Jeremiah Curtin

Jeremiah Curtin was an American translator, folklorist, and ethnographer born in 1835 in Detroit, Michigan. He was the son of Irish immigrants and received his education at Harvard University, where he studied linguistics and developed a keen interest in languages and cultures. Curtin's career began with his work as a translator for the U.S. State Department, but he is most renowned for his extensive collection of folklore from various cultures, including Irish, Russian, and Native American. His work in folklore was pioneering, as he traveled extensively to collect stories directly from native speakers, preserving narratives that might otherwise have been lost. Curtin's contributions to folklore literature have had a lasting impact, providing a rich source of cultural narratives that continue to be studied and appreciated to this day. He is particularly noted for his collections of Irish myths and legends, which helped popularize these stories in the English-speaking world.