Carolyn, as she signed her paintings, was born in Walton, Indiana, November 25, 1903. Listed in Who Was Who on American Art, she studied with W. Forsyth, M. R. Richards, W. Hentschel, C. J. Barnhorn and at the Cincinnati Art Academy. She also studied with  Antoine Bourdelle and Madame Levy-Ginsborg in Paris. Along with her artist husband, Carl Zimmerman, Carolyn was a long-time member of the Cincinnati School of Painters. She and her husband Carl operated a school for artists in Loveland for approximately 50 years.  She also was instrumental in many of the commissioned work done in churches throughout the Midwest.