In order to support herself, Kerr went into journalism, launching her career in Pittsburgh, Pa. as the women’s page editor at the "Chronicle Telegraph" and the "Pittsburgh Gazette". Moving to New York, she became managing editor of "The Woman's Home Companion". and published her fiction in other popular magazines of the day, including "Saturday Evening Post", "Collier’s Saturday Review of Literature" and "McCalls". From 1920 until her death in 1965 at age 84, Kerr lived in a brownstone residence at 115 East 38th Street, where she created something of a literary salon for her friends in publishing and theater. In 1942, as part of a celebration of the 50th anniversary of co-education at Washington College, she accepted an honorary degree along with Eleanor Roosevelt.