Lili Bleeker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Caroline Emilie "Lili" Bleeker
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Dr. Caroline Bleeker
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| Born | January 17, 1897 |
| Died | November 8, 1985 (aged 88) |
| Nationality | Dutch |
Caroline Emilie "Lili" Bleeker (born January 17, 1897 – died November 8, 1985) was a smart Dutch scientist and businesswoman. She was born in Middelburg, a city in the Netherlands. Lili was famous for creating and making special optical tools.
When Lili was young, most women were expected to stay home and take care of the house. But Lili had different plans! She wanted to learn and study. She never married her long-time partner, Gerard Willemse, which was very unusual back then.
Lili became one of the first women in the Netherlands to earn a PhD in physics and math. After her studies, she started her own company. It was a science advice firm that helped other businesses. Her company even helped inspire the creation of a big research group called TNO. Later, she opened a small factory to build scientific and optical tools.
Lili's company faced big problems during World War II. Sales dropped, and she had to let some employees go. She even paid the remaining workers from her own money. Lili and her partner, Gerard, had to hide because she helped Jewish people escape German soldiers who raided her factory.
After the war ended, Lili reopened her company. Because of her brave actions during the war, the Dutch army gave her a special award. The government also gave her a loan to open a new factory in Zeist. Her company made the optical parts needed for the phase contrast microscope. This amazing invention helped Frits Zernike win the Nobel Prize in 1953.
Early Life and School
Lili Bleeker was born on January 17, 1897. She was the youngest of five children. Her father, John Lambert Bleeker, was a preacher. Her mother, Martha Gerhardina Döhne, was a housewife.
Lili grew up in Middelburg. She was a very bright child and was so smart that she skipped her first year of primary school. She went to Lange Sint high school in Middelburg. Even though she was a top student, her mother didn't want her to study more. But Lili really wanted to continue her education. She knew that girls at that time were mostly expected to do housework, but she had bigger dreams.
In 1916, Lili started studying physics and astronomy at the University of Utrecht. This is a large research university in Utrecht, Netherlands. To pay for her studies, Lili first worked as a teacher at a girls' secondary school. But she felt she was too young for that job. So, she became a private tutor instead.
In 1919, she started working as a lab assistant at the Utrecht Observatory Sonnenborgh. By January 1, 1926, she became the main assistant there. On November 5, 1928, Lili earned her PhD in physics from Utrecht University. She graduated with honors, which is called cum laude. Her professor, Leonard Ornstein, was very impressed with her work. He wrote letters saying she was "very intelligent and well educated, both theoretically and experimentally."
Lili's PhD paper was about measuring light from certain metals. The company that printed her paper was owned by the father of her friend and partner, Gerard Willemse.
Career and Innovations
On June 5, 1930, about a year and a half after getting her PhD, Lili Bleeker started her own business. It was a successful company that gave advice to other businesses about scientific tools. Her company helped inspire the creation of TNO in 1932.
Later, Lili opened a factory to build scientific and optical equipment. Until 1936, her company mostly made lab equipment and precise electrical measuring tools. But in 1936, Lili decided to start making optical instruments. In 1937, her factory began producing these special tools. Her work helped start the optical industry in the Netherlands, which didn't really exist before.
In 1938, Lili talked with the Dutch military about making binoculars for them. But in 1940, World War II began. Lili stopped making binoculars because she didn't want to produce anything for the German army. However, she didn't stop her factory completely. She made microscopes for Dutch universities and their students.
Lili also bravely hid Jewish citizens in her factory. In 1944, someone told the German authorities about this. Lili was able to trick the German officers and help the Jewish people escape safely. But Lili and her partner had to go into hiding themselves. Her factory was closed during that time.
After the war, she opened a new factory. This factory was the first in the world to make the phase-contrast microscope. This amazing invention was created by Frits Zernike.
Awards and Recognition
- A building at Utrecht University is named after Lili Bleeker to honor her.
See also
In Spanish: Lili Bleeker para niños
