[3] While there, she met faculty member Arthur Upham Pope who convinced her to switch from the study of mathematics to philosophy.

[4] In 1916, Ackerman and Pope collaboratively wrote a catalog for Phoebe Hearst's Oriental rug collection that was exhibited at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.

[3][4] She was 36 years old and struggled with her recovery while staying in Paris, Ackerman was able to teach herself to walk again despite a negative medical prognosis.

[4] in 1927, Pope and Ackerman were involved with the interior design and decoration of the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park.

[6][8][9] They were responsible for the design specifics like the colors, floors, fabrics, rugs, finishings, beds, mattresses, linens, lighting fixtures, and flatware.

[6] Jeannette Dyer Spencer [Wikidata] was hired as the resident artist, and she incorporated the patterns found in Native American baskets into mosaics used in the floor tiles.

[6] From 1927 until around 1939 at the start of World War II, the hotel maintained the interior design by Pope and Ackerman.

[4] Pope died in 1969, and Ackerman remained in Iran, she lived on a pension granted by the Iranian government and Shahbanu Farah.

[4] In 2014, Richard Nelson Frye died in Boston, he was a former Harvard University professor, Persian art historian and served as the second director of the Asia Institute.