The image of G. P. Galagan of the pages of periodical «Kievskaya starina»

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to identify the mechanisms of construction of life and memorial images of one of the most important representatives of the nobility of the Left Bank of Ukraine Gryhoriy Pavlovych Galahan (1819–1888). The relevance of the work is determined by the possibilities of including the chosen topic in various interdisciplinary contexts in cross-cutting problem areas of biography, social, political, cultural and intellectual history. Historiographical examination has revealed that the question of the role and place of the Ukrainian nobility in history remains debatable, and therefore its in-depth study remains relevant. The methodological basis of the work was formed by the basic principles of the theory of historiographical image, which directed the author’s optics to identify the genesis, formation and evolution of ideas about G. P. Galagan on the pages of the leading Ukrainian magazine «Kievskaya starina». Based on these principles, we proceeded from the understanding that historical knowledge and social historical ideas are formed by selective reflection and translation of the past in the professional environment and public space. That is why the subject of our attention was the process of constructing life and memorial images of the leader of the nobility of the Left Bank of Ukraine, which began during the life of G. P. Galagan on the pages of «Kievskaya starina». That is why the source base of the study was formed from the publication in «Kievskaya starina» of biographical documents and works of the hero himself. The main results are to determine the meaningful structures of life and memorial images of G. P. Galagan: patron of local education, a true patriot of the Motherland, an active defender of the interests of its population, an outstanding philanthropist, connoisseur and defender of traditional folk culture. The motives for creating such an idealistic image were determined by the tasks of the moderate segment of the national movement of the late XIX – early XX centuries: the need to nurture and strengthen local patriotism, Ukrainian or Little Russian identity, the importance of forming a pantheon of iconic national figures, education of wealthy compatriots support of the national cause as a moral duty, an important, status issue.