T. I. Itkonen
Encyclopedia
Toivo Immanuel Itkonen (January 20, 1891, Pulkkila
– December 5, 1968, Helsinki
) was a Finnish
historian
and linguist, specializing in Sami language and the history of the Sami people
.
Itkonen's father, Lauri Arvid Itkonen (1865-1925,) was the curate of the Lutheran church of Pulkkila
. Lauri Itkonen and his six children moved to Inari
during the Spring of 1899, when Lauri received the post of rector of the Inari church. It was here that Toivo first began his education with a home tutor and then in 1901, moved to Oulu
to begin secondary school. He graduated from Oulu secondary school in 1910. In 1913 he graduated from the University of Helsinki
with a Bachelors degree in philosophy. In 1916 he received his Masters degree and in 1923, his Doctorate.
During 1911-1949, Itkonen made 9 research trips to Lapland. He also made research trips to central Europe (1929) and Scandinavia (1931 and 1934). His last research trip was to Italy, in 1955. Based on his research in Lapland, Itkonen published the two part "The Lapps in Finland up to 1945 Vol. 1 & 2" in 1948.
Toivo Itkonen was married to Amanda Seppäsen, with whom he had three children, Terho, Marja and Kerttu.
Pulkkila
Pulkkila is a former municipality and a village located in Northern Finland. Pulkkila is the administrative center of the municipality of Siikalatva and belongs to the region of Northern Ostrobothnia....
– December 5, 1968, Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
) was a 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...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
and linguist, specializing in Sami language and the history of the Sami people
Sami people
The Sami people, also spelled Sámi, or Saami, are the arctic indigenous people inhabiting Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of far northern Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Kola Peninsula of Russia, and the border area between south and middle Sweden and Norway. The Sámi are Europe’s northernmost...
.
Itkonen's father, Lauri Arvid Itkonen (1865-1925,) was the curate of the Lutheran church of Pulkkila
Pulkkila
Pulkkila is a former municipality and a village located in Northern Finland. Pulkkila is the administrative center of the municipality of Siikalatva and belongs to the region of Northern Ostrobothnia....
. Lauri Itkonen and his six children moved to Inari
Inari
Inari may refer to:* Inari , a Shinto spirit** Mount Inari in Japan, site of Fushimi Inari-taisha, the main Shinto shrine to Inari** Inari Shrine, shrines to the Shinto god Inari* Inari Sami, one of the Sami languages...
during the Spring of 1899, when Lauri received the post of rector of the Inari church. It was here that Toivo first began his education with a home tutor and then in 1901, moved to Oulu
Oulu
Oulu is a city and municipality of inhabitants in the region of Northern Ostrobothnia, in Finland. It is the most populous city in Northern Finland and the sixth most populous city in the country. It is one of the northernmost larger cities in the world....
to begin secondary school. He graduated from Oulu secondary school in 1910. In 1913 he graduated from 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...
with a Bachelors degree in philosophy. In 1916 he received his Masters degree and in 1923, his Doctorate.
During 1911-1949, Itkonen made 9 research trips to Lapland. He also made research trips to central Europe (1929) and Scandinavia (1931 and 1934). His last research trip was to Italy, in 1955. Based on his research in Lapland, Itkonen published the two part "The Lapps in Finland up to 1945 Vol. 1 & 2" in 1948.
Toivo Itkonen was married to Amanda Seppäsen, with whom he had three children, Terho, Marja and Kerttu.