Catherine Joane Strode was born on November 22, 1895, in Bernadotte, Illinois.
She died on December 23, 1969, in Santa Ana, California.

Joane Cromwell attended The Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. In 1920, after graduating from the Institute she moved to Laguna Beach, California. She painted under the pseudonym Joane Cromwell. She enrolled at the Otis Art Institute where she studied under such notable California artists as Anna Hills and Edgar Payne. Her professional memberships included the Illinois Academy of Fine Arts, the Fine Arts Society of San Diego, the La Jolla Art Club, and the Laguna Beach Art Association of which she was a charter member and served on the Board of Directors.

In 1939, Joane Cromwell was commissioned to paint a mural for the Santa Anita Race Track. In 1941, she was commissioned to paint a mural for the Hollywood Park Race Track. The Ebell Club of Los Angeles awarded Joane Cromwell five Gold Medals for her art. Joane Cromwell is listed in the art reference book Artists of California 1786-1940 by Edan Hughes. She is also listed in Who’s Who in American Art.

The art of Joane Cromwell is or has been exhibited in museums, galleries, art fairs, government facilities, universities, and with independent art dealers including but not necessarily limited to the following:
Academy of Fine Arts, Chicago, IL
American Eagle Fine Art, Benicia, CA
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Artists Fiesta, Los Angeles, CA
Artists of Southern California, San Diego, CA
Beverly Hills Antiques, Beverly Hills, CA
CalArt, Encinitas, CA
Crocker, Art Museum, Sacramento, CA
Del Monte Fine Art, Carmel, CA
Desert Inn Gallery, Palm Springs, CA
George Stern Fine Arts, Palm Desert, CA
Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco, CA
Griffin Memorabilia, Minneapolis, MN
Huntington Beach Art Center, Huntington Beach, CA
Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL
Irvine Museum, Irvine, CA
J. Edgar Hoover Building, Washington DC
Joane Cromwell Studio, Laguna Beach, CA
Joane Cromwell Studio, Palm Desert, CA
La Jolla Art Club, La Jolla, CA
Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA
Laguna Beach Art Association, Laguna Beach, CA
Laguna Beach Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce, Laguna Beach, CA
Laguna Beach Festival of Arts, Laguna Beach, CA
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA
Original Art Broker, Minneapolis, MN
Pasadena Art Institute, Pasadena, CA
Ritz-Carlton Art Exhibit, Laguna Niguel, CA
Samuel Collection, San Diego, CA
Shops in Uptown, Phoenix, AZ
Springville Museum of Art, Springville, UT
State Capital, Springfield, IL
Sunset Canyon Country Club, Burbank, CA
Vander Molen Fine Art, Pasadena, CA
Western Illinois Museum, Macomb, IL