View source for Bruinvis, Cornelis Willem (1829-1922)

Cornelis Willem Bruinvis, a member of the Mennonite [[Bruinvis family|Bruinvis]] family of [[Alkmaar (Noord Holland, Netherlands)|Alkmaar]], Dutch province of [[North Holland (Netherlands)|North Holland]], b. 26 June 1829, d. April 1922, son of Cornelis Pieter Bruinvis, an apothecary, and Alida de Lange. In 1859 he married Miss Schreuder (d. 1916). This marriage remained childless. He was a man of great energy and of admirable versatility. First, at the age of 14, he was placed in a notary's office. Soon he turned to architecture and became an architectural draftsman; in 1856 he was architect of the Mennonite church of [[Broek op Langendijk (Noord-Holland, Netherlands)|Broek op Langendijk]]. About the same time he studied chemistry and assisted his father in the apothecary shop. From 1854 to 1882 he was editor of the <em>Alkmaarsche Courant </em>and during his whole life he remained a newspaperman. From 1859 to 1870 he was, like his father, an apothecary. From 1874 to 1898 he was engaged in politics, serving his native town 1874-1888 as a member of the town council and 1888-1899 as sheriff. He was always interested in history; especially that of Alkmaar received his warm attention and on it he published many papers. At the age of 20 he was appointed recorder of the city of Alkmaar and <em>Stadsarchivaris </em>and thoroughly reorganized the city archives. He worked here until 1920, when he was 90 years old! Of his numerous publications should be mentioned some papers on the Mennonites in <em>Doopsgezinde Bijdragen; </em>for the<em> Nieuw Nederlandsch Biografisch Woordenboek</em> he wrote nearly 300 articles. He was a loyal member of the Mennonite church of Alkmaar, which he served as deacon 1881-1896.
= Bibliography =
Gelder, H. E. van. "Levensbericht van C. W. Bruinvis." <em>Levensberichten van de Maatschappij v. Ned. Letterkunde</em>. Leiden, 1922: 110-184. Contains a complete list of his publications.
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