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Eduard Willem Gerard Cesar Hidde Bok (1863 - 1930)

Eduard Willem Gerard Cesar Hidde (Edward William) Bok
Born in Den Helder, Noord-Holland, Nederlandmap
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and
Brother of
Husband of — married 22 Oct 1896 [location unknown]
[children unknown]
Died at age 66 in Lake Wales, Polk County, Florida, United Statesmap
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Profile last modified | Created 23 Nov 2022
This page has been accessed 81 times.

Biography

Notables Project
Edward William Bok is Notable.

Eduard Willem Gerard Cesar Hidde Bok was born on 9 October 1863 in Den Helder, Noord-Holland, Nederland, son of Willem Jan Hidde Bok (1829– ) and Sieke Geertruida van Herwerden (~1838– ).[1][2]

His family arrived in the United States on 20 September 1870 aboard The Queen, where his first two decades in the United States were lived in Brooklyn, New York. In his new country he would use the name Edward Bok.[3]

He was best known for his 30-year career as the editor of Ladies' Home Journal magazine and his bootstrap story as an impoverished immigrant who made good in America. The magazine's reach and influence provided a sounding board for his other interests as an advocate for peace and conservation. To him one of the failings of his adopted country was its great waste of resources even in the the lifestyles of those who already had little to spare.

He married Mary Louise Curtis in 1896 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was a daughter of the founders of Ladies' Home Journal.[4][5][6] They became the parents of two sons, Curtis and Carey.[7][8][9]

In 1922 he established the Mountain Lake Sanctuary and Singing Tower in Lake Wales, Florida. Incorporated into the design was a crypt to serve as Bok final place of rest. He died (age 66) on 8 January 1930 of heart failure at his winter home in Lake Wales, Polk County, Florida.[10][11] He lies buried at the foot of the Singing Tower inside his beloved sanctuary now known as the Bok Tower Gardens.[12] News of his death was carried in many newspapers across the United States.[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]

Death in the News

Edward Bok Dies at his Florida Home
Noted Philanthropist and Editor is Victim of Heart Attack at Age 66
Born in Holland
Edited Ladies Home Journal for 25 Years; Retired 10 Years Ago

Lake Wales, Fla.--Edward W. Bok, widely known editor and philanthropist, of Merion, Pa., died at his winter home here early today after a week's illness of heart trouble.

Funeral services will be held tomorrow, with burial at the Lake Wales sanctuary, members of the family announced.

Mrs. Bok and their sons were at the bedside when the end came, but Cyrus H. K. Curtis, Philadelphia publisher and Mrs. Bok's father, as well as physicians who were requested to come from Philadelphia when Bok's condition became critical, had not arrived.

Suffers Heart Attack
Bok was stricken with a heart attack soon after his arrival at his winter home last Sunday.

Specialists and his sons and business associate, Cyrus H. K. Curtis, were called to his bedside, last night, friends here said.

The philanthropist was 66 years old. He came to America from Holland at the age of six, and accumulated a great fortune, much of which he devoted to benevolence. For 30 years, he was editor of the Ladies Home Journal.

Was Immigrant
The immigrant boy of 61 years ago will be buried near his home here, in the singing tower at Mountain Lake, whose dedication, scarcely a year ago was attended by some of the most distinguished men in the country.

The singing tower was one of the most popular of Bok's gifts to the country he adopted as his. The other was $100.000 peace prize, offered in 1923.

Born in Netherlands
Bok was born in the Netherland and brought to America when he was six. In later life, he became associated with Curtis, publisher of several well-known magazines. and became editor of the Ladies Home Journal. He retired from editorship in 1919, after 30 years of service.

Bok's association with Curtis led to social contacts with the Curtis family, and he met and married the publisher's daughter.

His most famous piece of writing was The Americanization of Edward Bok, which described his success.

Start was Humble
(article continues beyond this partial transcription)[23]

Sources

  1. ↑ Burgerlijke Stand Geboorte 1863, Den Helder, Noord-Holland, Nederland. Akte 527 (1863-10-09), Regionaal Archief Alkmaar accessed via WieWasWie Permalink, view via OpenArch
  2. ↑ "Netherlands, Archival Indexes, Vital Records, 1600-2000," citing Affiliate Name: Regionaal Archief Alkmaar; Affiliate Publication Title: Bron: boek, Periode: 1863, FamilySearch Record: QLCR-2DB8 https://www.openarch.nl/show.php?archive=raa&identifier=579d64c9-1a0d-4348-8a44-ad60a5bfe6c4, Name: Eduard Willem Gerard Cesar Hidde Hidde Bok; Birth Date: 09 Oct 1863; Birth Place: Den Helder, Noord-Holland, Nederland; Event Place Year Range: 1811-1918.
  3. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," citing Volume: 2; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T9; Affiliate Line Number: 00086; Digital film/folder number: 005161481; FHL microfilm: 1254845; Image number: 498; Sheet number: 178; Sheet letter: B; Packet letter: A, FamilySearch Record: MZ8G-31K FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9YBL-HF, Name: Edward W Bok; Birth Date: 1864; Birth Place: Netherlands; Census Date: 1880; Census Place: Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States; Occupation: Clerk-Telegraph Co; Race: White; Marital Status: Single; Age: 16 years; Source Person Nbr: 3; Relationship To Head: Son; Father Birth Place: Netherlands; Mother Birth Place: Netherlands; Vis Status: VISIBLE; Record Nbr: 36278674; System Of Record: SLS.
    William G H Bok M 52 Married Head Linquist Netherlands
    Sieke S Bok F 41 Married Wife Keeping House Netherlands
    William G Bok M 19 Single Son Clerk-Telegraph Co Netherlands
    Edward W Bok M 16 Single Son Clerk-Telegraph Co Netherlands
  4. ↑ "Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Marriage Indexes, 1885-1951," citing Digital film/folder number: 004140386; Image number: 253; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: M02379-0, FamilySearch Record: JJ6R-8MB FamilySearch Image: S3HT-XC77-1D6, Name: Edward William Bok; Marriage Date: 1896; Marriage Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; Source Section Nbr: 890412; Record Nbr: 32849; Vis Status: VISIBLE; System Of Record: SLS.
  5. ↑ "Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Marriage Indexes, 1885-1951," citing Digital film/folder number: 004140411; Image number: 374; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: M02379-2, FamilySearch Record: ZWND-PD3Z FamilySearch Image: S3HT-DZR3-RPB, Name: Bok; Marriage Date: 1896; Marriage Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; Vis Status: VISIBLE; Source Section Nbr: 89041; Record Nbr: 48569; System Of Record: SLS.
  6. ↑ "Pennsylvania Civil Marriages, 1677-1950," citing Digital film/folder number: 004287376; FHL microfilm: 001299945; Image number: 781, FamilySearch Record: Q29S-6X95 FamilySearch Image: S3HT-D1M3-M31, Name: Edward William Bok; Marriage Date: 21 Oct 1896; Marriage Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; System Of Record: SLS.
  7. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T623; Line: 64; Digital film/folder number: 004115137; FHL microfilm: 1241443; Image number: 84; Sheet number: 14; Sheet letter: B; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N00709-9, FamilySearch Record: M3Q2-RSF FamilySearch Image: S3HY-6783-G98, Name: Edward Bok; Marital Status: Married; Race: White; Birth Date: October 1863; Birth Place: New York; Census Date: 1900; Census Place: Lower Merion Township, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, United States; Father Birth Place: Holland; Relationship To Head: Head; Cnt Years Married: 3; Mother Birth Place: Holland; Age: 37 years; Marriage Date (Original): 1897; Record Nbr: 3917; Vis Status: VISIBLE; System Of Record: SLS.
    Edward Bok M 37 Married Head New York
    Mary L Bok F 24 Married Wife Massachusetts
    Wm Curtis Bok M 3 Single Son Pennsylvania
    Carrie M Williams F 30 Widowed Servant Pennsylvania
    Jennie Davis F 32 Single Servant Ireland
    Charles Reukauf M 35 Single Servant Germany
  8. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T624; Digital film/folder number: 004973755; FHL microfilm: 1375391; Image number: 24; Sheet number: 10; Sheet letter: A; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N03517-6, FamilySearch Record: MG82-657 FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9RKW-Q4R, Name: Edward Bok; Immigration Date: 1880; Census Date: 1910; Census Place: Lower Merion, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, United States; Birth Date: 1865; Birth Place: Holland; Marital Status: Widowed; Race: White; Age: 45; Mother Birth Place: Holland; Relationship To Head: Head; Record Nbr: 955; Father Birth Place: Holland; System Of Record: SLS.
    Edward Bok M 45 Widowed Head Holland
    Mary L Bok F 35 Married Wife Pennsylvania
    Curtis Bok M 11 Single Son Pennsylvania
    Carey Bok M 5 Single Son Pennsylvania
    Mary Winkler F 39 Single Servant Germany
    Katrine Olson F 38 Married Servant Virginia
  9. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T625; Line: 63; Digital film/folder number: 004968648; FHL microfilm: 1821606; Image number: 417; Sheet number: 5; Sheet letter: B; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N03078-1, FamilySearch Record: MFYV-JG3 FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GRJL-HBR, Name: Edward W Bok; Birth Date: 1864; Birth Place: Netherlands; Immigration Date: 1870; Census Date: 1920; Census Place: Montgomery, Pennsylvania, United States; Marital Status: Married; Race: White; Age: 56; Mother Birth Place: Netherlands; Father Birth Place: Netherlands; Relationship To Head: Head; Record Nbr: 20423; Vis Status: VISIBLE; System Of Record: SLS.
    Edward W Bok M 56 Married Head Netherlands
    Mary Louise Bok F 43 Married Wife Massachusetts
    William C Bok M 22 Single Son Pennsylvania
    Cary W Bok M 14 Single Son Pennsylvania
    William J Bok M 58 Married Brother Netherlands
  10. ↑ "Florida Death Index, 1877-1998," FamilySearch Record: VVZL-DJB, Name: Edward William Bok; Race: White; Death Date: 1930; Death Place: Polk, Florida, United States; Ancestry Unique Identifier: 5059425; Event Type: Death.
  11. ↑ "Florida Deaths, 1877-1939," citing Digital film/folder number: 004031647_006_M9S9-XNB; FHL microfilm: 2135348; Image number: 480; Indexing batch: B05320-8, FamilySearch Record: FPC5-SL7 FamilySearch Image: S3HY-X429-YDF, Name: Edward William Bok; Burial Date: 10 Jan 1930; Burial Place: Mountain Lake, Fla; Death Date: 8 Jan 1930; Death Place: Lake Wales, Polk, Florida, United States; Birth Date: 9 Oct 1863; Birth Place: Hilder, Netherlands; Residence Place: Marion Station, Pa; Marital Status: Married; Ethnicity: American; Occupation: Retired-Editor; Race: White; Age: 66; Misc Flag Addl Relatives: X; Record Nbr: 116; Vis Status: VISIBLE; System Of Record: SLS.
  12. ↑ Find a Grave (has image), Find A Grave: Memorial #20848, Memorial page for Edward Bok (9 Oct 1863-9 Jan 1930), citing Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales, Polk County, Florida, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.
  13. ↑ "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011," citing Affiliate Name: GenealogyBank, Inc.; Digital film/folder number: 102296438; Image number: 16, FamilySearch Record: Q5QY-561W FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSHG-798H-7, Name: Edward W Bok; Obituary Date: 09 Jan 1930; Obituary Place: San Diego, California; Death Date: About 09 Jan 1930; Residence Date: 09 Jan 1930; Residence Place: America; Birth Date: about 1864; Occupation: Philanthropist; Age: 66; Source Newspaper: Evening Tribune; System Of Record: SLS.
  14. ↑ "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011," citing Affiliate Name: GenealogyBank, Inc.; Digital film/folder number: 102240480; Image number: 17, FamilySearch Record: Q59M-QBCX FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSHW-S3MC-C, Name: Edward William Bok; Occupation: Philanthropist; Residence Date: 09 Jan 1930; Residence Place: Lake Wales; Obituary Date: 09 Jan 1930; Obituary Place: Rockford, Illinois; Death Date: About 09 Jan 1930; Source Newspaper: Rockford Republic; System Of Record: SLS.
  15. ↑ "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011," citing Affiliate Name: GenealogyBank, Inc.; Digital film/folder number: 102230102; Image number: 1, FamilySearch Record: Q5Q2-9XJC FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSHS-P329-D, Name: Edward William Bok; Occupation: Editor; Obituary Date: 09 Jan 1930; Obituary Place: Rockford, Illinois; Birth Date: 09 Oct 1863; Birth Place: Helder; Death Date: About 09 Jan 1930; Residence Date: 09 Jan 1930; Residence Place: Merrion; Age: 67; Source Newspaper: Daily Register Gazette; System Of Record: SLS.
  16. ↑ "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011," citing Affiliate Name: GenealogyBank, Inc.; Digital film/folder number: 102011937; Image number: 18, FamilySearch Record: QP1W-793N FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS7R-7SLF-7, Name: Mr Edward William Bok; Burial Date: 10 Jan 1930; Death Date: About 10 Jan 1930; Obituary Date: 10 Jan 1930; Obituary Place: Rockford, Illinois; Occupation: Philanthropist; Source Newspaper: Morning Star; System Of Record: SLS.
  17. ↑ "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011," citing Affiliate Name: GenealogyBank, Inc.; Digital film/folder number: 104548599; Image number: 32, FamilySearch Record: Q5SR-7GQY FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSYF-KS8X-G, Name: Mr Edward William Bok; Death Date: About 10 Jan 1930; Burial Date: 02 Jan 1930; Obituary Date: 10 Jan 1930; Obituary Place: Charleston, South Carolina; Occupation: Philanthropist; Source Newspaper: Charleston News and Courier; System Of Record: SLS.
  18. ↑ "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011," citing Affiliate Name: GenealogyBank, Inc.; Digital film/folder number: 105118946; Image number: 29, FamilySearch Record: Q533-Z4GS FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS1M-VRW4, Name: Mr Edward William Book Bok; Occupation: Messenger; Birth Date: about 1864; Residence Date: 09 Jan 1930; Residence Place: Florida; Obituary Date: 10 Jan 1930; Obituary Place: Little Rock, Arkansas; Death Date: About 10 Jan 1930; Age: 66; Source Newspaper: Arkansas Gazette; System Of Record: SLS.
  19. ↑ "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011," citing Affiliate Name: GenealogyBank, Inc.; Digital film/folder number: 102069802; Image number: 17, FamilySearch Record: Q5QS-V1NY FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSW8-93MV-6, Name: Mr Edward William Bok; Burial Date: 11 Jan 1930; Birth Date: about 1864; Residence Date: 10 Jan 1930; Obituary Date: 10 Jan 1930; Obituary Place: Augusta, Georgia; Death Date: About 10 Jan 1930; Occupation: Editorship Of The Ladies; Age: 66; Source Newspaper: Augusta Chronicle; System Of Record: SLS.
  20. ↑ "Utah, Obituaries from Utah Newspapers, 1850-2005," citing Affiliate Name: Utah Digital Newspaper Project, J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah; Digital film/folder number: 100600332; FHL microfilm: 100600332, FamilySearch Record: QVSF-BKKS FamilySearch Image: 3QSQ-G923-S97F-J Image number 00752, Name: Mr Edward W Bok; Obituary Date: 10 Jan 1930; Obituary Place: Utah, United States; Death Date: 10 Jan 1930; Death Place: Lake Wales, , Florida; Dasverify: 11-AUG-14; Source Newspaper: Salt Lake Telegram 12; Death City: Lake Wales; Death State: Florida; Relationship To Head: Deceased.
  21. ↑ "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011," citing Affiliate Name: GenealogyBank, Inc.; Digital film/folder number: 102263789; Image number: 99, FamilySearch Record: Q5Q2-LXKL FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSHX-W3TW-4, Name: Mr Edward William Bok; Occupation: Vice-President; Death Date: About 16 Jan 1930; Obituary Date: 16 Jan 1930; Obituary Place: Springfield, Massachusetts; Birth Date: about 1863; Residence Date: 09 Jan 1930; Residence Place: Philadelphia; Age: 67; Marriage Date (Original): 9 Dec; Source Newspaper: Springfield Republican; System Of Record: SLS.
  22. ↑ "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011," citing Affiliate Name: GenealogyBank, Inc.; Digital film/folder number: 102069802; Image number: 62, FamilySearch Record: Q5QQ-3T26 FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSW8-93MJ-8, Name: Mr Edward W Bok; Obituary Date: 28 Jan 1930; Obituary Place: Augusta, Georgia; Death Date: About 28 Jan 1930; Occupation: Editor; Source Newspaper: Augusta Chronicle; System Of Record: SLS.
  23. ↑ The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Thursday, Jan 09, 1930, Knoxville, TN, Page:1. More available at GenealogyBank.com, a subscription site.

See also:

  • "United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," citing Affiliate Publication Title: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Affiliate Publication Number: M1490; Digital film/folder number: 007572811; FHL microfilm: 001561039; Image number: 530, FamilySearch Record: QV5B-6GNY FamilySearch Image: 3QSQ-G9X3-9BFT, Name: Edward William Bok; Passport Application Date: 1918; Passport Application Place: Pennsylvania, United States; Birth Date: 09 Oct 1863; Birth Place: Netherlands; Source Certificate Nbr: 31123; System Of Record: SLS.
  • "United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," citing Affiliate Publication Title: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Affiliate Publication Number: M1490; Digital film/folder number: 007569892; FHL microfilm: 001671801; Image number: 14, FamilySearch Record: QV5B-9JS5 FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-996B-HHPM, Name: Edward W Bok; Passport Application Date: 1921; Passport Application Place: Pennsylvania, United States; Birth Date: 09 Oct 1863; Birth Place: Netherlands; Source Certificate Nbr: 22508; System Of Record: SLS.
  • "United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," citing Affiliate Publication Title: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Affiliate Publication Number: M1490; Digital film/folder number: 007544488; FHL microfilm: 001749695; Image number: 773, FamilySearch Record: QV5Y-XX64 FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-99DQ-L9W1-M, Name: Edward W Bok; Birth Date: 09 Oct 1863; Birth Place: Netherlands; Passport Application Date: 1924; Passport Application Place: Pennsylvania, United States; Source Certificate Nbr: 390831; System Of Record: SLS.
  • Wikipedia: Edward Bok
  • Wikidata: Item Q2913066, en:Wikipedia help.gif
  • Bok, Edward, The Americanization of Edward Bok: An Autobiography, Pocket Book edition 1965.




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Categories: Magazine Editors | Lake Wales, Florida | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Den Helder, Noord-Holland, Nederland | Brooklyn, New York | Pulitzer Prize Winners | Notables