This study sought to describe fully the historical development of the Finnish folk high school movement, to identify the goals and principles of present provincial folk high schools and how they are expressed in the practice of adult education, and to investigate how such schools use goals and principles stressed by the Bureau of Studies in Adult Education, Indiana University. Origins of the movement (1868-89), the rise of folk high schools (1889-1918), developments in independent Finland (1918-66), and the growth of folk academies, Christian, labor oriented, and other types of folk high schools (including those of Swedish speaking citizens) were documented. In addition, analytical data were obtained from questionnaires completed by 14 provincial folk high school principals and 90 teachers. Findings showed, among other things, that those educational goals and principles stressed by the Bureau of Studies in Adult Education were generally accepted by the majority of the principals, are used in many provincial folk high schools, and receive considerable emphasis in teachers' and principals' training programs in adult education. (author/ly)