The Dmytruk Family Fonds at BMUFA

On January 29, the Kule Folklore Centre welcomed Rostyslaw and Janet Dmytruk, generous donors to the centre and contributors to the Bohdan Medwidsky Ukrainian Folklore Archives.

In 2024, Rostyslaw donated archival materials related to his parents, Rev. Eugene and Neonila Dmytruk, which became the foundation of the Dmytruk Family Fonds. The Estate of Ihor Dmytruk covered all related expenses required to process the archival records and make them accessible through the BMUFA website.

During the visit, we discussed the work completed by the BMUFA team, Nataliia Yesypenko, Marta Dvuliat, and Illia Pokotylo. Their efforts ensured the longevity, sustainability, and accessibility of the large volume of documents provided by Rostyslaw.

Gradually, the initial piles of documents, correspondence, and photographs—originally stored in dozens of cardboard storage boxes—were appraised and arranged into series and files. The physical materials were then rehoused into 44 acid-free archival boxes, labelled, and shelved in the climate-controlled archival storage room. Selected documents and photographs were also digitized to ensure broader access to the collection.

The materials in the Dmytruk Family Fonds are well worth exploring, as they contain rich historical content and fascinating details from the turbulent lives of representatives of the third wave of Ukrainian immigration to Canada. Originally from Western Ukraine, Eugene and Neonila Dmytruk, together with their four sons, lived through the dangers of both Soviet and German occupations of Galicia. These experiences led first to their displacement to Graz (Austria), and later to a transatlantic journey to Canada in 1949. After settling in Lamont and then Edmonton, the family became deeply involved in religious, cultural, and educational initiatives within the Ukrainian Canadian community.

Rev. Eugene served several rural parishes, while Neonila was a piano teacher, a regular contributor to Ukrainian-language journals, a co-founder and first president of the Ukrainian Music Society of Alberta, and an active member of the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League of Canada.

If you are interested in learning more about the Dmytruk Family Fonds, we invite you to explore the collection on our online BMUFA archival database:

Explore the collection