Стаття присвячена основним віхам життя та діяльності відомого черкаського історика, краєзнавця і громадського діяча Мельниченка Василя Миколайовича. Подано огляд його науково-педагогічної
та громадської роботи, проаналізовано внесок у розвиток сучасного краєзнавства України.
The article is devoted to the main milestones of the life and work of the famous Cherkasy historian, ethnographer
and public figure Vasyl Mykolayovych Melnichenko. The review of his scientific-pedagogical and public
work is presented, his contribution to the development of modern regional studies of Ukraine is analyzed.
The focus is on the educational, methodological and historical regional studies of Vasyl Melnichenko. The
regional ethnographer is one of the co-authors of the textbook «Українську хвилю» Fundamentals of Reagional
Studies» for higher education institutions in Ukraine. The active public activity of the main ethnographer of
Cherkasy region in the area of national-patriotic education, preservation of historical and cultural heritage
and museum works is revealed in the separate unit. There are revealed Vasyl Melnichenko’s efforts toward the
expanding the thematic and chronological frameworks of research into the history and the present of the unique
historical region of Ukraine – Cherkasy region, the conformation of regional studies as an important means of
formation of historical consciousness and patriotism.