2 September 2026 marked the completion of an important stage of the project of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, «Historical Residences 2.0: The Ukrainian Factor in the History of Glorious Victories», implemented at the National and University Library of Slovenia (NUK) in Ljubljana.
From 21 August to 2 September 2026, representatives of Ivan Boberskyi Lviv State University of Physical Culture – Andrii Sova, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Humanities and Olympic Education, and Pavlo Kucher, Candidate of Geographical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Tourism and Acting Head of the International Relations Office – began the systematic scholarly study of the personal documents and materials of Ivan Boberskyi preserved in Slovenia.
During this period, a significant body of archival materials was examined, including correspondence, appeals, announcements, posters, photographs, postcards, Ivan Boberskyi’s notes, financial documents, books, brochures, and leaflets.
The particular value of these materials lies in their broad thematic and geographical scope. The documents shed light on various aspects of the history of physical education and sport both in the Ukrainian lands and in Ukrainian diaspora communities in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Croatia, and other countries.
Another important part of the archive concerns the activities of Ukrainian civic organizations in Europe, North and South America, as well as significant pages of Ukrainian history during the First World War and the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917–1923, in which Ivan Boberskyi was a direct participant.
The materials examined provide an opportunity to take a new look at the multifaceted activities of Ivan Boberskyi as an educator, organizer of the Ukrainian sports movement, public figure, military and political activist, publicist, and one of the founders of the Ukrainian physical education and sporting tradition.
Given the significant volume and scholarly value of the materials, an agreement was reached on further cooperation and the continuation of research into Ivan Boberskyi’s archival heritage.
At the conclusion of the research visit, representatives of Ivan Boberskyi Lviv State University of Physical Culture, together with Anastasiia Shchehol, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Slovenia, met with dr. Jana Kolar, Director of the National and University Library of Slovenia. During the meeting, the Ukrainian researchers expressed their gratitude to the library’s management and staff for their hospitality, assistance in organizing the research work, access to archival materials, and support for scholarly activities.
We sincerely thank the National and University Library of Slovenia, its Director dr. Jana Kolar, and mag. Marijan Rupert, Head of the NUK Manuscript Collection, for their professional cooperation and for preparing Ivan Boberskyi’s materials for scholarly research.
We express our gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine for its support in implementing the project, in particular Hlib Fishchenko, Attaché of the Strategic Communications Division of the Department of Public Diplomacy and Strategic Communications, and Yuliia Sapiza, Director of the NGO «Foundation of Cultural Diplomacy.»
Special thanks go to Petro Beshta, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Slovenia, and Anastasiia Shchehol for their support, assistance in facilitating the work of Ukrainian researchers, and attention to the preservation and promotion of Ukrainian historical and cultural heritage in Slovenia.
The support of the university’s leadership plays an important role in the implementation of the project. We sincerely thank Rector Professor Yaroslav Svishch and Vice-Rector for Research, Education and International Relations Professor Marian Pityn for their support and assistance in implementing the project.
This is not the end, but the beginning of a new stage of research. The next steps include the systematization, further study, and introduction into scholarly and public circulation of new materials that will help reveal important pages of Ukrainian-Slovenian history and the multifaceted heritage of Ivan Boberskyi.
«We read too little and write too little; therefore, we know too little.»
— Ivan Boberskyi
