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ORT Archive documents relating to Ukraine.

ORT’s early work in Ukraine spanned 1880-1938. It supported Jewish vocational schools, artisans, farmers and cooperative ventures. ORT returned to Ukraine in 1997. The ORT online archive holds reports and correspondence relating to activities between 1917 and 1934. More information on activities in Ukraine can be found in the 1935-1937 & 1998 reports submitted to World ORT's governing bodies and in the World ORT Report (formerly the ORT Yearbook). These can be found under World ORT. Our photo galleries include more from Ukraine and a brief history of ORT's activities in the country is available here.

Minutes of the first meeting. Members debated the importance of EKO's [ICA's] involvement in the activities of the land commission; discussed the plans and decisions regarding the organisation of agronomic councils; highlighted the importance of appointing instructors for consumer societies; ordered the opening of a practical gardening school; expressed a wish for EKO [ICA] to become a permanent member of the Russian Agricultural Convention; discussed compiling a plan of ameliorative actions for 1918; and provided a list of decisions and actions appointed to the members.

Creator:ORT Ukraine
Extent:8 pages
Date:1917
Language:Russian
Location:Novopoltavka [Novo Poltavka], Ukraine

Report written by M. Butovsky.

Creator:ORT USSR
Extent:3 pages
Date:Tuesday, October 26, 1920
Language:Russian
Location:Kamyanets Podilskyy, Ukraine

The report is written by Em. Trakhtman. Reports on activities in the shtetl and on its residents, including their agricultural skills.

Creator:ORT Bessarabia
Extent:4 pages
Date:Friday, June 01, 1923
Language:Russian
Location:Makzyr [Manzyr?], Ukraine [?]

A report by agronomist Zeeman on the ORT aid to Jewish agricultural entities in Wolyn region, with statistical data.

Creator:ORT Warsaw?
Extent:3 pages
Date:1923
Language:Yiddish
Location:Ukraine

Describes plans of work and purchase of land and equipment for agricultural colonies in Wolyn region.

Creator:ORT Równe [Rivne; Rovno]?
Extent:3 pages
Date:1923
Language:Yiddish
Location:Rivne [Rovno, Rovne, Równe], Ukraine

Written by the school deputy. Describes the sources of funding for the school - EKO, ORT, local fundraising, charity and small subsidies. Mentions that the school has served children from the poorest segment of the Jewish population. Informs that the demand for classroom spaces always outweighs the supply, and there is always a need for clothes and food for the extremely poor students, which the Joint provides. Discusses the fact that all the profits of the workshop are invested into maintaining the school, but it needs new equipment.

Creator:ORT Ukraine
Extent:1 page
Date:c. 1924
Language:Russian
Location:Chernihiv [Chernigov, Tshernigov], Ukraine

Concerns vocational apprenticeship in Sarny [Sarni], Poland [now Ukraine]. Describes the teaching process for various groups of students, presents cultural work among them, and discusses future work.

Creator:Vocational apprenticeship-Sarny
Extent:7 pages
Date:1925
Language:Yiddish
Location:Sarny, Ukraine

Abbreviated report by L. Frenkel. Briefly describes the work of vocational structures in Równe [Rivne; Rovno] and suggests sums of subventions.

Creator:ORT Warsaw
Extent:2 pages
Date:1925
Language:Yiddish
Location:Rivne [Rovno, Rovne, Równe], Ukraine

Written by school Deputy Kantorovich. The description states that the school was founded by ORT in 1921 for child survivors of pogroms. The school faced difficulties – no suitable premises and equipment – until ORT donated 40,000 rubles for refurbishment in 1923, and new equipment in 1924. Highlights the development of the school throughout the period: from one locksmith department in 1921 to 5 departments and 22 mechanical units at the time of writing.

Creator:ORT Ukraine
Extent:1 page
Date:1926
Language:Russian
Location:Kiev, Ukraine

The report states that the school was established in 1900. Since 1917 the school has been managed by the state and supported by ORT and ICA. The children are from the poorest families. Demand for places exceeds supply. Help on food and clothing is provided by the Joint. The equipment has badly deteriorated and needs replacing.

Creator:ORT Ukraine
Extent:1 page
Date:Mid-late 1920s
Language:German
Location:Chernihiv [Chernigov], Ukrainian SSR, USSR [now Ukraine]

Lists interest payments received, payment advances given, debts repayed, agricultural and dairy production machinery purchases, tariffs paid, loans given, operating expenses, construction materials, hay preparation, professional training, administrative expenses. Signed by ORT USSR representative and accountant.

Creator:ORT-USSR
Extent:2 pages
Date:after 28 February 1927
Language:Russian
Location:Odessa, Ukraine

By I. Epstein. Reports on visit and auditing accounting in the Jeziorany cooperative, discussion of loans for hops plantation; presents short narrative report on a cooperative in Stolowicze which he visited briefly.

Creator:ORT Warsaw
Extent:4 pages
Date:1927
Language:Yiddish
Location:Stalovichy, Belarus; Jeziorany, Ukraine

By I. Epstein. Reports on visit and auditing accounting in the cooperative, presents statistical data on production output and loans; plans and needs.

Creator:ORT Warsaw
Extent:3 pages
Date:1927
Language:Yiddish
Location:Male Sedlishche, Ukraine

By I. Epstein. Reports on visit and auditing accounting in Zoludzk-Olizarka [now Bol'shoy Zhëlutsk and Koloniya Olizarka, Ukraine]. Presents statistical data on production output and loan situation.

Creator:ORT Warsaw
Extent:2 pages
Date:1927
Language:Yiddish
Location:Bol'shoy Zhëlutsk and Koloniya Olizarka, Ukraine

By I. Epstein. Reports on visit and instruction in Ignatowka-Zofiowka agricultural cooperative (near Lutsk)[now Ignatovka and Zof'yuvka , Ukraine]. Presents statistical data on agricultural output and loan situation. Part of a fuller report by Epstein (see Archive Ref. d06x001).

Creator:ORT Warsaw
Extent:2 pages
Date:1927
Language:Yiddish
Location:Ignatovka and Zof'yuvka, Ukraine

Written by school Deputy Perlman. Explains that the school had been restructured in Autumn 1926 from a school for orphans raised in orphanages. Describes the different workshops, the lessons, and overall duration of education. The description also mentions that the education is free and students are provided with accommodation and additional financial benefits. Mentions the shortage of classrooms and equipment in workshops.

Creator:ORT Ukraine
Extent:2 pages
Date:1928
Language:Russian
Location:Khmelnytskyy [Proskurov], Ukraine

M. Butovsky lists various statistics, and reports that living conditions in the area are tough, with 2,617 people surviving thanks to money sent from relatives abroad. He describes the Pomosch Society, a mutual aid society which serves declassed populations, and is active in Kamenets Podolskiy. He reports that it has various workshops but is generally very poor. Discusses ideas to improve the situation and explains that Komzet, Vukort, ORT-Ferband and Joint had developed a plan to set up woodwork training courses in conjunction with the Pomosch Society with 12,000 rubles allocated by the Commission.

Creator:ORT USSR
Extent:6 pages
Date:c. 1929
Language:Russian
Location:Kamyanets Podilskyy, Ukraine

Textual document.

Creator:ORT Ukraine
Extent:4 pages
Date:1929
Language:Russian
Location:Chernihiv [Chernigov, Tshernigov], Ukraine

The file accounts for numbers of branches, families and lands in various villages in the Odessa and Pervomaisk districts that are aided by ORT. Discusses changes in demographics of those aided by ORT, financial issues, agricultural development requirements and all other factors necessary to increase the profitability of ORT.

Creator:ORT Ukraine
Extent:11 pages
Date:1931
Language:Russian
Location:Odessa, Ukraine

Outlines the demographics of the students and the structure of education, including hours, groups, subjects and attendance rate. Mentions students' interest in the subjects. Lists the sums of contributions from Joint, ORT and Help. Outlines the concerns regarding cooperation with factories, the need for equipment and refurbishment of mechanical workshops.

Creator:ORT Ukraine
Extent:2 pages
Date:1931
Language:Russian
Location:Dnipropetrovs'k [Dnepropetrovsk, Dniepropetrovsk, Ekaterinoslav, Yekaterinoslav], Ukraine

32 people listed, split across two corresponding lists, with age, gender, social status, and date of hire and salary in the appropriate list.

Creator:ORT USSR
Extent:1 page
Date:1931
Language:Russian
Location:Smila [Smela, Smiela], Ukraine

Describes the participants of the conference and adopted resolutions; expresses hope for assistance.

Creator:ORT Chernivtsi, Romania
Extent:2 pages
Date:1931
Language:Yiddish
Location:Chernivtsi [Chernovtsy, Cernăuţi, Czernowitz, Tschernovitz], Ukraine

31 people listed, with age, gender and social status.

Creator:ORT USSR
Extent:1 page
Date:1931
Language:Russian
Location:Smila [Smela, Smiela], Ukraine

Cover letter for the list of Smila Cooperage Factory workers in 1931. Explains that the factory is in the setup stage; that the full list of people will be employed once the factory is fully operative; that there will be declassed people employed too; that the 63 people on the list [d06b263] represent the requirements for one shift, so once plans to run the factory in two or three shifts are implemented, the manpower requirement will increase accordingly.

Creator:ORT USSR
Extent:1 page
Date:1 June 1931
Language:Russian
Location:Smila [Smela, Smiela], Ukraine

Report on the Footwear-Mechanical Technical School named after Lekkert in Kiev. Lists the numbers of students currently enrolled, as well as those who completed education and those on probation. The students are then classed by department. Specifies the professional destinations of those who completed education and the dates of completion for current students. The report additionally includes a financial report and mentions information about the new factory. Outlines some drawbacks of the course.

Creator:ORT Ukraine
Extent:2 pages
Date:1931
Language:Russian
Location:Kiev, Ukraine

Written by horticultural instructor A. Masch. The report describes the execution and timeline of organisation of horticultural works and outlines the percentage of completion of 3 types of kitchen gardens. Additionally lists the reasons for underperformance on plans in different areas. Includes figures for various raw materials, construction materials and equipment delivered to the region and outlines the costs.

Creator:ORT USSR
Extent:2 pages
Date:1932
Language:Russian
Location:Odessa, Ukraine

The resolutions concern the development of craftsman businesses at the Jewish settlements in the Crimea and the south of Ukraine and describe steps to be taken, and types and sources of support to be provided.

Creator:Yevpatoria Meeting
Extent:2 pages
Date:7-8 September 1932
Language:Russian
Location:Yevpatoriya [Eupatoria, Kezlev], Crimea, Ukraine

Report for Akkerman [Cetatea Albă, Ir Lavan], Bessarabia, Romania [now Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyy, Ukraine]. Report on a printed form with tables, including information on students, learning plan, information on personnel and faculty, financial report.

Creator:ORT Kishinev (Chisinau), Romania
Extent:6 pages
Date:1934
Language:Yiddish
Location:Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyy [Akkerman, Cetatea Albă, Ir Lavan], Ukraine

Report for Chernivtsi [Chernovtsy, Cernăuţi, Czernowitz, Tschernovitz] on a printed form with tables, including information on students, learning plan, information on personnel and faculty, financial report.

Creator:ORT Czernowitz (Cernauti), Romania
Extent:8 pages
Date:1934
Language:Yiddish
Location:Chernivtsi [Chernovtsy, Cernăuţi, Czernowitz, Tschernovitz], Ukraine

Report for Chernivtsi [Chernovtsy, Cernăuţi, Czernowitz, Tschernovitz] on a printed form with tables, including information on students, learning plan, information on personnel and faculty, financial report.

Creator:ORT Czernowitz (Cernauti), Romania
Extent:8 pages
Date:1934
Language:Yiddish
Location:Chernivtsi [Chernovtsy, Cernăuţi, Czernowitz, Tschernovitz], Ukraine

Mr Ejdis from Kremenets requests assistance in transferring money and providing documents required to obtain a passport necessary for relocation to Birobidzhan.

Creator:Fryderyk Ejdis, Krements
Extent:2 pages
Date:Thursday, June 18, 1936
Language:Russian
Location:Kremenets [Krzemieniec, Kremenitz], Ukraine