Isabella Henriette van Eeghen (3 February 1913 – 26 November 1996), usually cited as I. H. van Eeghen, was a

Dutch Dutch or Nederlands commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands ** Dutch people as an ethnic group () ** Dutch nationality law, history and regulations of Dutch citizenship () ** Dutch language () * In specific terms, i ...

historian who worked for the Stadsarchief Amsterdam.

Early life and education

Van Eeghen was born in

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , ; ; ) is the capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, largest city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the City Re ...

as the daughter of the banker Christiaan Pieter van Eeghen in an Amsterdam canal mansion on 497

Herengracht The Herengracht () is the second of four Amsterdam canals belonging to the canal belt and lies between the Singel and the Keizersgracht. The Gouden Bocht (Golden Bend) in particular is known for its large and beautiful canal houses. History Th ...

that today is known as the

KattenKabinet The KattenKabinet ("Cat Cabinet") is an art museum in Amsterdam devoted to works depicting cats. The museum collection includes paintings, drawings, sculptures and other works of art by Pablo Picasso, Rembrandt, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Cornei ...

. Her father and grandfather were directors of Van Eeghen & Co. a bank active on the Herengracht since the 17th-century. Today, what remains of the firm is part of Bank Oyens & Van Eeghen. The young Isa was therefore quite wealthy, and determined to follow in the footsteps of her grandfather, also called Christiaan Pieter van Eeghen, who in his free time set up the

Vondelpark The Vondelpark () is a public urban park of 47 hectares (120 acres) in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It is part of the borough of Amsterdam-Zuid and situated west from the Leidseplein and the Museumplein. The park was opened in 1865 and originally na ...

and was responsible for various improvements to the Van der Hoop museum in 1854, the forerunner of the

Rijksmuseum The Rijksmuseum () is the national museum of the Netherlands dedicated to Dutch arts and history and is located in Amsterdam. The museum is located at the Museum Square in the borough of Amsterdam South, close to the Van Gogh Museum, the S ...

. It was the elder Van Eeghen who paid to have the paintings in the Amsterdam surgeons' guild restored in 1865, among them of course the ''

Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp ''The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp'' is a 1632 oil painting on canvas by Rembrandt housed in the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, the Netherlands. It was originally created to be displayed by the Surgeons Guild in their meeting room. The p ...

''.Van Eeghen Sr. n the

Nieuw Nederlandsch Biografisch Woordenboek The ''Nieuw Nederlandsch Biografisch Woordenboek'' (''NNBW'') is a biographical reference work in the Dutch language. It was published in ten parts between 1911 and 1937 by Sijthoff, Leiden, and the editors were P. C. Molhuysen and P. J. Blok. ...

. Isa attended the local girls' school MMS and then continued at the Gymnasium, eventually earning her degree in history from the

University of Amsterdam The University of Amsterdam (abbreviated as UvA, ) is a public university, public research university located in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Established in 1632 by municipal authorities, it is the fourth-oldest academic institution in the Netherlan ...

.Isa in the

1001 Vrouwen uit de Nederlandse geschiedenis ''1001 Vrouwen uit de Nederlandse geschiedenis'' is a compilation of 1001 biographies of famous women of the Netherlands spanning roughly 1700 years. Project The book is the result of a research project called the Digital Women's lexicon of the ...

She earned her doctorate with a study on the cloisters and monasteries of Amsterdam in 1937. She then started a study to become archivist, choosing the history of the Walloon community of Amsterdam as her object of study. She was forced to do this in a volunteer capacity because she was refused a job at the Amsterdam archives.

Career

When she gained her archivists diploma in 1943, she was still not considered for a job as archivist, so she accepted a job as administrator at the archives in 1944. It wasn't until 1947 when the Maastricht archives offered her a job as archivist that the Amsterdam archives appointed her chartermaster. She was not the first woman in such a position, because Gerda Kurtz, who had similar troubles with discrimination, had been working at the Haarlem archives since 1938, albeit at a lower salary than male colleagues. It was thus at the age of 32 that Isa first left her parents' home and rented rooms along with a group of five other women in a canal mansion on the nearby

Prinsengracht The Prinsengracht is a -long canal that runs parallel to the Keizersgracht in the center of Amsterdam. The canal, named after the Prince of Orange, is the fourth of the four main canals belonging to the Grachtengordel, canal belt. History Const ...

, though she continued to eat dinner with her parents. In 1946, she became the first woman to be in the steering committee of the Amsterdam historical society ''Genootschap Amstelodamum''. From 1950 to 1984, she was the editor of both its monthly magazine and its yearly book of essays ''Jaarboek Amstelodamum''. Among various projects, she was responsible for the exact dating and attribution of Amsterdam artworks of the 17th-century, most notably Elsje Christiaens. She was a specialist in historical stories about children, women, marriage, crime, and personal diaries. Known in Dutch as ''egodocumenten'', she is one of the first to study these diaries as a source of historical evidence.

Works

* ''De verzameling Van Eeghen : Amsterdamse tekeningen, 1600-1950 '', Gemeentearchief Amsterdam, 1988 * ''Het

Trippenhuis The Trippenhuis is a neoclassical canal mansion in the centre of Amsterdam. It was built in 1660–1662 for the wealthy Amsterdam weapons traders Louis and Hendrick Trip. Many references to weaponry can be seen on its facade. Since 1887 it has be ...

te Amsterdam'', by Meischke, R. ; Reeser, H.E. ; Eeghen, I.H. van,

Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (, KNAW) is an organization dedicated to the advancement of science and literature in the Netherlands. The academy is housed in the Trippenhuis in Amsterdam. In addition to various advisory a ...

, 1983 * ''Uit Amsterdamse dagboeken : de jeugd van Netje en Eduard Asser 1819-1833'', Eeghen, I.H. van, Scheltema & Holkema, Amsterdam, 1964 * ''Het huis met de paarse ruiten en de familie van Loon in Amsterdam'', Loon, M.N. van ; Eeghen, I.H. van,

Museum Van Loon Museum Van Loon is a museum located in a canalside house alongside the Keizersgracht in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The museum is named after the family Van Loon that lived in the house from the 19th century. History The canal house where the muse ...

, 1984 * ''Jacob Aertsz. Colom's Kaart van Holland 1681'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, Sijmons, A.H., Alphen aan den Rijn: Canaletto, 1990 * ''Seven letters by

Rembrandt Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (; ; 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), mononymously known as Rembrandt was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and Drawing, draughtsman. He is generally considered one of the greatest visual artists in ...

'', by Gerson, Horst, Eeghen, I.H. van, The Hague: Boucher, 1961 * ''Fodor 100 jaar : tentoonstelling van een keuze uit de collectie Fodor'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, exhibition '' Museum Fodor 1963-07-12 - 1963-09-30'',

Amsterdam Museum The Amsterdam Museum, known until 2010 as the Amsterdam Historical Museum, is an Amsterdam-based museum dedicated to the city's past and present. Due to the renovation of its main location, the museum is temporarily located in the Amstelhof on the ...

, 1963 * ''An Amsterdam burgomaster's daughter by Rembrandt - in Buckingham Palace'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, Stadsdrukkerij Amsterdam, 1958 * ''De Amsterdamse waaierindustrie in de 18de eeuw'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, Genootschap Amstelodamum, 1953 * "In mijn journaal gezet" : ''Amsterdam 1805-1808 : het getekende dagboek van

Christiaan Andriessen Christiaan Andriessen, who was born at Amsterdam in 1775, was the son and student of Jurriaan Andriessen (artist), Jurriaan, and became a good painter of History painting, history, Genre works, genre subjects, Landscape art, landscapes, views of ...

'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, exhibition ''Gemeentearchief Amsterdam 1983-10-15 - 1983-12-17'', Koninklijk Oudheidkundig Genootschap Amsterdam, 1983 * ''Alledaags Amsterdam in de Franse tijd'', Eeghen, I.H. van, exhibition ''Gemeentearchief Amsterdam 1983-10-15 - 1983-12-17'', 1983 * ''Eerherstel voor Christiaan Andriessen'', Eeghen, I.H. van, Genootschap Amstelodamum, 1964 * ''Rembrandt aan de Amstel'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, Genootschap Amstelodamum, 1969 * ''Vier eeuwen Herengracht : geveltekeningen van alle huizen aan de gracht'', by Fontaine Verwey, H. de la ; Eeghen, I.H. van ; Roosegaarde Bischop, G. ; Wijnman, H.F., Stadsdrukkerij Amsterdam, 1976 * ''Het Amsterdams grachtenboekje uit de zeventiende eeuw : het plaatwerk van

Cornelis Danckerts Cornelis is a Dutch form of the male given name Cornelius. Some common shortened versions of Cornelis in Dutch are Cees, Cor, Corné, Corneel, Crelis, Kees, Neel and Nelis. Cornelis (Kees) and Johannes (Jan) used to be the most common given na ...

'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, Genootschap Amstelodamum, 1963 * ''Vier eeuwen Amsterdams Binnengasthuis : drie bijdragen over de geschiedenis van een gasthuis'', by Moulin, D. de ; Eeghen, I.H. van ; Meischke, R., Nijgh & van Ditmar, 1973 * ''Amsterdam in de tweede helft der XIXe eeuw gezien door

Jacob Olie Jacob Olie (1834 – 1905) was a photographer from Amsterdam known for his scenes of everyday life there. Olie was born in Amsterdam and was trained as a carpenter and draughtsman.Jacob Olie (Jbz) in the RKD He became a teacher at the local sch ...

Jacobsz'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, Genootschap Amstelodamum, 1960 * ''De historische verzameling der

Universiteit van Amsterdam The University of Amsterdam (abbreviated as UvA, ) is a public research university located in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Established in 1632 by municipal authorities, it is the fourth-oldest academic institution in the Netherlands still in operati ...

(1923-1953)'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, Stadsdrukkerij Amsterdam, 1953 * ''Vrouwenkloosters en Begijnhof in Amsterdam van de 14e tot het einde der 16e eeuw'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, Amsterdam: Paris, 1941 * ''Bewaard uit het hart : een selectie van 63 Amsterdamse woon- en pakhuizen uit de periode van 1450'', by Eeghen, I.H. van ; Jansen, L. ; Kroon, B.A.M., Gemeente Amsterdam, 1965 * ''Inventaris van het archief van de familie Backer 16e-20e eeuw'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, Gemeentearchief Amsterdam, 1996 * ''Het

Deutzen Hofje The Deutzen Hofje or Deutzenhofje is a 17th-century hofje on the Prinsengracht 857 in Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , ; ; ) is the capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, largest city of the Kingdom of the Netherl ...

'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, Amsterdam, Deutzen Hofje, 1960

Rembrandt and other artwork research in Amstelodamum

* ''De anatomische lessen van

'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, 1948 * ''De echtgenoot van

Cornelia Pronck Cornelia Pronck (circa 1600 – 1666) was a Dutch woman known today for her portrait by Rembrandt, currently in the collection of the Louvre The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is a national art museum in Paris, France, and one of the m ...

'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, 1956 * ''Baertjen Martens en

Herman Doomer Herman Doomer or Hermann Dommers (1595 – 14 March 1650) was a Dutch Golden Age furniture and frame-maker who is best known today for his portrait by Rembrandt. Life He was born in Anrath, near Venlo, and married Baertje Martens from Naarden in ...

'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, 1956 * ''Een doodshoofd van Rembrandt bij het Amsterdamse Chirugijnsgilde?'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, 1956 * ''De kinderen van Rembrandt en Saskia'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, 1956 * '' Maria Trip of een anoniem vrouwsportret van Rembrandt'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, 1956 * '' Maarten Soolmans en Oopjen Coppit'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, 1956 * ''Rembrandt's Claudius Civilis and the funeral ticket'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, 1956 * ''De portretten van Philips Lucas en Petronella Buys'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, 1956 * '' De Staalmeesters'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, 1957 * ''De anatomische les van Christiaan Coevershof of : op zoek naar een notoir misdadiger'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, 1958 * ''Rembrandt en de mensenvilders'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, 1969 * ''Elsje Christiaens en de kunsthistorici'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, 1969 * ''Wat veroverde Rembrandt met zijn Claudius Civilis?'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, 1969 * ''De Staalmeesters'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, 1971 * ''Voor wie schilderde Rembrandt het portret van Nicolaas Ruts?'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, 1977 * '' Willem Jansz van der Pluym en Rembrandt'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, 1977 * ''Drie portretten van Rembrandt ( Bruyningh, Cater, Moutmaker) Vondel en Blaeu'', 1977 * ''De familie Trip en het Trippenhuis'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, 1983 * ''De tekeningen van vader en zoon Andriessen'', by Eeghen, I.H. van, 1985

References

External links

Author page
in the Digital Library for Dutch Literature {{DEFAULTSORT:Eeghen, Isabella Henriette van 1913 births 1996 deaths Writers from Amsterdam 20th-century Dutch non-fiction writers Dutch art historians Women archivists 20th-century Dutch women writers Dutch women art historians