After attending public schools in Washington DC,[1] Jefferson began her artistic education taking lessons at Howard University before moving to New York City in 1935.
[1][4] Following her studies at Columbia University, Jefferson began her artistic career designing posters for the YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association) in New York City,[4] and found freelance work for Friendship Press.
She would, however, continue to produce work, designing book jacket covers and maps for universities and publishing companies,[4] as well as publicity materials for the 23rd and 26th annual National Urban League Beaux Art Balls,[2] held respectively in 1963 and 1966 at The Waldorf Astoria hotel.
Other notable members of the guild included Augusta Savage, Aaron Douglas, Selma Burke, Gwendolyn Bennett, and Jacob Lawrence.
[2] Jefferson was friends with poet and author Langston Hughes, and shared an apartment with civil rights activist Pauli Murray.
[1] Jefferson struggled financially in her early New York years before earning a full-time position at Friendship Press, the publishing branch of the National Council of Churches.