The "Overseers' Economy" of the Oil Shtetl

The oil industry of Boryslav in the second half of the 19th century was fragmented into hundreds of small, mostly Jewish enterprises. The city was not dominated by oil magnates, but by hundreds of overseers, mostly Jewish supervisors of the mines. They carried out various functions, from hiring workers and paying wages to organizing shops and lodging. The overseers were criticized by industrial inspectors and other observers, including the writer Ivan Franko, as the main exploiters.

At the same time, this phenomenon allows us to understand how the economic roles of Jewish intermediaries inherent in Galicia were manifested in the industrial economy. Their position in the hierarchies of Boryslav was unstable, both dependent on the mine owners and dominant over the workers. During the Urban seminar, the researcher proposes to examine the complex system of labor relations in the city, as well as attempts to reform them.

Urban Seminar will be held in a workshop format. Researchers are invited to discuss scholarly projects, research at various stages of development, and completed research that is being prepared for publication.

Participation in the Urban Seminar requires preliminary reading and discussion of the researcher's text. If you would like to join the Seminar, please email Maryana Mazurak (m.mazurak@lvivcenter.org), and we will send you the materials in advance.

Credits

Cover Image: Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe