Kysilevska, Olena, editor.

[WOMEN'S JOURNAL FROM WESTERN UKRAINE] Zhinocha volia: chasopys dlia sil's'kykh hospodyn' [Women's freedom: a journal for rural housewives], vol. V, nos. 2–6, 10–24; vol. VI, nos 1–12, 15/16, 17, 19–24; vol. VII, nos. 1–8, 10–14 (1938).

Kolomiia, 1936–1938. Quartos (from ca. 29 × 21.3 to ca. 32 × 24 cm). Original pictorial or photo-illustrated self-wrappers; ca. 12 to 16 pp. per issue. Occasionally with additional illustrations throughout, primarily from textile design patterns. No. 11 (1938) missing wrappers with first and last pages. A few of the issues with discrete private inventory number to upper margin; old postal address labels to last page; occasional light fraying to edges and foxing; overall about very good. Item #54904

A substantial run of three years of publication of this bi-weekly feminist journal for Ukrainian rural women published by the writer and activist Olena Kysilevs’ka (1869–1956). The journal was a free supplement to the Zhinocha dolia (Women’s fate) magazine published by Kysilevs’ka 1923–1939, with this supplement targeting especially rural women. The issues contain articles on women’s education and childhood education by Sofia Rusova (1856–1940), advice on public health and hygiene by Sofia Parfanovich (1898–1968), as well as practical advice on housekeeping, agriculture, etiquette etc. which offer a glimpse into the daily lives and common practices of women in rural Galician communities. In addition to practical matters, issues regularly included poetry by Ulyana Kravchenko, Lesia Ukrainka, Olha Dymchynska, Ivan Franko, Taras Shevchenko. Articles on the Women’s movement in West Ukraine and in the Ukrainian SSR were also included, with hands on activist advice such as instructions for forming a rural organization for young women aged 14–18 to learn about local history, geography, economics, etc.

The journalist and feminist activist Olena Kysilevs’ka was the editor of Zhinocha dolia (Women’s fate) as well as of this free supplement. During her studies in Ivano-Frankivsk in 1884 she joined the “Society of Ruthenian Women” founded by the socialist feminist Nataliya Kobrynska (1851–1920), who focused on feminist publishing in her activist work. Influenced by Kobrynska, Kysilevs’ka devoted herself to publishing for women throughout the 1920s and 1930s. In this period she also worked as an activist with the Union of Ukrainian Women, which was the largest women’s organization in Galicia. She was also a senator in the Polish Parliament from the Ukrainian National Democratic Union in 1929–1935. The last issue in this group from November 1938 mentions the confiscation of the previous issue by the censors, suggesting that the publication was coming out irregularly already in 1938. The journal would cease publication with the start of WWII in 1939. After the war Kysilevs’ka immigrated to Canada where she headed The World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations.

As of April 2025, KVK, OCLC show scattered holdings in two institutions, one in North America and one in the UK.

Price: €2,500.00

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