Kathleen Culhane Lathbury – an industrial pioneer

An illustrated portrait of Kathleen Culhane Lathbury

Source: Photograph courtesy of Rosalind Bramley; Frame © Swindler & Swindler @ Folio Art

Nina Notman tells the story of the interwar industrial chemist whose analytical skill and persistence saw her outmanoeuvre sexism and prove her research aptitude

Kathleen Culhane (known as Kay) was one of the few British women chemists of the pre-war era who successfully navigated the barriers to women, establishing herself as a highly respected researcher. She went on to develop analytical techniques vital for both the pharmaceutical and food industries.