[2] Katherine Margaret O'Brien was born in Lanesboro, Minnesota, on May 15, 1876.

[3][1] On February 1, 1915, in Washington, D.C., she joined the Division of Rural Education at the U.S. Bureau of Education, serving as secretary before becoming the division chief in 1922.

[1][3] In 1946, she retired from her government position of chief, Division of Special Problems, Office of Education, at HEW.

(Evening Star, June 9, 1962)[2]She was the author of numerous bulletins and leaflets of the Bureau of Education.

[3] In February 1915, she left Denver and became a resident of Washington, D.C.[1] Katherine Cook died Silver Spring, Maryland, June 5, 1962; interment was in Denver.