On July 12, 2018, Karazin University community is celebrating the 103^rd birth anniversary of the Merited Worker of Science and Technology of Ukraine, laureate of the USSR State Prize, First Head of the Board of Overseers and Doctor Honoris Causa of the University, Petro Tronko (1915–2011).

Petro Tronko became the main inspirator and the head of the many-thousand authoring team of the unique publication of the 26-volume encyclopedia History of Cities and Villages of the Ukrainian SSR, which was awarded the USSR State Prize in Science and Technology.

He initiated the creation of the National Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life of Ukraine in Pirogovo, the Museum-Reserve of Zaporizhzhia Cossacks in Khortytsia Island, the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in World War II in Kyiv, and of the reconstruction of the Golden Gates, St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery, and other famous monuments of Ukrainian history.

Petro Tronko became the organizer and the first Head of the Ukrainian Society of Historical and Cultural Monuments; he revived the National Union of Experts in Area Studies of Ukraine.

This outstanding scholar, public and state figure was born in Sloboda Ukraine. He made a significant contribution to the study and popularization of monuments of native antiquity.

Petro Tronko repeatedly visited the University, supported Karazinites’ initiatives, including the opening of the first-in-Ukraine University Center for Area Studies, which is named after him now.

In his honor and name, the University opened a memorable classroom, set up a memorial plaque, and founded a prize for the best report at the traditional International Area Studies Conference of Young Scholars. One of Kharkiv streets was named after him.