Nicolaas Wilhelmus Posthumus
An exploration of the life and enduring contributions of a pivotal Dutch economic historian and institutional founder.
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Biography
Early Life and Education
Nicolaas Wilhelmus Posthumus was born on 26 February 1880 in Amsterdam, the son of geography teacher Nicolaas Wilhelmus Posthumus and Huibertje IJzerman. He completed high school and commenced his studies at the University of Amsterdam in 1898. During his university years, from March to October 1901, he served as an editor for the satirical student magazine Propria Cures. In 1908, he earned his Doctorate of Public Sciences with a dissertation titled "History of the Leidsche sheet industry."
Academic Foundations
Following his doctorate, Posthumus pursued further studies in economics and trade law at the municipal trade school in Amsterdam. In 1913, he was appointed professor of economic history at the Netherlands School of Commerce in Rotterdam. His academic contributions extended to founding and publishing the Economisch-Historisch Jaarboek in 1915, a significant annual collection of primary source documents and empirical analyses of Dutch merchant records.[1] He served as Rector Magnificus of the university from 1918 to 1919. Later, in 1922, he became a lecturer at the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy at the University of Amsterdam, and in 1932, he established the Economic Historical Library.
The International Institute of Social History
In response to the rise of the Nazi party in Germany, Posthumus established the International Institute of Social History (IISG) in Amsterdam in 1935. Its primary mission was to safeguard socialist documents and historical records from the Nazi regime and other potentially controlling governments. The institute's activities were significantly disrupted following the German invasion of the Netherlands. Posthumus was dismissed by the occupying government in 1942 but resumed his post after the war concluded.
Scholarly Output and Wartime Work
During the war, Posthumus managed to publish Inquiry into the History of Prices in Holland. Vol. i. This extensive empirical study, focusing on market prices and rates of exchange in Amsterdam from the 16th century to World War I, was conducted under the auspices of the International scientific committee on price history. The work received critical acclaim and remains his most cited publication.[3][4][5] Post-war, he authored The Netherlands During German Occupation. He continued to collaborate with institutions like the Dutch Institute for War Documentation and held a full professorship in Economic and Social Sciences at the University of Amsterdam until 1949, after which he led the Brill publishing house.
Legacy and Recognition
Posthumus became a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1929, though he was compelled to resign in 1942, later being readmitted in 1945.[9] From 1946 to 1958, he directed the esteemed scientific publisher Brill. He also chaired the Dutch Economic Historical Archive, which he founded in 1913, from 1949 until his death.[1] In his honor, the N.W. Posthumus Instituut, a graduate research facility in economics, was established at the University of Groningen in 1988.[7][8]
Humanitarianism and Personal Life
Nicolaas Wilhelmus Posthumus married Marcel Dorothea van Loon in 1908, with whom he had a daughter and a son; they divorced in 1928. He married his second wife, Willemijn van der Goot, a pioneering feminist economist, in 1931. They had a daughter, Claire, in 1938. During World War II, the Posthumus family actively assisted in relocating Jewish children from Amsterdam to foster families, personally caring for a child, Bertha Eveline Koster, in their home from 1943 to 1945. For their courageous actions, Nicolaas Wilhelmus Posthumus, Willemijn Posthumus-van der Goot, and her sister Diaz-van der Goot were recognized as "Righteous Among the Nations" by Yad Vashem.[11] Posthumus and Van der Goot separated in 1950.
Academic Contributions
Economic History
Posthumus is recognized as a foundational figure in Dutch economic history. His meticulous research, particularly his multi-volume work on prices and exchange rates in Amsterdam, provided an unparalleled empirical basis for understanding early modern economic activity. His approach emphasized the critical use of primary source documents, setting a high standard for historical scholarship in the field.
Institutional Development
Beyond his research, Posthumus was instrumental in establishing key institutions dedicated to the study of social and economic history. The founding of the International Institute of Social History (IISG) and the Economic Historical Library underscore his commitment to preserving historical records and fostering academic inquiry on a global scale. His vision ensured that vital historical materials would be accessible for future generations of scholars.
Founding Institutions
International Institute of Social History (IISG)
Established in 1935, the IISG was conceived as a sanctuary for socialist and labor movement archives, particularly in light of rising authoritarian regimes. Posthumus's foresight ensured the preservation of invaluable historical documents that might otherwise have been lost or suppressed. The institute continues to be a leading global center for research on social and economic history.
Economic Historical Library
Founded in 1932, this library served as a crucial resource for scholars focusing on economic history. It housed a significant collection of primary and secondary sources, supporting Posthumus's own research and that of his colleagues and students. Its establishment further solidified the academic infrastructure for economic historical studies in the Netherlands.
Notable Publications
Inquiry into the History of Prices in Holland
This seminal multi-volume work, particularly Volume I focusing on wholesale prices and exchange rates in Amsterdam from the 16th to early 20th century, is considered Posthumus's magnum opus. It provided an unprecedented, data-rich analysis of economic fluctuations and market dynamics over centuries, becoming an indispensable resource for economic historians worldwide.[3][4][5]
The Netherlands During German Occupation
A significant historical account detailing the experiences and societal impact of the German occupation of the Netherlands during World War II. This work reflects Posthumus's direct engagement with contemporary historical events and his commitment to documenting critical periods of national history.
Economisch-Historisch Jaarboek
As the founder and publisher of this influential yearbook, Posthumus curated and disseminated vital primary source documents and scholarly analyses related to Dutch economic history. This publication played a crucial role in advancing the field and making historical data accessible to a wider academic audience.
Distinctions and Honors
Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
Posthumus was elected as a member of the prestigious Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1929. Despite a temporary resignation during the war years, he was readmitted in 1945, acknowledging his continued significant contributions to scholarship and public life.[9]
Righteous Among the Nations
In recognition of his family's courageous efforts to shelter Jewish children during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, Nicolaas Wilhelmus Posthumus, his wife Willemijn, and her sister Diaz-van der Goot were honored with the title "Righteous Among the Nations" by Yad Vashem. This award commemorates their profound humanitarian actions during a period of immense peril.[11]
Personal Life
Marriages and Family
Posthumus married Marcel Dorothea van Loon in 1908, with whom he had two children. Following their divorce in 1928, he married Willemijn van der Goot, a prominent feminist economist, in 1931. Their daughter, Claire, was born in 1938. The couple later separated in 1950.
Wartime Protection
During the Second World War, Posthumus and his wife Willemijn played a critical role in protecting vulnerable individuals. They actively participated in relocating Jewish children from Amsterdam to safety, and personally housed a young girl, Bertha Eveline Koster, from 1943 to 1945. This act of profound courage and humanity led to their recognition as "Righteous Among the Nations."
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