Johannes Skar

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

 Biography 
Skar was born in Øyer, Oppland, Norway, the son of Ole Torsteinsson Skar (1802-1886) and Mari Johannesdotter Lånke (1814-1894). His brother was Professor Matias Skard.

He grew up in the region of Gudbrandsdalen and attended Latin school in Lillehammer (Lillehammer latinskole). He studied at the University of Christiania, and graduated in 1860. He then started working as a teacher. From 1883 to 1892, he taught at the Bruuns Folk School (Bruuns folkehøgskule) in Sel and Gausdal.

Skar used folklore themes throughout his adult life to create various works. These works include legends, fairy tales, proverbs, riddles, and nursery rhymes. The following year he received a scholarship from the University of Christiania. In 1897, he was awarded a state scholarship that provided him with financial support for the rest of his life. He then moved back to Setesdal.

In 1876, he published a book, a work containing information about life and folklore in Gudbrandsdalen, Norway. His main contributions to Nordic literature are the works Gamalt o Sætesdal (1903-1916),  an eight-volume collection of Old Norse culture from the Setesdal valley, Agder County. Two posthumous volumes were published. 

He died in Bygland, Aust-Agder in 1914. He was buried in the cemetery of Årdal Church, Grendi in Bygland. A bust of Johannes Skar was designed by sculptor Dyre Vaa (1903-1980) and cast in bronze. It was erected in the cemetery of Årdal Church in 1924.

 References 

 Literature 
 Olav Bø (1953) Johannes Skar, Gudbrandsdølen som skapte Gamalt o Saetesdal (Oslo: Olaf Norli)

Category:1837 births
Category:1914 deaths
Category:Norwegian writers