The rise of the Soviet Union as a world power after the Second World War led to an increased demand for knowledge about the Slavonic world. In response to this, the Department of Slavonic Studies was established in 1946, with James O. St.Clair-Sobell as its first head. The Department eventually came to offer courses in Russian and other Slavic languages, literature, history, and politics. Other heads of Slavonic Studies were Michael H. Futrell (1967-72), Bogdan Czaykowski (1972-89), Christopher J.G. Turner (acting, 1989-90), Klaus Petersen (acting, 1990-91), and Robert V. Kubicek (acting, 1991-92). In the wake of internal disputes and after the suspension of its Graduate and Majors programs in 1990, the Department was reorganized and renamed Russian and Slavic Languages and Literature in 1992. However, its programmes were never reestablished, and the Department was disbanded in 1994.
From the description of Department of Slavonic Studies fonds. 1945-1993, predominant 1976-1990. (University of British Columbia Library). WorldCat record id: 606455376
