Call Number: Mss 75, Pc 96, Tc 105 (A.90-32, A.94-03, A.99-72, A.02-19, A.02-33, A.04-129, A.06-55)

Title: Michael Ewanchuk fonds.

Dates: 1897-2004.

Extent: 11.35 m of textual records and other material.

Biographical sketch: Born in 1908 in Gimli, Manitoba, Ewanchuk was the son of pioneer settlers. Upon graduating from Gimli High School he worked at Ford's in Detroit and attended the Detroit Institute of Technology and Detroit City College (now Wayne State University). He received his B.A., B.Ed., and M.Ed. degrees from the University of Manitoba. He later received two honorary Doctoral degrees from the University of Manitoba (St. John's College), and the University of Winnipeg. Upon completion of his service with the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1946, he was appointed Inspector of Schools. Ewanchuk served on various curriculum committees and was chairman of a committee that organized the introduction of Ukrainian instruction in the high schools of Manitoba. He was elected president of the Canadian Association of School Superintendents and Inspectors and for several years was member of the Educational Showplace Committee in Toronto. Interested in oral history, Ewanchuk conducted a series of interviews in the 1930's with Ukrainian seniors and began writing oral histories. He also wrote articles and reports for several Ukrainian papers, notably, the Ukrains'kyi Holos, the American Svoboda, and the Ukrainian Weekly. He later published several books on Ukrainians, including Spruce, Swamp, and Stone: A History of the Pioneer Ukrainian Settlements in the Gimli Area (1977), Vita: A Ukrainian Community (1977), Pioneer Profiles: Ukrainian Settlers in Manitoba (1981), Hawaiian Ordeal: Ukrainian Contract Workers 1897-1910 (1986), Pioneer Settlers: Ukrainians in the Dauphin Area, 1896-1926 (1988), East of the Red : v. 1. Early Ukrainian settlements, 1896-1930 and v. 2. Early Ukrainian settlements north of the Dawson Trail (1998),Vertical Development I-III (1998-2002), and Growing up on a Bush Homestead (2003). Michael Ewanchuk passed away on August 26, 2004.

Custodial history: The earliest accessions of the fonds (A.90-32, A.94-03, A.99-72, A.02-19, A.02-33) were donated to University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections by Michael Ewanchuk in 1990, 1994, 1999, and 2002. The A.04-129 and A.06-55 accruals were donated by Ewanchuk's nephew, Bob Bohonos, in 2004 and 2005 respectively.

Scope and content: The A.90-32, A.94-03, A.99-72, A.02-19, and A.02-33 accessions contain both personal and business records reflecting Ewanchuk's career as both an educator and writer. Included are brochures, correspondence, and clippings regarding his work with the School Board as well as professional certificates held by his wife Muriel Ewanchuk (née Smith), handwritten and partially typed manuscripts of East of the Red, Spruce, Stone and Stamp, Pioneer Settlers: Ukrainians in the Dauphin Area 1896-1926, Pioneer Profiles: Ukrainian Settlers in Manitoba, Vertical Development Volumes 1 & 2, Vita: A Ukrainian Community, Monakh Makarii Makarenko, and East of the Red : Volumes 1 & 2. In addition to textual material, the collection contains 129 photographs which were included in Dr. Ewanchuk's various publications. In addition, 56 audio recordings with Ukrainian pioneers were included in these accessions.

The A.04-129 accession consists of Michael Ewanchuk's papers pertaining to his career as the Inspector of Schools, educator and organizer of the Ukrainian curriculum at the public schools. The fonds also represents his vast interest in Ukrainian Canadian settlement in Manitoba. It contains biographical information including his degrees, numerous awards and recognitions, correspondence, Ukrainian Canadian personality files, manuscripts - Vertical Development II-III, Growing up on the Bush Homestead, newspaper articles, book reviews, newspaper clippings, scrap books, information on various Ukrainian organizations, and 1192 photographs, postcards, illustrations, and slides depicting lives of Ukrainian pioneers - farms, churches, schools, organizations. The tape collection consists of 34 audio recordings of Michael Ewanchuk's interviews and comments on the life of Ukrainian pioneers in Manitoba.

The A.06-55 accession consists of Michael Ewanchuk's papers pertaining to his career as the Inspector of Schools, educator and organizer of the Ukrainian curriculum at the public schools. The photograph collection consists of 903 photographs pertaining to his early years in Gimli, as well as to his marriage to his wife Muriel (nee Smith). Also included are 15 videocasettes of his visits to Ukraine, and 15 audio recordings pertaining to this visit.

Restrictions: There are no restrictions on this material with the exception of one confidential folder in the A.04-129 accession, which is restricted.

Accruals: Further accruals to this fonds may be expected.

Related material: Alexander Ewanchuk fonds (MSS 193 (A.04-130)).

Finding aid: Printed finding aids are available in the Archives reading room and on-line finding aids are available at the links below:

MSS 75, PC 96, TC 105 (A.90-32, A.94-03, A.99-72, A.02-19, A.02-33)

MSS 75, PC 96, TC 105 (A.04-129)

MSS 75, PC 96, TC 105 (A.06-55).