FATHERHOOD IN 18TH-CENTURY HOLLAND - THE VANDERMUELEN BROTHERS

Until recently fatherhood in the Early Modem period has been largely u nknown terrain. Books of advice on the physical upbringing of children were addressed to mothers, implying that fathers were not involved in the process. However iconographic evidence presented by Simon Schama suggests that fathers did indeed participate in bringing up their chil dren This research note uses personal documents-the correspondence of two brothers, Jan Andre (1703-60) and Joseph Elias (1707-81) Van der M uelen-to address the apparent discrepancy. Two themes, the births and sickness of their children, dominated the brothers' letters to each ot her and they for wrote about breastfeeding, weaning, and the problems of finding godparents for their children. As such, the correspondence provides an insight into fatherhood in the Early Modem period.