У статті розглянуто передумови появи «Енциклопедії українознавства». Охарактеризовано роль національно-культурних інституцій в організації видання, проаналізовано обговорення змістового наповнення проекту енциклопедії в тогочасному листуванні відомих діячів Галичини, показано внесок творців фундаментальної праці І. Раковського, В. Кубійовича, Є.-Ю. Пеленського, З. Кузелі в організації початку друкування «Енциклопедії українознавства», висвітлено принципи та методологію видання енциклопедичного збірника. Автор стверджує, що усілякі перепони та розпорошеність українських вчених в еміграції не завадили колективу Наукового Товариства імені Т. Шевченка розпочати видання повноцінної українознавчої енциклопедії, котра і до сьогодні лишається однією з найважливіших пам’яток української науки та одним з небагатьох завершених українських енциклопедичних проектів.
On the basis of analysis of sources and literature are examined most aspects which are related to the creation of the Ukrainian diaspora intellectuals fundamental work on Ukrainian studies − "Encyclopedia of Ukraine studies." The actuality of scientific stage of the author due to insufficient study of this issue in the national historiography and the need to explain the overall continuity (for the English it means continuity) of domestic encyclopedic tradition. In 1930-s Ukrainian study subject was not exhausted by previous encyclopedic projects, and contemporary political and ideological realities on the ethnic Ukrainian lands were not allowed to continue its development and study. The purpose of the scientific studies in the first place is a comprehensive research rerequisites multi-volume "Encyclopedia of Ukraine studies." It means that the author describes the role of national cultural institutions in the organization of publication; shows the process of discussing the semantic content of encyclopedia project at that time correspondence of famous figures in Galicia; analyses the contribution of creators of fundamental work of I. Rakovskiy, V. Kubiiovych, Ye.-Yu. Pelenskiy, Z. Kuzeli in the organization of printing of the "Encyclopedia of Ukrainian studies"; highlights the principles and the methodology of encyclopedic collection edition. The beginning the encyclopedia work was complicated by political ups and downs of prewar Europe, Ukrainian scientists dispersed in emigration and financial problems. However, in the formed by the enthusiasts the editorial office "Encyclopedia of Ukrainian studies" was able to collect the material for the first volume of the same edition in a quick way, negotiate with politicians and officials of some assistance in the work of scientists. Further work was hampered due to the political reasons. The war period did not bring fertile results, even if they were collected before by the chief editor of "Ukrainian general Encyclopedia" of I. Rakovskiy but the materials were stored, and eventually removed from Ukraine to emigration. The author argues that the successful continuation of work on the encyclopedia in the postwar period was due to the authority and organizational skills of B.Kubiiovych, the restoration of Taras
ShevchenkoScientific Society and the severance in it the structural unit - The Institute of Encyclopaedia (headed by S. Kuzelya) and the concentration of about 200 Ukrainian
intellectuals in one region - Bavaria. The key to successful implementation of the project was to develop clear principles and objectives of the work on the "Encyclopedia of Ukraine": 1) be universal primary research with reference to Ukrainian Ukrainian people and Ukrainian origin; 2) be a source of knowledge about Ukraine and its people, territory, history, culture, economy and way of life of other nations; 3) be a source of true information about the past and the present in Ukraine for Ukrainians on their native lands. The content of "Encyclopedia of Ukraine studies" is opposed to
not only to Soviet doctrine, but also to the historiographical and scientific schools in other countries, which were covering Ukraine according to their own needs.
In general, the author notes that various barriers did not prevent the team of Taras ShevchenkoScientific Society to start the publishing of a complete encyclopedia of Ukrainian studies, which to nowadays remains one of the most important monuments of Ukrainian science and one of the few Ukrainian encyclopedic completed projects.
