Doolittle was born into the Moravian community in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She was born September 10, 1886. Her father, Charles Doolittle, was professor of astronomy at Lehigh University. Doolittle’s mother, Helen (Wolle), had a very strong interest in music.
In 1896, Doolittle’s father was appointed Flower Professor of Astronomy at the University of Pennsylvania. The family then moved to Upper Darby. Where Doolittle would attend Philadelphia's Friends' Central High School and graduated in