Johannes Skar

Johannes Skar (18 November 1837 – 3 February 1914) was a Norwegian educator and folklorist.

Skar was born at Øyer in Oppland, Norway. He was the son of Ole Torsteinsson Skar (1802-1886) and Mari Johannesdotter Lånke (1814-1894). He was a brother of educator Matias Skard. He was raised in the traditional region of the Gudbrand Valley and attended the Latin School in Lillehammer. He later studied at the University of Christiania. As an educator, he first worked as a tutor for children. From 1883 to 1892, he taught at Bruuns folkehøgskule in Sel and Gausdal which was operated by folk school pioneer, Christopher Bruun (1839-1920). In 1897 at age 59, he was granted a state scholarship which provided financial support for the remainder of his life.

Skar collected folklore throughout his adult life. These works includes legends, fairy tales, proverbs, riddles, nursery rhymes and songs. In 1876, he published a book which contains information about life and folklore in the Gudbrand Valley. His main contribution to Norwegian literature his the work Gamalt or Sætesdal (1903-1916), a collection of eight volumes of the old peasant culture in the valley of Setesdal. Two volumes were published after his death.

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