Evolution of the Image of Illia Mechnikov in Synthetic Works on the History of Odesa University (Late 19th – Early 21st Centuries)

The article is dedicated to the evolution of the image of the prominent scientist and Nobel laureate Illia Mechnikov in comprehensive works on the history of Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University, where he worked from 1870 to 1882. Since the late 19th century and up to the present day, seven books, a brochure, and an article have been published. The first such work was authored in 1890 by Professor Oleksii Markevych, in which I. Mechnikov was portrayed as one of the leading university scientists in the field of biology. However, in 1915, Professor Mykhailo Popruzhenko, in his article, did not “recognize” Mechnikov among the prominent scientists of the university in its 50-year history. During the Soviet period, a book on the university’s history was published in 1940, in which the authors devoted significant attention to I. Mechnikov. However, the main focus was placed on his role in the socio-political struggle within the university. On the occasion of the university’s centenary, two works were published – a popular science book (1965) and a scholarly monograph (1968), with the relevant sections authored by Professor Zaira Pershyna. In these works, I. Mechnikov received extraordinary attention and was portrayed both as an outstanding scientist and a cult figure in the university’s history. The next books, published in 1991 and 2000, were popular science in nature and more concise in volume. They mentioned I. Mechnikov as a prominent scientist, though without attributing him an exceptional role in the university’s history. In 2015, a comprehensive monograph on the history of the university was published, in which Mechnikov’s place was portrayed briefly, though respectfully acknowledging his scientific contributions. In 2025, a new monograph was prepared to scientifically present a revised perspective on Mechnikov’s place in the university’s history. While in the Soviet era I. Mechnikov was initially identified as a Russian scientist, and later as both Ukrainian and Russian, contemporary historians do not emphasize his ethnic background or national identity. Instead, they aim to interpret his life and scientific legacy as an integral part of the cultural heritage of modern Ukraine.