This article examines how the development of museum affairs in Dnieper Ukraine during the imperial period is reflected in the historical research of contemporary Ukrainian scholars.

Unlike the Ukrainian lands under the Austro-Hungarian Empire, museum affairs in Dnieper Ukraine developed under markedly different conditions. The Ukrainian national movement and cultural institutions faced much harsher repression, including prohibitions on the Ukrainian language and culture across various spheres: educational institutions, theaters, book publishing, and socio-educational organizations or societies. Nevertheless, the museum movement was built upon the aspirations of the Ukrainian intelligentsia and patrons to preserve the cultural heritage of the Ukrainian people. In our view, the museum process in Dnieper Ukraine is distinguished by the heightened activity of its key figures.

Contemporary historiography on this topic is multifaceted and diverse, combining comprehensive general overviews with scholarly analyses of specific aspects of museum operations. Authors of these publications investigate the general museum network, the history of individual institutions, and specific collections; they also highlight the significance of private initiatives from various social strata in the expansion of museum work in the region. Furthermore, they emphasize the roles of individual museum professionals and scientists who stood at the origins of scientific Ukrainian museology.

The article is structured according to a thematic principle, specifically highlighting the following aspects of Ukrainian museum history during the period: previous historiographical studies and archival materials; the role of museums in the Ukrainian national movement; the contribution of specific figures to the development of museum affairs; the formation of the museum network; the classification and characterization of museum groups by profile; and the history of museum institutions and their collections.

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