Quick Facts
Biography
Birger Joseph Nordholm, RNO, RVO, (June 25, 1897 – November 30, 1989), was a Swedish-American founding director of the Swedish National Tourist Office in New York City, the 1st Chairman of the European Travel Commission, a Managing Director of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce, Manager of the Swedish State Railways Travel Information Bureau and a lifelong member of the Scandinavian Travel Commission.
In addition, Birger Nordholm was a philanthropist to various international charities, including the Birger Nordholm Foundation (Swedish: Birger Nordholms stiftelse), posthumously founded at his former secondary school Östra Real in Östermalm, Stockholm, Sweden.
Personal life
Birger Nordholm was born in 1897 in Stockholm, Sweden and grew up in Östermalm. His studied is secondary education at Östra Real, then Östermalms läroverk, in Östermalm, Stockholm, were the Birger Nordholm Foundation was posthumously founded.
Birger Nordholm died in 1989 in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, United States. His ashes were buried at his country house "Tuckaway" in Connecticut.
Tourism and international relations
"Peace and understanding through travel."
— Birger Nordholm
Birger Nordholm devoted his career to the promotion of tourism and international relations between Sweden, the United States and Europe. Under Nordholm's leadership, tourism in Sweden expanded into one of the nation's main source of revenue.
Nordholm initiated and headed the Swedish National Tourist Office in Rockefeller Center in New York City, United States, 1920–1963, was the Manager of the Swedish State Railways Travel Information Bureau, and Managing Director of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in New York City.
After World War II, as part of the Marshall Plan, Nordholm was appointed the initial Chairman (1949–1958) of the European Travel Commission, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Eventually, Nordholm's residences in New York City and Weston, Connecticut, became centers of many international festivities, including annual Midsummer parties held at his country house "Tuckaway"; attended by ambassadors, consular heads, the press, Miss Sweden and other dignitaries, as well as friends and neighbours, and Nordholm became a well-known international speaker.
Charities
In addition to his professional career, Birger Nordholm was a keen philanthropist to various international charities.
He contributed to the humanitarian aid organization Finnish Relief Fund to assist civilians of Finland during the Winter War of World War II, and to cultural institutions such as the American Museum of Natural History, as well as was a member of the Swedish Pioneer Historical Society, and the American Swedish Historical Foundation behind the American Swedish Historical Museum.
Nordholm was also a "Founding Father" and "skålleage" of the North American charter of the Skål International in New York City on April 1, 1938, with the objective to "develop true friendship and common purpose among members of the tourist industry; through tourism, to promote mutual understanding and foster goodwill between the peoples of the world."
Birger Nordholm Foundation
After his death, the Birger Nordholm Foundation (Swedish: Birger Nordholms stiftelse) was posthumously founded at his former secondary school Östra Real in Östermalm, Stockholm, financed and named by him, awarded to students of merit who have "demonstrated a good and exemplary companionship or else by significant efforts have shown great interest in the school and its activities."
Disrinctions
National orders
Order of the Polar Star (1952)- Order of Vasa (1939)
Foreign orders
Order of the Dannebrog
Order of the White Rose of Finland
Other
St. Olav's Medal
Key to the City of New York City (1987)
Nordholm Drive, the long country road to his country house in Weston, Connecticut (1950s)
