Keynote: Myron Momryk – Library and Archives Canada (retired)
Myron Momryk is a historian, archivist, and researcher. He held various positions in the Multicultural Archives Program, and worked as the Project Archivist in the Social Archives Section, Political and Social Heritage Division at the Library and Archives Canada (1981-2006). He worked as an Assistant Secretary for the Board of Trustees at the National Museums of Canada (1980-1981); Project Officer for the Department of the Secretary of State, Administrative Services, and a History Officer and Assistant Secretary to the Canadian Ethnic Studies Advisory Committee of the Multiculturalism Program (1973-1980). He holds a BEd from Queen’s University (1972), as well as a MA in Canadian History from the University of Waterloo (1972). He is the author of numerous articles and research publications, among them are: A Guide to Sources for the Study of Ukrainian Canadians, Public Archives of Canada (1984); Archival Sources for the Study of Polish Canadians, Public Archives of Canada (1987); and Remember the Flag, Mazeppa Legion History (2009). *** Myron Momryk worked at the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) for twenty five years in the Multicultural Archives Program. Prior to this position, he was the History Officer responsible for the Ethnic History Series in the Multiculturalism Directorate, Department of the Secretary of State (now Heritage Canada). During his archival career at LAC, he was responsible for the acquisition, processing and description of Ukrainian archival fonds and also archival material from the other central and east European groups in Canada. Myron will share his experiences and challenges in managing the Ukrainian Archives Program including film, photographs and sound archives. He was also involved in the acquisition of published material. Myron will mention his contacts with different national organizations within the Ukrainian community and some of the problems persuading them to preserve their archives in an archival institution. During these years, Myron participated in many conferences dealing with archival issues and he visited most of the Ukrainian archival repositories in Canada. He will comment on the various degrees of success some of these institutions have attained in meeting their mandates to preserve the Ukrainian archival heritage in Canada. In addition, Myron will describe some of the contemporary problems faced by Ukrainian archives in Canada. Contacts with the Archives in Ukraine since 1991 certainly has changed the general atmosphere about preserving Ukrainian archival material and individual Ukrainian Canadians have benefitted from this contact. The Ukrainian community recently celebrated the 125th anniversary of Ukrainian settlement in Canada and this conference will be an opportunity to plan for preservation of the Ukrainian archival heritage in Canada for many more years.
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