Real-variables characterization of generalized Stieltjes functions

We obtain a characterization of generalized Stieltjes functions of any order λ>0$\lambda >0$ in terms of inequalities for their derivatives on (0,∞)$(0,\infty )$. When λ=1$\lambda =1$, this provides a new and simple proof of a characterization of Stieltjes functions first obtained by Widder in 1938.