Private
VI. John, Peter and Robert Bartholomew
The three brothers shared the helm of the firm when their father Ian retired
Left to Right: Michael Chittleburgh (Marketing Director), David Cunningham
(Financial Director), David Ross Stewart (Managing Director),
Peter Bartholomew (Chairman),
Robert Bartholomew (Production Director),
John C. Bartholomew (Cartographic Director)
Following completion of their military service and early work experience, three of Ian’s sons joined the firm: John Christopher became cartographic director in 1953, Robert Gordon production director from 1954 to 1986, and Peter Hugh became chairman in 1956.
Bartholomew
(1923-2008)
Eldest son John Christopher Bartholomew (1923-2008) completed his degree in geography at Edinburgh University and was formally apprenticed as a cartographic draughtsman under his father Ian. Together, they edited the plates of the mid- century edition of The Times Atlas of the World to reflect post-war changes. John was later responsible for a number of new specialist atlases, among them the Atlas of Europe (1974) and Family Atlas of the World (1983) as well as several editions and versions of the Times Atlas.
John was passionate about geography, cartography, astronomy and travel all his life. These defined many of his chosen pursuits out of the office too.
John served as president of the British Cartographic Society in 1970–71. He was also a vice-president of the International Cartographic Association, 1972–80, and from 1987 to 1993, he was president of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society.
In 1956, he married Geneviève Achard-James (1929-2015). They had five sons.
Bartholomew
(1924-1987)
Peter Hugh Bartholomew (1924—1987) qualified as a chartered accountant. When he took over the overall management of the firm, he focused more on the financial side of things than the map making itself. With ill health affecting him from his forties he recognised a need to strengthen the board and hired a strong external managing director.
In the Second World War, he attained the rank of major and was awarded the Military Cross in Italy. Most notable of his later external activities was his membership of The Royal Company of Archers, The Queen's Bodyguard for Scotland.
In 1957, he married Sheila Nicholson (1935-2017). They had two sons.
Bartholomew
(1927-2017)
Robert Gordon Bartholomew (1927-2017) steered the firm’s production work for over thirty years through profound changes in technology, with growing automation. He oversaw and assured the highest quality of print and binding output for all Bartholomew’s atlases and maps.
Robbie was a great enthusiast for family history most of his life and it is to him that we are indebted for much of the genealogical information gathered and shared on this website.
In 1957, he married Jean Thin (1931-2013). They had a son and two daughters.
Two further siblings Margaret Alison 'Ailie' Dinwiddie, née Bartholomew, (1921-1996) and Alick Nairne Bartholomew (1930-2015) remained major shareholders in the company but never worked there.
By the time the company was sold to Reader's Digest in 1980, ownership of the firm had extended to all of John George Bartholomew's descendants, including the branches of his daughters Elizabeth (Betty) Van Dusen (USA) and Margaret (Maisie) Hamilton Grierson (UK).