Edward Bok was born in Den Helder, Holland, on 9th October, 1863.When Bok was seven years old his family emigrated to the United States. After attending school in Brooklyn, New York City, Bok found work as an office boy at the Western Union Telegraph Company. Bok had a strong desire to become a journalist and managed to get some of his work published in the Brooklyn Eagle. He continued his education at night school and in 1887 became advertising manager of the Scribner's Magazine. Two years later he became editor of the Ladies' Home Journal. Bok used the magazine to campaign for women's suffrage, pacifism, conservation of the environment and improved local government. By 1900 it was the best selling magazine in the United States. Bok retired from the Ladies' Home Journal in 1919. His autobiography, The Americanization of Edward Bok (1920) was a bestseller and won a Pulitzer Prize. Edward Bok created The American Peace Award, providing $100,000 for the best practicable plan by which the United States might cooperate with other nations to achieve and preserve the peace of the world. In 1923, he created The Harvard Advertising Awards bestowed by the Harvard University School of Business Administration for raising the standard of advertisements in American and Canadian periodicals. In 1925, Bok created The American Foundation, Incorporated, (later known as The Bok Tower Gardens Foundation, Inc.) In 1926, Bok founded with others, The Philadelphia Commission, devoted to the beautification of the metropolitan area of Philadelphia. In 1926, he also established the Woodrow Wilson Professorship of Literature of Princeton University by endowment, and in 1929 he established "The Woodrow Wilson Chair" at Williams college by endowment. On February 1, 1929, Calvin Coolidge dedicated the Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida, that Bok had made as a gift for visitation by the American people in gratitude for the opportunity they had given him. (Bio by L. Brown)
Edward Bok was born in Den Helder, Holland, on 9th October, 1863.When Bok was seven years old his family emigrated to the United States. After attending school in Brooklyn, New York City, Bok found work as an office boy at the Western Union Telegraph Company. Bok had a strong desire to become a journalist and managed to get some of his work published in the Brooklyn Eagle. He continued his education at night school and in 1887 became advertising manager of the Scribner's Magazine. Two years later he became editor of the Ladies' Home Journal. Bok used the magazine to campaign for women's suffrage, pacifism, conservation of the environment and improved local government. By 1900 it was the best selling magazine in the United States. Bok retired from the Ladies' Home Journal in 1919. His autobiography, The Americanization of Edward Bok (1920) was a bestseller and won a Pulitzer Prize. Edward Bok created The American Peace Award, providing $100,000 for the best practicable plan by which the United States might cooperate with other nations to achieve and preserve the peace of the world. In 1923, he created The Harvard Advertising Awards bestowed by the Harvard University School of Business Administration for raising the standard of advertisements in American and Canadian periodicals. In 1925, Bok created The American Foundation, Incorporated, (later known as The Bok Tower Gardens Foundation, Inc.) In 1926, Bok founded with others, The Philadelphia Commission, devoted to the beautification of the metropolitan area of Philadelphia. In 1926, he also established the Woodrow Wilson Professorship of Literature of Princeton University by endowment, and in 1929 he established "The Woodrow Wilson Chair" at Williams college by endowment. On February 1, 1929, Calvin Coolidge dedicated the Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida, that Bok had made as a gift for visitation by the American people in gratitude for the opportunity they had given him. (Bio by L. Brown)
Bio by: Leonard L. Brown
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