Oskar Kolberg’s Informers and Correspondents from Volyn’

Abstract

The article explores O. Kolberg’s folkloristic activity in Volyn’ region, highlights the role of informers and correspondents in his preparation of the collection of folklore Volyn’ . On the basis of research, scholar’s correspondence and manuscripts the author briefly characterized the material which the folklorist obtained from his correspondents, mentioned their names etc. Volyn’ by Oskar Kolberg is a unique research into material and spiritual culture of the Ukrainians from the given region. The Polish scholar worked on this collection of folklore rather long. He visited Volyn’ only once (in summer-autumn of 1862) in order to collect folklore and ethnographic materials, to get acquainted with people of the region, and establish contacts with them. Then, O. Kolberg started to prepare a monograph, receiving materials from his informers and comparing his own records with those of other researchers. However, Volyn’ was published only seventeen years after the folklorist’s death. Among O. Kolberg’s active informers and correspondents in Volyn’s there were poet, translator and collector of folklore Jan Prusinowski, the owner of the village Bil’che Michał Sołtan, the government official from Halychyna Wacław Dunder, the wife of the owner of the village Rozaliivka Mrs. Piotrowska as well as musicians and those who loved and performed folklore.