Oskar Kallas

Oskar Kallas Philipp (born 13 Oktoberjul / 25 October 1868greg in Kaarma, Estonia, .. † January 26, 1946 in Stockholm) was an Estonian diplomat, linguist and folklorist. He was the husband of the Finnish- Estonian writer Aino Kallas.

Training

Oskar Kallas was born as the youngest son of the Vicar of Kaarma on the island of Saaremaa. Already in his youth, Kallas interested in Estonian folklore and folklore as well as Finno-Ugric languages. On the initiative of the folklorist Jakob Hurt, he helped in the collection of Estonian folk poetry. In 1889 he made ​​his first trip to Finland, during his formative years. Kallas studied from 1887 to 1892, first classical philology at the University of Tartu, after 1892/93 at the University of Helsinki Finnish folklore and Finno- Ugric languages.

Estonian national consciousness

Already in his student days at the University of Tartu Oskar Kallas was politically active. Together with his friend, later politician and head of state Estonian Jaan Tõnisson, he was much the nationalist association involved students Estonian ( Eesti Üliõpilaste Selts ). He became a core of the Estonian independence movement against Tsarist Russia.

After his university exams Oskar Kallas worked as a teacher at various schools, among others in Narva and St Petersburg. Oskar Kallas and Jaan Tõnisson bought in this time, the prestigious magazine Postimees who turned against the Russification in Estonia.

Aino Kallas

Through studies at Helsinki University he came in contact with the scientists and folklorists Kaarle Krohn, under whose guidance he wrote his doctoral thesis. In the summer of 1901, Kallas defended the dissertation The repetition of songs of Estonian folk poetry. On August 6, 1900, he married into the German Church in Helsinki Krohn's sister, the writer Aino Kallas ( born Krohn ). Then he took from 1901 to 1903 employment as a lecturer in comparative linguistics at the University of St. Petersburg.

Journalist, teacher, folklorist

1903 Kallas took a job as a journalist at the newspaper Postimees as well as a high school teacher in Tartu. From 1903 to 1918, Oskar and Aino Kallas lived there with their children. When in 1906 the first Estonian-language school for girls was (today Miina Härma Gymnasium) founded in Tartu, Kallas took over the post of Director. 1909 Kallas was one of the founders of the Estonian National Museum ( Eesti Rahva Muuseum ) in Tartu and many years of volunteer department head. Kallas is particularly known for his research on the language and culture of the Estonian villages in the area Ludza in Latgale. 1912 his application was rejected on the editing for Estonian folklore of the Russian-dominated university management in Tartu.

Diplomacy

With Estonian independence in 1918 Kallas joined the diplomatic service in Estonia. He was Estonian representative in Finland. After that, he was from 1922 until his retirement in 1934 Estonian ambassador in London. Subsequently lived Oskar and Aino Kallas in Tallinn. A lot of time spent both in their summer house on the island of Hiiumaa in Kassari ( now a museum ).

Exile

Before the threat of Soviet occupation of Estonia Oskar Kallas had to flee with his family to Sweden. He lived there in exile until his death. In February 1946, his body was buried in Helsinki.

Publication

• Estonian Folklore: Folk -Lore: Transactions of the Folk -Lore Society, vol.34 No. 2, London June 30, 1923, Pages 101-116