The Fellow Who Made Himself President of a European Republic
Gregory Ignatius Zhatkovych
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12797/RRB.16.2020.16.06Keywords:
Gregory Ignatius Zhatkovych, the 1918-1919 incorporation process, Paris Peace Conference (1919-1920), Uhro-Rusinia/ Rusinia, Uhro-Rusins, Subcarpathian Rus’, Carpatho-Rusyn American immigrantsAbstract
The study is the first comprehensive biography of Gregory Ignatius Zhatkovych, a Pittsburgh-based lawyer, who in 1918-1919 was instrumental in the creation of Czechoslovakia and the inclusion of its far eastern region, Subcarpathian Rus’/ Ruthenia, into the new country. Until now, information about Gregory Zhatkovych has come primarily from the extensive body of historical literature describing how Subcarpathian Rus’ was incorporated into Czechoslovakia at the close of World War I. The facts related in this literature are more or less the same. Their assessment, however, differs rather substantially depending on the ideological orientation of the authors and / or the time when they were writing. In the above literature Gregory Zhatkovych figures prominently, although until most recently he has been described in very different terms. For some authors, he is hailed as a friend of the young democratic Czechoslovak state. For others, especially those of Marxist persuasion, he is denigrated as a representative of Rusyn-American “bourgeois nationalist organizations”, a “lackey” and “loyal son of American capitalism”, and “an agent of American imperialism”. Finally, there are those who consider Zhatkovych a Carpatho-Rusyn patriot who did his best – but ultimately failed – to as sure that the promises made by the Czechoslovak government for Subcarpathian self-rule would be fulfilled. Despite his historic importance, to date there is no biography of Gregory Zhatkovych other than a few brief encyclopedic entries. Aside from their brevity, these entries generally focus on the few years just after World War I, when he was politically active in Europe. But Zhatkovych had a life both before and after those years as a lawyer and political activist in the United States, in particular in western Pennsylvania. Based on recently uncovered correspondence between Zhatkovych and his wife and between the wife and her sister, as well as unpublished biographical data provided by his surviving family members, the recently published correspondence with President Masaryk, and several rare newspaper reports especially from western Pennsylvania, this is the first study to provide a comprehensive biography that spans Gregory Zhatkovych’s pre- and especially post-World War I career in the United States until his death in 1967.
References
Баженова, Ніна П. 1962. Нарис історіі революційно-визвольного руху трудящих Закарпаття в 1917-1923 рр. Ужгород: Ужгородський державний університет.
Ванат, Іван. 1990. Нариси новітньої історії українців східної Словаччини, т. 1: 1918-1938, 2-ге вид. Братіслава-Пряшів: Словацьке педагогічне видавництво; Відділ української літератури.
Віднянський, Степан В. 2005. «Жаткович Григорій». В: Енциклопедія історії України, т. 3. Ред. Валерій А. Смолій, 140. Київ: Наукова думка.
«До всѣхъ угро-русиновъ жиющихъ въ Соед. Державахъ Америкѣ». 1918, 8 VIII. Американскій русскій вѣстникъ.
Дутко, Віктор. 2009. «Жаткович Григорій (Gregory [Zatkovich] Zhatkovych)». В: Енциклопедія українької діяспори, т. 1: Сполучені штати Америки, кн. 1. Ред. Василь Маркусь, 286. НьюЙорк–Чікаґо: Наукове товариство ім. Т. Шевченка в Америці.
Габор, Василь. 2003. Українські часописи Ужгорода (1867-1944 рр.). Львів: Львівська наукова бібліотека ім. В. Стефаника.
Гранчак, Іван, ред. 1955. Нариси істориії Закарпаття, т. 2: 1918-1945. Ужгород: Видавництво «Закарпаття». Клипотюк, Микола. 1952. Підступи американських імперіалістів на Закарпатті. Ужгород : Кн.-журн. Видавництво.
Мазурок, Олег. 2005. «Григорій Жаткович». В: Календар краєзнавчих пам’ятних дат на 2006 рік, 349-351. Ужгород: Видавництво В. Падяка.
Мазурок, Олег. 2010. Найбільш учений і найбільш компетентний в етнографічних справах священик-русин у цілій Угорщині. Ужгород: Видавництво «Карпатська Вежа».
Мельникова, Ирина Н. 1951а. «Как была включена Закарпатская Украина в состав Чехословакии в 1919 г.». Ученые записки Института славяноведения Академии Наук СССР, т. 3: 104-135.
Мельникова, Ирина Н. 1951б. «Установление диктатуры чешской империалисти-ческой буржуазии в Закарпатской Украине в 1919-1920 гг.». Ученые записки Института славяноведения Академии Наук СССР, т. 4: 84-114.
Неточаєв, Василь І., Лелекач, Михайло М. 1954. «З історії боротьби за владу Рад і проти інтервенціі США і Антанти на Закарпатті 1918-1919 роках». Наукові записки Ужгородського державного університету, т. 9: 261-322.
Ортоскоп [Михайло Творидло]. 1924. Державні змагання Прикарпатської України. Відень: Видавництво «Нова Громада».
Поп, Дмитрий. 2006. Подкарпатская Русь: деятели культуры, науки, істории. Ужгород : выдане власным накладом.
Поп, Иван. 2006. Энциклопедия Подкарпатской Руси. Ужгород: Карпато-русский этнологический исследовательский центр США.
«Протоколы общаго собранія подкарпатскихъ русскихъ радъ и первыхъ 5-ти засѣданія Центральной Русской Народной Рады». 1919, 17 VII. Американскій русскій вѣстникъ.
«Прокламація Президента Русиній къ Центральной Руськой Радѣ и черезъ ню всѣмъ Угро-Русинамъ». 1919, 4 IX. Американскій русскій вѣстникъ, 2 [прокла-мация была видана в Празі 12 VIII 1919].
Пушкаш, Андрей. 2006. Цивилизация или варварство: Закарпатье 1918-1945. Москва: Издательство «Европа».
Шевченко, Кирил В. 2011. Славянская Атлантида: Карпатская Русь и русины в XIX-первой половине ХХ вв. Москва: Regnum.
Шляхом Жовтня: збірник документів, т. 1. 1957. Ужгород: Закарпатське обласне видавництво.
«An Open Letter from the First Governor of Carpathian Russia, dated Pittsburgh, 18 September 1941». 1941. The Carpathian 1, ч. 1: 1.
«A Joint Declaration, 2 March 1942». 1943. The Carpathian, ч. 7-8-9: 10.
Ash, Connie. 1992. Journal: Paris, Prague, Uzhhorod, October 23-November 10. Unpublished manuscript held in the Paul Robert Magocsi Carpato-Ruthenica Collection, Robarts Library, University of Toronto.
Ash, Connie Zatkovich. 1994. «Gregory I. Zatkovich. Remembered». Carpato-Rusyn American 17, ч. 1: 7-8.
Ballreich, Hans. 1938. Karpathenrussland. Heidelberg: Carl Winter’s Universitätsbuchhandlung.
«Ban Red News Bureau/ U.S. Urged to Shut Down Commie News Agency». 1951, 22 VII. The Pittsburgh Press.
Bulletin Index. Pittsburgh’s Weekly Newsmagazine. 1939, 31 X.
«Carpatho-Russia, Clue to Soviet Policy?» 1943. Secret Memorandum by the Foreign Nationalities Branch to the Director of the Office of Strategic Services, № 154, 1943, 11 X.
Copy held in the Paul Robert Magocsi Carpato-Ruthenica Collection, Robarts Library, University of Toronto.
Danko, Joseph. 1964-1968. «Plebiscite of Carpatho-Ruthenians in the United States Recommending Union of Carpatho-Ruthenia with the Czechoslovak Republic». Annals of the Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences in the United States 11, ч. 1-2: 184-207.
«Ex-Rusinian Ruler to Give Talk Here on His Government». 1921, 23 X. The Pittsburgh Press.
«Former Governor of Rusinia Tells of Europe’s Condition». 1921, 18 XI. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Greg, Ted Zatkovich. 1978. Dad. The Story of Gregory I. Zatkovich as told by his oldest son Greg, at a reunion of the family on the Oregon coast in August 1978. Unpublished manuscript held in the Paul Robert Magocsi Carpato-Ruthenica Collection, Robarts Library, University of Toronto.
«Gregory I. Zatkovich, Former City Solicitor». 1967, 28 III. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
«Gregory Zatkovich, Once Led Ruthenia». 1967, 29 III. The New York Times.
Hanak, Walter K. 1962. The Subcarpathian-Ruthenian Question. 1918-1945. Munhall, PA: Basil Bishop Takach Carpatho-Russian Historical Society.
Hatalák, Petr. 1935. Jak vznikla myšlenka připojiti Podkarpatskou Rus k Československu. Uzhhorod: Podkarpatské hlasy.
«Historical Document on Sub-Carpathian Ruthenia Presented to Library of Congress». 1962. В: Kalendar’ Greko Kaftoličeskaho Sojedinenija v S.Š.A. na rok 1962. Munhall, PA: Greek Catholic Union.
«Historical Pictures Depicting the Birth and Re-Birth of Carpathian Russia». 1943. The Carpathian, ч. 7-8-9: 13.
Hořec, Jaromír, ред. 1997. Dokumenty o Podkarpatské Rusi. Praha: Společnost přátel Podkarpatské Rusi.
Hungarian Frontier Readjustment League. 1927. «How Ruthenia was Severed». В: Publications, т. 4: Minority Grievances in Russinsko, 5-11. Budapest: Victor Hornyánszky.
Illés, Béla. 1963. Carpathian Rhapsody, 2 т. Budapest: Corvina Press.
«„Jerry” Zatkovich, Pittsburgh Attorney, Once Ruled „Little Russia”, Europe’s „Postage Stamp Kingdom”». 1933, 29 X. The Pittsburgh Press.
Kemény, Gábor. 1939. Verhovina feltámad: a ruszin sors könyve. Budapest: Mefhosz Könyvkiadó.
Kolář, Frantisek і ін. 1998. Politická elita meziválečného Československa, 1918-1938: kdo byl kdo. Praha: Pražska edice.
Krempa, Ivan. 1978. «Připojení Zakarpatské Ukrajiny k Československu». Československý časopis historicky, ч. 5: 713-739.
Ladižinsky, Ivan. 1941. Karpatorossy v Amerike, Ostavte Hlubokij Son! Gary, Ind.: Amerikanskoje Karpatorusskoje Jedinstvo.
Magocsi, Paul Robert. 1975. «The Ruthenian Decision to Unite with Czechoslovakia». Slavic Review, ч. 1: 360-381.
Magocsi, Paul Robert. 1976. «The Political Activity of Rusyn-American Immigrants in 1918». East European Quarterly, ч. 3: 347-365.
Magocsi, Paul Robert. 1978. The Shaping of a National Identity. Subcarpathian Rus’, 1848-1948. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Magocsi, Paul Robert. 1993. The Rusyns of Slovakia. An Historical Survey. New York: Columbia University Press/ East European Monographs.
Magocsi, Paul Robert. 2005a. «Zhatkovych/ Žatkovič/ Zsatkovich, Gregory I.». В: Encyclopedia of Rusyn History and Culture, 2-гє выд. Ред. Paul Robert Magocsi, Ivan Pop, 548-549. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Magocsi, Paul Robert. 2005б. «Zhatkovych, Pavel/ Zatkovych, Paul J». В: Encyclopedia of Rusyn History and Culture, 2-гє выд. Ред. Paul Robert Magocsi, Ivan Pop, 549-550. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Magocsi, Paul Robert. 2015. With Their Backs to the Mountains. A History of Carpathian Rus’ and Carpatho-Rusyns. Budapest–New York: Central European University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9789633861073
Magocsi, Paul Robert. 2018. The People from Nowhere. An Illustrated History of Carpatho-Rusyns, 2-ге вид. New York: Carpatho-Rusyn Research Center.
Mamatey, Victor S. 1967. «The Slovaks and Carpatho-Ruthenians». В: The Immigrants’ Influence on Wilson’s Peace Policies. Ред. Joseph P. O’Grady, 224-249. Lexington, Ky.: University of Kentucky Press.
«Mass Slated for Former City Solicitor». 1967, 27 III. The Pittsburgh Press.
May, Arthur. 1967. «The Mid-European Union». В: The Immigrants Influence on Wilson’s Peace Policies. Ред. Joseph P. O’Grady, 250-271. Lexington, Ky.: University of Kentucky Press.
Memorandum in Behalf of Podkarpatskaja Rus (Sub-Carpatho Rus’) to the State Department of the U.S.A. and U.S. Representatives to the World Security Conference. 1945.
Munhall, Pa. Mother. Collection of Letters [by Leona Zatkovich] written to her sister Coletta from Prague and Uzhhorod, Rusinia, Czechoslovakia, 1919-1921. Unpublished copy held in the Paul Robert Magocsi Carpato-Ruthenica Collection, Robarts Library, University of Toronto.
«New Mayor Fires M’Nair Advisor». 1936, 7 X. The Pittsburgh Press.
«New Patronage „Czar” of City Once Governed His Native Land». 1936, 16 VI. The Pittsburgh Press.
«Oakland „Czar” Dubs Knights». 1960, 4 XII. The Pittsburgh Press.
Okrytie-Exposé Dr. G.I. Žatkoviča, byvšoho gubernatora Podkarpatskoj Rusi o Podkarpatskoj Rusi. 1921. Druhoje izdanije. Homestead, PA: Rusin Information Bureau.
Pejša, Robert. 2016. Podkarpatská Rus v Československu 1919-1922. Praha: Univerzita Karlova/Karolinum.
Pop, Ivan. 2008. Podkarpatská Rus: osobnosti její historie, vědy a kultury. Praha: Nakladatelství Libri.
Protest to Honorable James F. Byrnes–United States State Department, Peace Conference–Paris, France (Europe) Re: Annexation of Podkarpatska Rus’ (Ruthenia) to the Soviet Union. 1946. Munhall, Pa: American Carpatho-Russian Congress.
Protokol-Zapisnica iz zasidanija Narodnoho Kongressa Amerikanskich Rusinov […] v Homestead, Pa., dňa 15-16-ho Sept. 1919-ho roka. 1919. Homestead, Pa.: Amerikansky russky viestnik.
Raušer, Alois. 1936. «Připojení Podkarpatské Rusi k Československé republice». В: Podkarpatská Rus: sborník. Ред. Jaroslav Zatloukal, 60-72. Bratislava: Klub přátel Podkarpatské Rusi.
Recollections of Michaylo Molnar from the opening day of the memorial board [sic] for Yuriy Zhatkovych in Holubinne village. 1996. Unpublished report, dated 10 X 1996, held in the Paul Robert Magocsi Carpato-Ruthenica Library, University of Toronto.
Roberts, Kenneth L. 1920, 29 V. «Handing It Back». The Saturday Evening Post, ч. 48: 8-9, 112-122.
Rychlík, Jan. 2014. «Připojení Podkarpatské Rusi k Československu v letech 1919-1920». В: Život plny neklidu: sborník k devadesátinám historika Jaroslava Opata, 161-183. Praha: Masarykův ústav a Archív AV ČR.
Scrimali, Antoine. 1938. La Ruthénie subcarpathique et l’état tchécoslovaque. Paris: La Technique du livre.
Shandor, Vincent. 1997. Carpatho-Ukraine in the Twentieth Century. A Political and Legal History. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Sheridan, Leo W. 1938, 21 IX. «Both Sides of Pennsylvania Politics». Harrisburg Telegraph.
«Sister of Akron [Ohio] Priest is Wife of President of New Republic That’s Created in Europe». Unidentified newspaper source.
Stercho, Peter G. 1971. Diplomacy of Double Morality. Europe’s Crossroads in Carpatho-Ukraine, 1919-1939. New York: Carpathian Research Center.
Struk, Danylo Husar, ред. 1993. Encyclopedia of Ukraine, т. 5. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3138/9781442632905
Švorc, Peter. 1997. «Začlenenie Podkarpatskej Rusi do ČSR, 1918-1920». Česko-Slovenksa historická ročenka, 39-60.
Švorc, Peter. 2000. «Zápas o Podkarpatskú Rus v 20. rokach 20. storočia na pôde Spoločnosti Národov». В: Europa mezi Německem a Ruskem: sborník prací sedmdesátinám Jaroslava Valenty, 267-284. Praha: Historický ústav AV ČR.
Švorc, Peter. 2003. Krajinská hranica medzi Slovenskom a Podkarpatskou Rusou v medzivojnovom období, 1919-1939. Prešov: Universum.
The Carpathian. 1941-1943.
Tišliar, Pavol. 2014. «Introduction to the Problem of Population Censuses of Slovakia in 1919 and 1921». В: Studies in the Population of Slovakia, т. 2, 7-42. Kraków: Towarzystwo Słowaków w Polsce Zarząd Główny.
Traité entre les Principales Puissances Alliées et Associées et la Tchécoslovaquie. 1919. Paris.
«Uhro Russkis Leader [Paul J. Zsatkovich] Dies in Brooklyn». 1916, 18 X. Pittsburgh Daily Post.
«Ústavní listina Československé republiky». 1920. В: Sbírka zákonů a nařížení státu československého, 6 III 1920, ч. 26. Praha.
Warzeski, Walter C. 1971. Byzantine Rite Rusins in Carpatho-Ruthenia and America. Pittsburgh, Pa.: Byzantine Seminary Press.
Wright, Milton. 1936. The Art of Conversation. New York–London.
Zatkovich, Connie. 1943. A Prophecy Fulfilled. Unpublished essay held in the Paul Robert Magocsi Carpato-Ruthenica Library, University of Toronto.
Zatkovich, Gregory. 1918-1919. Letters to his wife. Unpublished copies held in the Paul Robert Magocsi Carpato-Ruthenica Collection, Robarts Library, University of Toronto.
Zatkovich, Gregory. 1923. The Rusin Question in a Nut Shell. [Pittsburgh].
Zawadowski, Zygmunt. 1931. Ruś Podkarpacka i jej stanowisko prawno-polityczne. Warszawa: Zakłady Graficzne Straszewiczów.