Barbara Joan Pyrah (1943–2016) was a British geologist, museum curator, and illustrator.

[3] During her time at the Yorkshire Museum Pyrah produced a four-part catalogue detailing the type and figured fossil specimens held in the collections.

The research interest in the collections of the museum rose considerably as a result of these published catalogues.

[11] Pyrah organised a major exhibition at the Yorkshire Museum: 'A New Look at the Dinosaurs' was opened in April 1984 by David Bellamy.

The exhibition was inspired by a 1979 book of the same name by Alan J. Charig, who gave a lecture in the museum in celebration of its opening.