4.4 Marriage
57
Fig. 4.7 Map of Groningen from 1868 with the locations where Kapteyn lived (figures) and worked (letters). 1 = Peperstraat 116 [now 11] (1878–1879), 2 = Winschoterkade WZ, X 132 (1879–1885), 3 = Oosterstraat OZ, D 42 (1885– < 1891),
4 = Heerestraat S 6a, later 113a ( < 1891–1906), 5 = Emskanaal/Oosterhaven ZZ
16a (1906–1910), 6 = Ossenmarkt 6a (1910–1920), 7 = Grote Markt 35 (Hotel De
Doelen) (1920–1921), A = Academy Building, B = Physiological Laboratory (1886–
1896) and Astronomical Laboratory (from 1911 onward), C = Oude Boteringestraat (1896–1904), D = Oude Boteringestraat/Spilsluizen (1904–1911). From Groningen
University Library and Municipal Atlas Jacob Kuyper (1865–1870) [46]
extensive parts of it (Table 4.1). For genealogical details of Jacobus Kapteyn,
Elise Kalshoven and their parents, see Table ( 4.1).
It appears from these ‘Love Letters’ that Jacobus Kapteyn and Elise Kalshoven
had no relationship at the time Kapteyn started as a professor in Groningen.
But on August 13, 1878, Kapteyn made a marriage proposal to her by letter
from Utrecht. Apparently he had spent part of the summer in Utrecht and their
relationship had deepened in that time. Kapteyn insisted on August 16 as the
date of the start of their relationship, so apparently Elise Kalshoven wrote back
and accepted the proposal on that date, i.e. almost immediately after receipt
of the letter. Mrs. Kapteyn maintained the starting date of the courtship as
August 13, because the wrapper around the bundle in which the letters were
57
Fig. 4.7 Map of Groningen from 1868 with the locations where Kapteyn lived (figures) and worked (letters). 1 = Peperstraat 116 [now 11] (1878–1879), 2 = Winschoterkade WZ, X 132 (1879–1885), 3 = Oosterstraat OZ, D 42 (1885– < 1891),
4 = Heerestraat S 6a, later 113a ( < 1891–1906), 5 = Emskanaal/Oosterhaven ZZ
16a (1906–1910), 6 = Ossenmarkt 6a (1910–1920), 7 = Grote Markt 35 (Hotel De
Doelen) (1920–1921), A = Academy Building, B = Physiological Laboratory (1886–
1896) and Astronomical Laboratory (from 1911 onward), C = Oude Boteringestraat (1896–1904), D = Oude Boteringestraat/Spilsluizen (1904–1911). From Groningen
University Library and Municipal Atlas Jacob Kuyper (1865–1870) [46]
extensive parts of it (Table 4.1). For genealogical details of Jacobus Kapteyn,
Elise Kalshoven and their parents, see Table ( 4.1).
It appears from these ‘Love Letters’ that Jacobus Kapteyn and Elise Kalshoven
had no relationship at the time Kapteyn started as a professor in Groningen.
But on August 13, 1878, Kapteyn made a marriage proposal to her by letter
from Utrecht. Apparently he had spent part of the summer in Utrecht and their
relationship had deepened in that time. Kapteyn insisted on August 16 as the
date of the start of their relationship, so apparently Elise Kalshoven wrote back
and accepted the proposal on that date, i.e. almost immediately after receipt
of the letter. Mrs. Kapteyn maintained the starting date of the courtship as
August 13, because the wrapper around the bundle in which the letters were