Born: 2 October 1895, Germany
Died: 1986
Country most active: Norway
Also known as: Margot Dorenfeldt-Holtan
The following was written by Nina Baker and is excerpted from the book From Alchemy to Transport Phenomena: A Global History of Women in Chemical Engineering.
Lykknes’ recent survey (Lykknes, 2022) of the early women at the Norwegian Institute of Technology (NTH) reveals that Margot Dorenfeldt (Mrs Holtan) (1895–1986) and Randi Aletta Holwech (1890-1967) were the first two women chemical engineers to graduate from NTH (in 1919). From then until 1943 another 15 women followed in their footsteps: Karin de Lange, Nanna Isaachsen, Liv Ranfrid Tessem, Jørgine Stene, Turid Wik, Elisabeth Pedersen, Karen Backhe, Marthe Hermine Eckbo, Anne Lene Thoresen, Liv Urbye, Inger Ryssdal Graff, Astrid Gilstad, Anna Marcelie Johansen, Elsa Margrete Stensrød.
Dorenfeldt did occasional secretarial work for her father, and occasionally as substitute chief chemist at the Tofte Cellulose Factory, where her husband worked. In 1946, she was employed at the Ministry of Industry, as principal officer for the pulp and paper office, in the rebuilding phase of the country after World War II. Later she served as a board member of councils for funding related to the pulp and paper industry and the timber industry, as well as chair of one of them, and she became a board member for the Paper and Fibre Research Institute (PFI).