How did Henrik Gabriel Porthan contribute to the study of Finnish folk poetry?

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Finnish literature Franzén, oil painting by J.G. Sandberg, 1828; in Gripsholm Castle, Sweden

Henrik Gabriel Porthan was a pivotal figure in the history of Finnish literature, recognized as the first scholar to pay serious attention to Finnish folk poetry during the mid-18th century.1

By bringing academic focus to these oral traditions, Porthan helped pave the way for the systematic collection and transcription of folk material that began in the latter half of the 18th century. His scholarly interest laid the foundational groundwork for later collectors, such as Elias Lönnrot, whose work eventually culminated in the creation of the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala.1