In the February Interesting Exhibit section, we present postcards to relatives of the educator and writer Matas Grigonis-Gojelis (1889-1971), which are preserved in the collections of the Lithuanian Education Museum. Most of these postcards are dedicated to his uncle.
Matas Grigonis was born on 3 October 1889. Miškiniai, Rokiškis district. From 1900 to 1907 he studied at Mintauja and Vilnius gymnasiums. In 1908 he started teaching at the Neršionys “Saulės” Primary School, and later he worked as a teacher at the Panevėžys Charity Society Primary School. During the First World War he worked in schools in Kineshma, Voronezh and Yaroslavl. 1918 m. In 1918, he returned to Lithuania, continued his work as a teacher at the Panevėžys “Saulės” Gymnasium, also conducted summer teacher training courses, and in the autumn of 1920 he was appointed vice-principal of the Panevėžys state gymnasium. In 1929 he was appointed headmaster of Anykščiai Secondary School.
Grigonis was also active in literary work. Under the pseudonyms of Svirnas Žvynė and Mátyas Gojelis, he wrote and published dozens of children’s books, including a large collection of games, stage plays, poems and fairy tales.
Information prepared by Karolina Jociūtė, Curator of Museum Activities, Lithuanian Museum of Education
