Career
In 1983 she wrote the first collection of essays by an African-American lesbian, Black Lesbian in White America. She graduated from Temple University in 1948. She worked as a journalist for local newspapers and a clerical worker for government agencies.
Cornwell has had work published in Feminist Review, Labyrinth, National Leader, Los Angeles Free Press and The Negro Digest, were among the first to identify the author as a black lesbian.