Marjem Chatterton facts for kids

Marjem Chatterton (born September 28, 1916 – died January 27, 2010) was a very important engineer. She helped build many things in Israel and Zimbabwe. She was especially good at designing tall buildings made of strong concrete. She was also the first woman to become a "fellow" of a major engineering group. This group is called the Institution of Structural Engineers. Marjem Chatterton designed some of the very first skyscrapers in Zimbabwe.

Early Life and Education

Marjem was born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1916. Her birth name was Marjem Znamirowska. Her family followed the Orthodox Jewish faith. In 1932, her family moved to Mandatory Palestine. This area is now Israel.

Marjem had planned to go back to Poland. But by 1934, it became unsafe for Jewish people there. So, Marjem decided to study engineering instead. She went to the Technion – the Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa. Her aunt, Rachel Shalon, was also an engineer there. Rachel was the first female engineer in Israel.

A Career in Engineering

Marjem finished her civil engineering studies in 1939. She started working for a group that helped collective farms. In 1947, Marjem married a British man named Frank Chatterton. They moved with their family to Southern Rhodesia. This country is known as Zimbabwe today.

Marjem quickly found a job there. She designed buildings using reinforced concrete. This is concrete with steel bars inside to make it stronger. She worked for a company until 1957. Then, she started her own consulting work. A consultant gives expert advice to others. In 1969, she opened her own company. It was called M. Chatterton and Partners.

Marjem used her skills to design many important buildings. These included some of Zimbabwe's first skyscrapers. She also designed banks and buildings for industries. During this time, she became a member of the Institution of Structural Engineers. She was the first woman to win two special awards. These were the Andrews Prize and the Wallace Premium Prize. In 1954, she became the first female fellow of the Institute. A fellow is a very high-level member.

Moving and Returning

In 1976, the political situation in Zimbabwe became difficult. Marjem moved to Leeds in the UK. She worked as a lecturer at the University. A lecturer teaches students at a university. She also helped encourage girls to become engineers.

Marjem returned to her consulting business in Zimbabwe in 1984. She also taught at the national university there. Zimbabwe became independent in 1980. This led to new building projects. Marjem's last big project was a very tall office building. It was the 26-story Reserve Bank.

Later Life

Marjem Chatterton kept working until 1999. The political situation in Zimbabwe became unstable again. So, she retired and moved back to the UK. Marjem Chatterton passed away on January 27, 2010. She is buried in Exeter, England.