Dora Pritchett

Dora Caroline Pritchett was born in 1879 in Folkestone, Kent, and joined Monotype in 1908, aged 22. Dora lived with her mother Jane Louisa Pritchett (widowed) and seems to have remained single and childless throughout her career. She registered as ‘Type Draughts Woman’ in the 1911 census.

By 1922–23 she was recorded as living in one of the few houses supplied by Monotype to its employees on Dunraven Avenue (first at no.17, later at no.24), and she was still with the company in 1937, when she would have been in her late fifties. When Monotype celebrated its fortieth anniversary that year, Dora Pritchett was given a seat at the top table with the company’s most senior managers, indicating that she was a highly valued member of staff.

Dora Pritchett is most likely the woman with glasses, sitting here at her desk in the second row. Closeup of a view of the Monotype TDO, c. 1928. © Monotype archives

Closeup of a group photograph of the Monotype Matrix Factory and TDO staff. Dora Pritchett is probably the woman with glasses standing next to the man with a tie, second from the left. © Monotype archives

A 10-inch letter drawing for Monotype Times New Roman, made and signed by Dora Pritchett, 1931. © Monotype archives