurant. Prior to adjourning to the book signing session and reception, Dr. Kuropas threw the challenge out to the Toronto community to come up with our own “Ukrainians in Torontoland” given the resources and talent available in Toronto, including present company at the event. The purpose of such a book not only would portray Ukrainians in a positive light to the Canadian reading public but also, call back younger generations of Canadians of Ukrainian heritage to the “rich, multifaceted culture which continues to attract talented and committed people willing to preserve and develop it”.