Oskar Kallas
Encyclopedia
Oskar Kallas was an Estonia
n diplomat, linguist and folklorist. He was the husband of the Finnish
writer Aino Kallas
.
on the island of Saaremaa
. He developed an interested in Estonian folklore and finnic languages at an early age. Kallas assisted the folklorist Jakob Hurt
in his epic collection of Estonian folk poetry. In 1889, he undertook his first trip to Finland
, which proved influential. Kallas studied classical philology at the University of Tartu
between 1887 to 1892, then studied Finnish folklore and Finno-Ugric languages at the University of Helsinki
from 1892 to 1893.
, who later became a politician and Estonian head of state, he was involved in the nationalist student association (Eesti Üliõpilaste). He became an important figure in Estonian independence aspirations within Tsarist Russia.
After graduation Oskar Kallas taught at various schools in Narva and St. Petersburg. At that time, together with Jaan Tõnisson, Oskar Kallas founded the prestigious newspaper Postimees
which opposed the Russification in Estonia.
, under whose guidance he wrote his doctoral thesis (which he defended in 1901). On 6 August 1900 he married Krohn's sister, the writer Aino Kallas, at the Helsinki Lutheran church. He was then appointed as a lecturer in comparative linguistics at the University of St. Petersburg from 1901 to 1903.
. Kallas became the first principal of Estonia's first girls' school (today's Miina Härma Gymnasium), founded in Tartu in 1906. In 1909 Kallas was one of the founders of the Estonian National Museum
(Eesti Rahva Muuseum) in Tartu and was a volunteer department head for many years. Kallas is particularly known for his research on language and culture of the Estonian villages in the area of Ludza in Latgale
.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n diplomat, linguist and folklorist. He was the husband of the Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
writer Aino Kallas
Aino Kallas
Aino Krohn Kallas was a prominent Finnish - Estonian author. Her novellas are considered to be among the finest pieces of Finnish literature. Kallas is also known for her love affair with the legendary poet Eino Leino....
.
Education
Oskar Kallas was the youngest son of the Vicar of KaarmaKaarma
Kaarma is a village in Kaarma Parish, Saare County, on the island of Saaremaa, Estonia....
on the island of Saaremaa
Saaremaa
Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia, measuring 2,673 km². The main island of Saare County, it is located in the Baltic Sea, south of Hiiumaa island, and belongs to the West Estonian Archipelago...
. He developed an interested in Estonian folklore and finnic languages at an early age. Kallas assisted the folklorist Jakob Hurt
Jakob Hurt
Jakob Hurt was a notable Estonian folklorist, theologist, and linguist. With respect to the latter, he is perhaps best known for his dissertation on "pure" -ne stem nouns...
in his epic collection of Estonian folk poetry. In 1889, he undertook his first trip to Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, which proved influential. Kallas studied classical philology at the University of Tartu
University of Tartu
The University of Tartu is a classical university in the city of Tartu, Estonia. University of Tartu is the national university of Estonia; it is the biggest and highest-ranked university in Estonia...
between 1887 to 1892, then studied Finnish folklore and Finno-Ugric languages at the University of Helsinki
University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...
from 1892 to 1893.
Estonian national awakening
Oskar Kallas was politically active as a student at the University of Tartu. Together with his friend Jaan TõnissonJaan Tõnisson
Jaan Tõnisson VR I/3, II/3 and III/1 was an Estonian statesman, serving as the Prime Minister of Estonia twice during 1919 to 1920 and as the Foreign Minister of Estonia from 1931 to 1932.-Early life:...
, who later became a politician and Estonian head of state, he was involved in the nationalist student association (Eesti Üliõpilaste). He became an important figure in Estonian independence aspirations within Tsarist Russia.
After graduation Oskar Kallas taught at various schools in Narva and St. Petersburg. At that time, together with Jaan Tõnisson, Oskar Kallas founded the prestigious newspaper Postimees
Postimees
Postimees is an Estonian daily newspaper. It was established in 1 January 1857 by Johann Voldemar Jannsen and became Estonia's first daily newspaper in 1891....
which opposed the Russification in Estonia.
Personal life
While studying at the University of Helsinki, Kallas came in contact with the folklorist Kaarle KrohnKaarle Krohn
Kaarle Krohn was a Finnish folklorist, professor and developer of the geographic-historic method of folklore research. He was born in Helsinki. He was the son of journalist and poet Julius Krohn, and his sister was Aino Kallas, a Finnish author. Krohn is best known outside of Finland for his...
, under whose guidance he wrote his doctoral thesis (which he defended in 1901). On 6 August 1900 he married Krohn's sister, the writer Aino Kallas, at the Helsinki Lutheran church. He was then appointed as a lecturer in comparative linguistics at the University of St. Petersburg from 1901 to 1903.
Career
In 1903 Kallas worked as a journalist at the newspaper Postimees, as well as a high school teacher in TartuTartu
Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the...
. Kallas became the first principal of Estonia's first girls' school (today's Miina Härma Gymnasium), founded in Tartu in 1906. In 1909 Kallas was one of the founders of the Estonian National Museum
Estonian National Museum
The Estonian National Museum founded 1909 in Tartu is a museum devoted to folklorist Jakob Hurt's heritage, to Estonian ethnography and folk art...
(Eesti Rahva Muuseum) in Tartu and was a volunteer department head for many years. Kallas is particularly known for his research on language and culture of the Estonian villages in the area of Ludza in Latgale
Latgale
Latgale is one of the four historical and cultural regions of Latvia recognised in the Constitution of the Latvian Republic. It is the easternmost region north of the Daugava River...
.