Shapleigh was a missionary to China (1896-1926), initially under the American Board, and later with the China Inland mission. She remained in China for several years after the tragic death of her husband and their two children from smallpox in 1905. Shapleigh later served as Dean of Women at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois.
From the description of Katherine Shapleigh papers, 1887-1946 (inclusive). (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 7021649361875
Dec 29Born in Worcester, MA18921893Attended St. Agnes School, Albany, NY1895Met Alfred Shapleigh in Princeton, MA where their families
had summer homes1896Jun 2Married
Alfred Shapleigh; they had three children: Samuel Brooks (1897-1905), Gordon
(1899-1900), Stephen (1903-1905).18961897Served
in Tientsin, China under the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions1897Family
returned to Worcester, MA, where Alfred took over practice of physician who was
on leave18981899Moved to
Boston, where Alfred was assistant to his father, who was president of the
Shapleigh Coffee Co., and engaged in Bible study1900Alfred took Bible training courses at Nyack College in New
York and Moody Bible Institute in Chicago1901Engaged in evangelistic home missionary work in California19011902Returned to Boston;
worked with Salvation Army19021903Home
missionary work in Colorado and California1904Returned to China under China Inland Mission;1905Alfred and two surviving sons died of smallpox shortly after
the family's arrival in China. Alfred and the sons had not been vaccinated
against smallpox, so did not survive the disease; Katherine suffered a mild
case of smallpox but recovered.19051908Katherine remained in China, engaging in language study and serving at
missionary training school in Yangchow1908KS returned to U.S. where she cared for her father and spoke in
churches19151916In
Yangchow, followed by return to U.S.19181920Working with women Russian refugees at Foreign Women's Home, Shanghai,
followed by return to U.S.19261927Working
at Foreign Women's Home, Shanghaica. 1934Appointed
Dean of Women at Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL1935Received B.A.1937Following a
severe heart attack, KS retired from Wheaton position and moved to North
Carolina1942Died in
NCFrom the guide to the Katherine Shapleigh Papers, 1887-1976, (Yale University Divinity School Library)