The prominent Ukrainian scholar, educator, public figure, and enlightener Mykola Fedorovych Sumtsov was born on April 18, 1854, in Saint Petersburg, into the family of Fiodor Ivanovych and Anna Ivanivna Sumtsov. He spent his entire life in Kharkiv, dedicating his scholarly work, public engagement, and educational efforts to the city.
In 1871, he graduated from the Second Kharkiv Gymnasium with a silver medal, and in 1875 – from the Faculty of History and Philology at the Imperial University of Kharkiv. In 1876, he spent several months studying in Germany at Heidelberg University, where he delved into philosophy and the history of world literature. Starting in 1878, he began teaching literary history at the Faculty of History and Philology at Kharkiv University, progressing from a private docent position to a distinguished professor and eventually dean of the faculty (1908–1917). Teaching was always the primary focus of Mykola Fedorovych Sumtsov’s work. He was among the first educators to use university and city museum exhibitions as part of the teaching and educational process.
Professor Mykola Fedorovych Sumtsov was the first to teach a course on the history of 17th-century Ukrainian literature in the Ukrainian language at Kharkiv University, starting on September 28, 1907 – an event that sparked significant public resonance within the Russian Empire.
His pedagogical work extended beyond the university. Over the years, he also taught in secondary schools, higher women’s courses, and at the Kharkiv Institute of Public Education.
Mykola Fedorovych Sumtsov’s legacy in pedagogy includes more than 100 published works, with a special emphasis on teaching materials on history and literature, as well as curricula for courses in literary history, ethnography, Ukrainian studies, and political economy.
Mykola Fedorovych Sumtsov was also responsible for several innovations in secondary education, such as the creation of school libraries, mandatory music education for all children, organizing annual report concerts for the city community, providing schools with cafeterias and free hot meals, as well as medical offices.
Mykola Fedorovych Sumtsov passed away on September 15, 1922, in Kharkiv.
The information was prepared in collaboration with Hanna Khirina, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor at the National University of Pharmacy, and Senior Researcher at the M. F. Sumtsov Kharkiv Historical Museum.
Photos: Hanna Khirina
