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Title: Kyril Drenikoff papers
Date (inclusive): 1849-2019
Collection Number: 88009
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
Bulgarian
Physical Description:
215 manuscript boxes, 45 oversize boxes, 2 cubic foot boxes, 16 card file boxes, 6 slide boxes, 4 oversize folders, 2 motion
picture film reels, 22 sound cassettes, 1 videocassette, 106 sound discs, 1 microfilm reel, memorabilia
(123.6 Linear Feet)
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.
Creator:
Drenikoff, Kyril
Creator:
Drenikov, Georgi
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
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.
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1988.
[Identification of item], Kyril Drenikoff papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Also available on microfilm (209 reels).
| 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 |
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War, 1939-1945 -- Bulgaria
Audiotapes
Video tapes
Sound recordings
Slides (Photography)
Motion pictures
Anti-communist movements
Bulgaria -- Emigration and immigration
Bulgaria -- History
Bulgaria -- Civilization
Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Nations
World Anti-Communist League