Anna Cochrane Lomas was born in Monroe, Iowa, to William and Myrtle Murphy Cochrane in 1896. In 1900, her father moved the family to Red Oak, Iowa where he became a partner in his brother-in-law's business, the Thomas D. Murphy Art Calendar Company. From 1914 to 1916 Anna Cochrane attended the State University of Iowa (now the University of Iowa), where she met her future husband, Malcolm DeWitt Lomas.
In 1926 William Cochrane successfully ran for the state senate and served from 1927 to 1932. During this time, Lomas started helping her father in his duties as state senator and was the beginning of her involvement in politics. She was a delegate to the State Republican Convention from the 1940s to the 1970s. She remained very active in the Republican party as well as other volunteer groups throughout her life.
From the description of Papers of Anna Cochrane Lomas, 1912-1984 (bulk 1950-1970). (University of Iowa Libraries). WorldCat record id: 233101832
