Kyril Drenikoff papers, 1849-2023

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Summary

Creators:
Drenikoff, Kyril and Drenikov, Georgi
Abstract:
Correspondence, writings, conference proceedings, reports, bulletins, serial issues, clippings, other printed matter, photographs, maps, other pictorial materials, and memorabilia, relating to the history and culture of Bulgaria, activities of the post-World War II Bulgarian émigré community, and activities of the World Anti-Communist League, the Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Nations and other anti-communist organizations. Includes diaries of Georgi Drenikov, father of K. Drenikoff, and commander of the Bulgarian Air Force during World War II.
Extent:
216 manuscript boxes, 41 oversize boxes, 2 cubic foot boxes, 16 card file boxes, 3 slide boxes, 4 oversize folders, 2 motion picture film reels, 22 sound cassettes, 1 videocassette, 106 sound discs, 1 microfilm reel, memorabilia, transmissive media (122 Linear Feet)
Language:
Bulgarian
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Kyril Drenikoff papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

The Kyril Drenikoff papers constitute a major resource on Bulgaria and reflect Drenikoff's life and work as a writer, bibliographer, and political activist in the Bulgarian émigré community.

Kyril Drenikoff's involvement in that community is well documented in the extensive Correspondence series, as well as in several series dedicated to the activities of the World Anti-Communist League, the Anti-Bolshevik Block of Nations, and the Bulgarian League for Human Rights, organizations in which he held a prominent role. Material on other anti-communist organizations, such as the Assembly of Captive European Nations, can be found in the Subject File.

Another focus of the collection is Kyril Drenikoff's life-long interest in promoting Bulgarian history and culture. With his brother Ivan Drenikoff, he co-founded the Centre de Recherches et de Documentation Balkaniques, formerly named the Balkan Archives, for which they collected thousands of volumes. Kyril Drenikoff was also the publisher of Informations Bulgares and headed the Institut Culturel Bulgare, which published Edin Zavet. Much of his bibliographic effort was concentrated on Macedonia as well as on Bulgaria. Though of Macedonian origin, he strongly believed that the population of Macedonia is part of the Bulgarian nation and refuted the existence of an independent Macedonian nation and church.

Also important in the collection are Kyril Drenikoff's speeches and writings on Bulgarian and Macedonian culture, politics, and religious issues, often written under one of the following pseudonyms: D. B., D. D., K. G. D., D. G., D. K. G., D. L. G., G. G., D. V., Strachimir Belphegoroff, G. Bertram, Ieromonakh Danail, Konstantin Dragashov, Gavrets, Gavriil Gorianin, Dr. Gorski, K. D. Gueorguief, Serafim Ionov, Dimiter Iskrenov, S. Kirov, Kolezhanin, G. or Goge or Georgi Lazov, Iskren Ognianov, Pantelei Petnik, G. L. Starozemets, C. D. de Velboudj, and Iurdan Zambakov. Included in the Speeches and Writings series are Kyril Drenikoff's academic theses of 1959, 1960, and 1963, but his diaries, covering the period from 1971 to 1976, can be found in their own series.

Separate series were also created for King Simeon II of Bulgaria, to document Kyril Drenikoff's role as his counselor and member of his political council, as well as for King Simeon's father, Czar Boris III of Bulgaria. However, material relating to Czar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria can be found in the Subject File.

Apart from the Biographical File devoted to Kyril Drenikoff, there is a wealth of material related to several members of his family, in particular his brother, Ivan Drenikoff, and his father, Georgi Drenikoff, commander of the Bulgarian Air Force during World War II. Not only is Georgi's participation in both World Wars well documented, there is also material relating to his passion for gliding. Indeed, he founded the practice of gliding in Bulgaria and won the bronze medal in the gliding competition during the Olympic Games of 1936 in Berlin, the first Bulgarian Olympic trophy. An accomplished track athlete, he also set the 1924 Bulgarian national record in hurdle racing.

Finally, the collection is very rich in audio-visual material, with extensive series of photographs, postcards, maps, artwork, and sound recordings, relating mostly to Bulgarian history and culture.

Biographical / historical:
Date Event
1930 July 30
Born in Sofia, Bulgaria
1943 November 12
Gliding license
1948
High school diploma, Institut des Frères des Écoles Chrétiennes, Collège St. St. Cyrille et Méthode, Sofia, Bulgaria
1956
Law degree, State University, Sofia, Bulgaria
1957 June 5
Diploma in international public law, La Sorbonne, Paris, France
1959 March 2
Doctorat en droit international, La Sorbonne, Paris, France
1960-1965
In charge of programs in Bulgarian, Radio Vaticana
1960-1966
President, Association des Anciens Elèves des Frères des Ecoles Chrétiennes de la Bulgarie
1960 March 15
Diploma, Institut des Hautes Etudes Internationales, Paris, France
1962
Bulgarian delegate to the Central Committee of the Anti-Bolshevik Block of Nations (ABN)
1962 June 24
Married Michèle Françoise Bihan-Faou
1962-1983
Member, Political Council of Simeon II, King of Bulgaria, and counselor to the King
1963
Degree, Hague Academy of International Law (International Law Fund laureate)
1965-1984
Chancellor of the Royal Bulgarian orders and decorations
1967-1968
State Counselor of Biafra
1968
Author (under the pseudonym of Strachimir Belphegoroff), <emph render="italic">La mort mystérieuse d'un roi</emph>
Author, <emph render="italic">L'église catholique en Bulgarie</emph>
1970
Founder (with Ivan Drenikoff) and director, Centre de Recherches et de Documentation Balkaniques, Brussels, Belgium
1970-1983
Permanent Bulgarian representative to the World Anti-Communist League (WACL), and member of its council
1972 October 4
Allowed to use the name Kyril Drenikoff de Velboudj
1975 February 9
Became French citizen and allowed to use the name Cyrille Drenec
1978-1980
President, Ligue Bulgare des Droits de l'Homme
1981
Author, Bulgarska literatura v izgnanie
1982
Author, Bibliografi'i'a za Makedoni'i'a
1983 December 22
Died in Brussels, Belgium
Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1988.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Boxes 220-224, 228, 236-239, 252, 259-260, 271-278 may not be used without permission of the Archivist. The remainder of the collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Kyril Drenikoff papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
Website