[1] During her girlhood, she emigrated illegally to Canada and then to the United States, where by the age of 12 she was working in the garment industry in New York City.
Croll became involved in trade unionism, organizing textile and millinery workers and leading strikes.
An attempt was made to deport her, and she was called to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee.
Croll married Carl Reeve, the executive chairman of the Communist Party of Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Croll later divorced him and had a long relationship with African-American journalist Eugene Gordon, starting in the 1930s.