She was the chair of the United States Army arts and crafts program for almost 3 decades.
[2] Nowlin as born 6 June 1908 in San Luis Potosí, Mexico; her father was a Methodist minister and her mother was a teacher.
[3] Nowlin attended Southern Methodist University (1929 BA degree in fine art) and Texas Woman's University (formally known as Texas State College for Women; 1939 MFA degree).
[5] During World War II, she worked with the American Red Cross in Europe.
[6] Nowlin was a United States Army department civilian employee, who helped establish global arts and recreation programs at the military branches, from 1950 to 1978.