She was educated at Barnard College, Columbia University from where she graduated in 1925. She returned to academia at the University of Chicago to start her Doctor of Philosophy studies in 1932. Following completion of her Doctor of Philosophy in 1935 she worked for a time as a botany instructor but saw little opportunity to progress.
Afterwards she worked as a New York City high school teacher from 1925-1929. Subsequently she worked with the United States Government, first with the National Bureau of Standards and then at the Department of Agriculture (United States Department of Agriculture) until she left in 1951. Her work focussed on plant microchemistry and the physiology and microscopic analysis of commercial furs.
She assisted with Second World War efforts when she was requested to apply her studies of fur fibres for the armed forces.
She wrote several books including Microscopic Methods Used in Identifying Commercial Fibres published in 1939.
