The relevance of the study of Petro Yakovlevich Doroshenkoʼs (1858–1919) life, service, public and research activities bases on the role he played in public life of the Northern Left Bank and state-building processes in Ukraine in the late 19th – early 20th century.
The analysis of the scientific literature, carried out in the first section “Historiography, source base, methodology and research methods”, showed that a comprehensive study of Doroshenkoʼs life has not been created. The source base consists of a set of written and pictorial sources.
The second chapter “Life and career of P. Doroshenko” reveals the influence of family upbringing on the formation of P. Doroshenkoʼs personality, describes his studies at the gymnasium and university, analyzes the reasons for the formation of his life strategy. Its contribution to the development of Hlukhiv Hospital, expansion of the network of medical institutions in the region, introduction of anti-epidemic measures to improve the health of the population have been clarified. It was found out that his appointment as the director of the Chernihiv aristocratic boarding house was a recognition of his organizational skills, demonstrated during his work in Hlukhiv. He established the boarding house and was involved in the educational institutions of the city; in 1917, he became one of the founders of the Ukrainian gymnasium in Chernihiv. P. Doroshenko entered the circle of public figures, was an honorary member of various societies, institutions and organizations. With the support of P. Skoropadsky, P. Doroshenko, heading The Main Department of Arts and National Culture, took part in the opening of Ukrainian universities, the creation of national archive and library, contributed to the development of Ukrainian theater, music and cinema, preservation of historical and cultural values.
In the third section the activity of P. Doroshenko in zemstvo institutions, in particular his participation in the creation of museums in Hlukhiv and Chernihiv is described. P. Doroshenko's cooperation with the Chernihiv Provincial Academic Archival Commission was revealed, at the meetings of which he advocated the preservation of family archives and collections, organized archival collections, bibliographic materials and took care of publishing activities. His work on collecting documents of the Cossack era, assistance to historians in creating genealogical works is characterized. Doroshenko's work on the history of families and family archives of the Northern Left Bank was mainly archeographic in nature. However, his sudden death did not allow him to realize all his life plans.
Key words: public and political activity, cultural and educational activities, scientific activities, Cossack family, zemstvo, archival commission, museum.
