Volyn national minorities in Vasyl Kravchenko’s scientific studies (1920-1931)

The article explores the person of Ukrainian ethnographer, folklorist, museum curator, historian and public figure Vasyl Kravchenko (1862-1945) in the study of the Volyn national minorities, such as Poles, Germans, Jews and Czechs. The article contains the biographical reference, which reflects the major events in the life of the scientist. Volyn was the main scientific theme in the scientific and social activitiesof Vasyl Kravchenko. Educational and pedagogical activities Kravchenko combined with research practice in the 1920s - early 1930s. He developed and used a broad program of ethnographic researches, exploring spirituality and culture of the population and the national minorities' groups. The scientist's own vision of the methods of conducting scientific researches, recording of folklore material, functionsand tasks of the researchers is outlined. A prominent place is devoted to the creation of the museum: the network of rural and school museums was considered by the scientist as important educational and educational centers. Kravchenko supported and advocated a comprehensive approach to the study of the specific phenomenaof the material and spiritual existence of the people. He was one of the first who responded to the need to raise the local lore. Vasyl Kravchenko paid a lot of attention to the preparing of the clear and high-quality studying plan for the object, which included the maximal preliminary elaboration of the relevant field of the scientific literature and relevant materials, the examination of the ground of the future themes. The scientist noted that this approach provided a comprehensive study ofthe selected object, prevented possible miscalculations and in advance, effectively distribute the tasks among the researchers, including with the involvement of their students. The importance of Kravchenko's cooperation with the All-Ukrainian Academy of Sciences with his active participation in academic research programs was emphasized. The scientist actively cooperated with the Commission for the Study of Common Law of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Primitive Culture and Folk Art,the Commission of Historical Literacy and the Cabinet of National Minorities, and was the founder of the Zhytomyr Bureau of the Commission of the Biographical Dictionary. It emphasized that the extraordinary figure of the scientist deserves the comprehensive coverage and the thorough study of Kravchenko's participation inUkrainian studies and scientific life is proposed.