Cleghorn was born on December 11, 1910, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, while her family was still considered prisoners of war by the U.S. federal government.

[1][2] Her grandparents and parents had been imprisoned following the surrender of the Chiricahua Apache leader Geronimo in 1886, first in Florida, then Alabama, and finally at Fort Sill.

[2][1] Cleghorn’s education began in Apache, Oklahoma, where she completed high school before attending the Haskell Institute.

[2] Cleghorn remained active in public life well into her later years, traveling extensively and participating in various educational and cultural exchanges.

She visited England, other European nations, Mexico, and other international destinations as part of her efforts to promote the rights and welfare of women and Native American communities.