Semen IUshkevich was born in Odessa in 1868, educated in the Jewish schools of the city and studied pharmacy at the University of St. Vladimir in Kiev and medicine in Paris. He began writing in the late 1890s, focusing on realistic depictions of middle-class Jewish life in Russia. He was an early contributor to Znanie, but later turned to playwriting. Sometime between 1917 and 1920, he emigrated with his family, finally settling in Paris. He continued writing plays, novels, and film scripts until his death in 1927.
Pavel IUshkevich was born in Odessa on June 29 (July 11), 1873. While he concentrated in his studies in mathematics, he was active in Marxist political groups. He later studied at the Faculty of Sciences of the Sorbonne and the University of St. Petersburg, eventually working as a journalist, editor, translator, though eventually disdaining politics. An expanded account of his life can be found in the biographical notes in folder 57-59.
From the guide to the Semen and Pavel I︠U︡shkevich papers, 1892-1985, 1892-1930, (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library)
