Savchuk B. Public activity of Stepan Fedak (1861–1937).

The dissertation contains the analysis of Stepan’s Fedak professional activity and his part in a socio-political, cultural and educational life in Galicia (Ukrainian: Halychyna), the period between the end of the XIX century and the 30’s of the XX century. The research of the life’s way and Stepan’s Fedak work in the Ukrainian historiography hadn’t acquired the complex characters. Historians mostly had been paying attention to his biography and the Fedak’s family history but spheres of Stepan’s professional work didn’t arouse the research interest. The work is based on the wide source base: unpublished materials of archival institutions and handwritten collections, published documents’ collections, periodicals etc.The author reveals main factors that influenced on the formation of Stepan’s Fedak outlook, first of all on the family environment and difficult material conditions after his father’s death. The studying in the Lviv Academic Gymnasium, the education in the Stavropigia’s bursa in Lviv and getting a law degree in Lviv University had the main influence on the national self-awareness. The joining to the national elite was happening through participation in the student societies’ work.It is marked, that Stepan’s Fedak law practice had being realized through the work of his own legal office and played a significant role in social activities. There are two periods in its functioning. Also it is defined main problems that had being solved by the practice. S. Fedak had specialized in criminal offenses as a regional lawyer and showed his skills and ability in a logical and reasoned defending of his own position.It is disclosed Stepan’s Fedak directions of human rights activity: the work in committees of the Lviv Chamber of Advocates, the Board of Defenders and the Union of Ukrainian Lawyers. The lawyer’s experience helped him in other occupation of his activity: the work in financial and economic institutions, the participation in a political, cultural and educational life in Galicia.