She grew up in the Bronx (Hoe Avenue), studying between 1933 and 1937 at New College, a recently established teacher training college attached to Columbia University, from which she emerged with a teaching qualification.
She grew up in the Bronx (Hoe Avenue), attending the James Monroe Highschool at which her father taught. She went on to study, between 1933 and 1937, at New College, a recently established teacher training college attached to Columbia University, intending to obtain a teaching qualification.