Career as an Artist, Writer, and Lawyer

After graduating from college in 1937, Betty went into teaching due to a poor job market. She quickly left the profession and moved to Cleveland where she became an editor and writer for various trade journals. In her own recollection of the past, it was at this time that Betty realized the field was not lucrative for women and began to take night classes in law. She also took night classes in ceramic sculpture and submitted her work to various museums. Betty won a multitude of awards such as several first-place prizes at the Cleveland May show, and several of the museums purchased her work.  

When Betty finished law school in 1947, firms were not hiring many women, so she began her own. With connections she had made in Cleveland through civic engagement, she was a successful female lawyer in a time when there were not many. To the surprise of many larger firms, Betty was always prepared and never lost a case that she tried. After marrying, her husband terminated her law firm and insisted she return to teaching. The two were divorced, though Betty did begin teaching again for some years. She was able to become a researcher professor which led her to begin making public speaking and legislative appearances.  

At this same time, Betty also pursued more individual projects such as her literature. She explored early French archival documents to produce accurate stories of French life in the past. Her publisher thought the work was too historical and should be popularized, though Betty was proud of her work and published the book herself. This led to a second novel of a similar nature focused on a Norse environment. This writing and research were calming for Betty compared to her other work.