The family immigrated to the United States in 1914, and a couple of years later Northman moved to Brigham City, Utah, where she worked as a librarian.

[2] For health reasons, Northman moved to Los Angeles in 1920, where she found work with the architect Clarence J. Smale and rose to the position of his chief draftsman.

One of her biggest contracts was with the Union Oil Company, for which she designed over 50 gas stations along the west coast from San Diego to Vancouver.

Northman's two-story Normandie Mar Apartment Hotel in Fresno was inspired by French chateaux and features a steeply pitched roof, multi-paned windows with muntins, and decorative turrets and plaster reliefs.

[2] During World War II, Northman worked on fortifications, hospitals, latrines, and other building-related projects for the United States Army Corps of Engineers.