She started her career as a painter in England, creating portraits and landscapes in oil, watercolor, and pastel.

Slaughter spent some time in San Francisco and arrived in Tacoma in 1891, where in later years she was highly esteemed in social and art circles.

Slaughter's brother, Frederick John Widgery, studied in European art schools of Europe and became a painter-landscaper.

[4] Over the years, Slaughter was elected president of the league two times,[5] as well as chairing the committees and serving as treasurer.

[13] Appointed superintendent of the Department of Fine Art in 1891, Slaughter spent several years working for the commission.

[5] In 1895, Slaughter was elected president of Lady Commissioners, an organization created to work at the Atlanta Cotton States exposition.

[8] She was the founder and president of the Washington State Cooperation Society, which was created to support and popularize Washingtonian home industries.

In 1903, Slaughter was on the Board of Trustees of the Ferry Museum, which was considered "Tacoma's most notable public institution."

[6] In 1889, she went to San Francisco and married Samuel C. Slaughter, a pioneer real estate businessman and politician of Tacoma.