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Instytut Historii Nauki im. Ludwika i Aleksandra Birkenmajerów Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Place of publishing: Date issued/created: Date on-line publ.: Type of object: Subject and Keywords:philanthropist ; merchant ; entrepreneur ; sugar industry ; charity
Abstract:
Charity is a special type of activity, a form of socially responsible behaviour, social creativity, in which state and social interests, state regulation and personal impulse (noble or selfish, depending on the goals set) intertwine and interpenetrate. Private charity at the end of 19th and beginning of 20th century acquired a mass character. The initiative has shifted from a few aristocratic families to a rather broad mass of merchants, manufacturers and small landowners. Noble and useful causes very often proved profitable for business development. It was this combination that underpinned the large-scale philanthropy of the entrepreneurs. For the Kharitonenko family, religion, medicine, education and the arts were the main areas of such activities. They also financed the construction of city facilities and helped expand the city’s infrastructure. So we see that coming from a peasant environment, thanks to hard work, the Kharitonenko family made a difficult move up the class ladder. They made charitable activity a peculiar factor in their business and cultural development strategy. It was impossible to gain economic privileges, public recognition of merits, awards and titles without the glory of a patron of arts and a benefactor. Economic success was closely linked to large monetary outlays on the charitable cause.
Creative Commons Attribution BY-NC-ND 4.0 license
Terms of use: Copyright holder:Instytut Historii Nauki im. Ludwika i Aleksandra Birkenmajerów PAN
Original in:Library of the Institute for the History of Science PAS
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