Kathleen Margaret (Kane) Maxwell (1918-2016) was born in North Dakota on July 23, 1918. She developed a strong interest in mathematics and physics. After graduating from the University of North Dakota in 1939, Kathleen earned her master’s degree in physics from Smith College.
During World War II, Maxwell worked on the Manhattan Project for the Kellex Corporation in Jersey City, New Jersey. The only female scientist in her division, she assisted in troubleshooting various operational, technical, and chemical challenges related to uranium enrichment, including fixing problems with faulty gaskets. “I have never been so absorbed in any one thing in my life,” she recalled about her work.
After the war, in addition to raising seven children, Maxwell served as a physics instructor, math tutor, and CFO of Hub Foundation, a pile driving and drilling company she co-founded with her husband, Francis. She passed away on May 31, 2016, at the age of 97.