Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1920-1968 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 box (.06 metres)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
George J. (Iurii. Ia.) Tsukornyk (b. 18 Apr. 1891, Zhuravna, Zhydachiv county-d. 15 May 1968, Ontario) was a Ukrainian Orthodox priest and teacher, composer and arranger of Ukrainian music, as well as a director of choirs through Canada. He received his musical education from the Lviv State Conservatory, and continued his studies in Vienna. With the outbreak of World War I, he fought on the Austrian front, and from 1919 with the Ukrainian Galician Army. Taken prisoner, Tsukornyk organized choirs for camps at Dombie and Landshut. He immigrated to Fort William, Ontario, Canada in 1927, and held his first concert there on 10 May 1927. His ordination to the Orthodox priesthood took place in 1937. Tsukornyk went on to direct choirs in Edmonton, Alberta (1927-1928, 1937); Daufin, Man. (1929-1930); Kenora, Ont. (1930-1931); Winnipeg, Man. (1931-1934); Toronto, Ont. (1935, 1936, 1938, 1950-1954); Sydney, Nova Scotia (1939-1942); Hamilton, Ont. (1942-1944); Grimsby, Ont. (1943); various cities of Ohio and Wisconsin (1945-1948); Kirkland Lake, Ont. (1949-1950); St. Catherines, Ont. (1955); Grimsby, Ont. (1956-1960); Scarborough, Ont. (1960, 1961); Waterford, Ont. (1961-1963); Niagara Falls, Ont. (1963-1964); St. Catherines, Ont. (1965-1966); Sault Ste Marie, Ont. (1965); and Oshawa, Ont. (1966-1968).
Archival history
The Rev. George Tsukornyk Papers were given to the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, University of Toronto, by Mr. Eric Gailus. They were part of a book gift that was originally deposited with the Ukrainian Canadian Research & Documentation Centre at 620 Spadina Avenue. The UCRDC transferred the books along with the papers to the University of Toronto Library on 27 April 2010.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Gift of Eric Gailus and Ukrainian Canadian Research & Documentation Centre, 2010.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The papers of Rev. George G. Tsukornyk include: selected correspondence; a daily journal he kept while pastor for St. Mary's Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Oshawa; speeches and concert programs given at several Ukrainian Orthodox parishes for various occasions, such as Mother's Day, commemorations of the poet Taras Shevchenko, or the marking of the anniversary of the declaration of Ukrainian independence; various musical arrangements; examination questions for students of Ukrainian Sunday schools; and a few photographs.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Material may be requested in person at the Fisher Library Reference Desk, or in advance using our online stack retrieval request form: https://aeon.library.utoronto.ca