The Centenary of Niilo Valonen's Birth
Abstract
Niilo Emil Tapio Valonen was born in Southwest Häme, South Finland, in 1913, but his family moved four years later permanently to Punkalaidun in the region of Satakunta, where Valonen's father worked as a forestry technician. Niilo's roots in the Satakunta region were strengthened at the Hämeenlinna Lyceum by Felix Seppälä who taught history, civics and Finnish. Seppälä served as a member of the Finnish Parliament (1945 - 1958) and was known for his patriotic views. He was also highly regarded in the museum field for his work of directing the Hämeenlinna Museum from 1935 until 1955. The Select Committee on Education and Culture of the Finnish Parliament was headed by Seppälä and Valonen later relied on the committee successfully in a number of ventures. A patriotic attitude combined with the interests of a home region researcher were also features of Niilo's father, who was involved in an important way in the founding of the local farm museum and its early stages. His son also became interested in the centuries-old farmer and peasant past of his region, and its study became his life's work after his views had broadened and deepened in secondary school.
