LCPS Presents: The Kalevala

LCPS Presents January Lecture: 
The Kalevala: the Legendary Finnish National Saga 
​Presented by Professor Greg Jacob 
The Lower Columbia Preservation Society starts off the 2025 LCPS Presents series of monthly presentations and lectures with a program on The Kalevala: the Legendary Finnish National Saga. The stories contain the ancient themes of good versus evil, as well as characters who represent the good, the true and the beautiful. The tales of the Kalevala had been passed down through oral tradition in Finland for centuries and were finally written down and organized into a collection of chapters in the early 19th century. The written compilation from almost two hundred years ago constitutes the saga as read today.
Our presenter, Greg Jacob, is a retired university English professor who currently lives in Hillsboro. However, Greg graduated from Astoria High School and has deep roots in the Lower Columbia region. His mother, Dorothy Luoma, was raised in Knappa Swenson and was fluent in Finnish. His father, Harold Jacob, worked for Palmberg Construction and Barbey Packing Company. Greg’s brother, Robert “Jake” Jacob, was engaged in many civic and business ventures in Astoria including the Cannery Pier Hotel. Greg has maintained many connections to Astoria over the years. Greg is a member of the Friends of Suomi Hall and the lead volunteer on maintaining the historic Lindgren Cabin at Cullaby Lake. He has long been interested in the Kalevala saga and taught a course on the epic at Portland State University in 2017. Greg also authored “Fins, Finns and Astorians” which is available for sale at many venues in Astoria and will be offered for sale at his presentation on the Kalevala.
Tuesday, January 14th at 7pm
Pacifick Distillery,  55 4th St. Astoria, OR
Free and open to the public