Barthold A. Butenschøn
Hans Barthold Andresen Butenschøn | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 1, 1904 Enebakk, Norway |
| Died | August 6, 2001 (aged 97) Enebakk, Norway |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, book publisher |
Hans Barthold Andresen Butenschøn (1 July 1904 – 6 August 2001) was a distinguished Norwegian figure known for his contributions to banking and book publishing.
Personal life
He was born in Enebakk to landowner Hans Barthold Andresen Butenschøn Sr. (1877–1971) and Mabel Anette Plahte (1877–1973). His upbringing took place at Bjerke Bruk in Enebakk as well as the Nedre Skøyen farm. His lineage included prominent families such as the Andresens and Plahte.
In 1936, he wed sculptor Ragnhild Jakhelln, and together they had three sons: Hans Barthold, Peter, and Nils Butenschøn. Through his sisters’ marriages, he was related to notable individuals including Joakim Lehmkuhl, Harald Astrup, and Ernst Torp.
Career
Butenschøn completed his secondary schooling in 1924 before obtaining a cand.oecon. degree from the Royal Frederick University in 1928. He held the position of chairman of the Norwegian Students' Society towards the end of 1927. Entering the family enterprise, Andresens Bank, in 1929, he also gained international work experience with assignments in Germany (1928) and London (1932–1934). During his banking career, he authored the work Symmetallism in 1936.
Shifting focus to publishing, he led Forenede Forlag between 1941 and 1942, then served as director of Dreyers Forlag from 1942 until 1979. Under his guidance, Dreyers broadened its offerings by publishing intellectual magazines such as Spektrum, acquiring Alle menns blad, and establishing Romanforlaget to produce popular literature. In 1954, Halfdan Kielland became a partner; the company incorporated as a limited liability firm in 1967 and was eventually sold to Grøndahl & Søn in 1991. Beginning in 1985, Butenschøn also co-owned the smaller publishing house Butenschøn & Andresen.
His involvement extended to serving on the board of the Norwegian Publishers' Association from 1960 to 1969, including a term as deputy chair. He held leadership or supervisory roles in various cultural and industrial organizations such as Akershus Slotts Venner, Selskapet til utgivelse av gamle norske håndskrifter, Oslo City Museum, Christiania Seildugsfabrik, Nydalens Compagnie, Hjula Veverier, Christiania Portland Cementfabrik, and Forsikringsselskapet Viking’s supervisory council. Additionally, he was a member of SK Fram starting in 1961.
After settling at Bjerke Bruk in 1946, Butenschøn actively engaged in local politics as a member of Enebakk municipal council from 1960 to 1963. He authored several works on local history, chaired the committee responsible for Enebakk bygdebok, led the local history association between 1965 and 1987, and was honored with Enebakk’s cultural award in 1993. He was decorated as Knight, First Class of the Order of St. Olav in 1967 and died in Enebakk in 2001.