Boris Kruglyak
Ukraine- Early Life and Education
- Academic and Research Career
- Research Interests and Collaboration
- Dissertation and Career Transition
- Syzran Years and Return to Ukraine
- Research and Community Involvement
- Academic Achievements and Legacy
Early Life and Education
Boris Abramovich Kruglyak was born into a family of civil servants in Zhytomyr, Ukraine. As a young boy, he witnessed the horrors of war firsthand as his family was evacuated to Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg) during the Nazi occupation. His father tragically died in the battle of Stalingrad in 1942, leaving him an orphan.
His mother returned to Ukraine with her organization in 1944, moving from Kharkiv to Sumy and finally back to Zhytomyr in 1945. The destruction and suffering he witnessed during these tumultuous times left an enduring mark on his heart and fostered his love for his homeland.
Academic and Research Career
Kruglyak developed a passion for history and journalism during his school years. He pursued his interest in history at the Zhytomyr State Pedagogical Institute named after Ivan Franko, where prominent scholars such as L.A. Kovalenko and R.N. Oksenyuk deepened his knowledge and inspired his research endeavors.
After graduating in 1955, Kruglyak taught history at the Bystrytsky Secondary School before serving in the army. Upon his return, he continued teaching in Zhytomyr's schools while simultaneously managing tourist clubs and leading the Tourism Department at the Palace of Pioneers and Schoolchildren.
This work ignited his interest in local and Ukrainian history in general. In 1962, he published his first article in the newspaper "Soviet Zhytomyrshchyna," and soon became a regular contributor to the "Native Land" section. He also published numerous краеvedcheskie (local lore) articles in the youth newspaper "Komsomolskaya Zvezda."
Research Interests and Collaboration
While краеvedenie remained a fascination, Kruglyak's research interests expanded to Polish history, Ukrainian-Polish-French relations, and the lives of prominent figures in Ukrainian history. He established a connection with I.O. Gurzhiy, a Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, who proposed he study the development of trade in Ukraine during the first decades after the reforms.
In 1968, Kruglyak became a candidate for a PhD at the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, with Gurzhiy as his scientific supervisor. Unfortunately, their collaboration was cut short by Gurzhiy's untimely death. However, F.E. Los, I.S. Slabeev, and the entire Department of Capitalism History provided invaluable support in completing his research.
Dissertation and Career Transition
In 1977, Kruglyak successfully defended his PhD thesis on "Internal Trade in Ukraine in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries" at the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. He continued his research while also teaching history at Secondary School No. 32 and lecturing at the Zhytomyr Regional Institute for Advanced Teacher Training.
Despite his accomplishments, Kruglyak faced obstacles in pursuing his academic career in Ukraine due to the "Leninist national policy" that hindered non-Ukrainians from obtaining teaching positions in higher education. As a result, he accepted a position as an Associate Professor at the Kuibyshev (Samara) Polytechnic Institute in Syzran, Russia in 1978.
Syzran Years and Return to Ukraine
In Syzran, Kruglyak established himself as a respected scholar, educator, and organizer. He served as Dean of the Mechanical Faculty and Head of the Department of Social and later Humanities Sciences. While in Russia, he continued his research on the history of Ukraine, publishing extensively in Ukrainian journals and participating in academic conferences.
In 1992, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the implementation of policies ensuring equal constitutional rights for all Ukrainian citizens, Kruglyak returned to Zhytomyr and joined the Zhytomyr branch of the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute as an Associate Professor, teaching courses in economics and political science.
Research and Community Involvement
In his final years, Kruglyak возглавил (headed) the Department of Social and Political and Humanitarian Sciences at the Zhytomyr Institute of Entrepreneurship and Modern Technologies. He also reconnected with the Zhytomyr Regional Institute for Advanced Teacher Training, delivering lectures on local and broader aspects of Ukrainian history.
Kruglyak's continued interest in краеvedenie led to his involvement in the revived "Society of Volyn Researchers," where he played a significant role in scientific research. He collaborated with the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, contributed to the Volyn Atlas project, and participated in numerous conferences and seminars.
Academic Achievements and Legacy
On January 28, 1994, Kruglyak successfully defended his doctoral dissertation at the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, earning the degree of Doctor of Historical Sciences. His extensive research on the internal trade of Ukraine has left a significant mark in the field.
Boris Abramovich Kruglyak was a dedicated scholar, educator, and community activist who relentlessly pursued his passion for history and made valuable contributions to the understanding of Ukraine's past.
