Fonds consists of the following eleven series of textual records: Personal, biographical and family papers, 1917-1974 (volumes 1-5); Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism, 1963-1974 (volumes 5-9); Academic, 1915-1974 (volumes 10-35); Community organizations, 1947-1974 (volumes 36-46); General Correspondence, 1936-1974 (volumes 46-56); Manuscripts and copies of writings by others, 1885-1974 (volumes 56-77); Research notes and writings by J.B. Rudnyckyj, 1933-1974 (volumes 77-93); Printed Material, 1918-1970 (volumes 93-96); Cards, n.d. (volumes 97-183); Ottawa series, 1889-1996 (volumes184-194); Ukrainian community, 1915-1995 (volumes 195-208).
Fonds also contains photographs showing events in J.B. Rudnyckyj's life, including scenes in the Ukraine, Europe, and Canada; and views of conferences and functions he attended during his career as linguist and scholar, 1909-1976. Also included are photographs of artist Kateryna Antonovych, historian Marko Antonovych, scholar Dmytro Doroshenko, the Ukranian Women's Association in Prague, and staff and students of St. Andrew's College, 1935-1970.
Also included in fonds are sounds recording documenting interviews with Ukrainians in Germany and Canada on the folklore, language and history of Ukrainian immigrants.
Fonds also includes medals, medallions, plaques, and other medallic items awarded to or collected by Rudnyckyj, [ca. 1941-1977]; and several maps related to Winnipeg, Alberta, Chicago, and the Ukraine, 1635-1958.
Rudnycªkyj, Jaroslav B., 1910-1995 : Born in Przemysl, Habsburg Galicia in 1910, Dr. Jaroslav B. Rudnyckyj, was a linguist and lexicographer who earned a PhD in Slavic Studies from the University of Lwow in 1937. Shortly after he assumed the position of Research Associate at the Ukrainian Scientific Institute in Berlin (1038-1940), and later taught at both the Ukrainian Free University in Prague (1941-1945) and Heidelberg University in Germany (1945-1948).
In 1949, Dr. Rudnyckyj immigrated to Canada, where he organized and became Head of the Department of Slavic Studies at the University of Manitoba, a position he held for 27 years until his retirement in 1976. During this time, he also co-founded the Canadian Branch of the Ukrainian Free Academy of Sciences, located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Dr. Rudnyckyj also taught at other universities across Europe, and both South and North America over the course of his career, while also remaining active in numerous learned societies and institutions, particularly in the disciplines of Slavic Studies and onomastics. He also served as a member of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism (1964-1969), and submitted a "Separate Statement" dealing with multiculturalism in 1967. Dr. Rudnyckyj was awarded the Order of Canada for his contributions as a pioneer in Ukrainian Canadian folklore and teaching career.
Dr. Jaroslav B. Rudnyckyj died in 1995 at the age of 84 years old.
