What does it take to live in military housing and abroad, to attend and host events with statesmen and diplomats, to balance the hopes and desires of a personal life with the duties and demands of a public one, and to persevere while suffering loss amid it all? It takes dignity and determination, self-control and courage, grace and grit—all of which Katherine Tupper Marshall had in abundance.
Katherine’s resilience and tenacity sustained her through multiple life-changing transitions and prepared her for a role on the global stage as the wife of an Army general who oversaw victory in World War II and a senior diplomat who shaped the post-war world.
At almost every juncture—from college to career to marriage to motherhood to widowhood to marriage again—she responded to challenges with resiliency and moved forward with energy and optimism. Despite enduring tremendous personal loss, she carried on with poise and purpose. Although she may not have realized it at the time, her constancy through upheaval and uncertainty prepared her to be the companion and confidante of a man with a demanding and often unpredictable career path.
Katherine Boyce Tupper was born in 1882 in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. After earning a degree in theater from Hollins College, Virginia in 1904, she went to New York City to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. In 1907, she moved to London, where she joined a travelling Shakespearean company. The demands of such an active career took a toll on her health, and she returned to the States for her convalescence.
In 1911, she retired from the theater to marry Clifton Stevenson Brown, a successful lawyer in Baltimore. Their marriage produced three children: Molly, Clifton and Allen. In 1928, a disgruntled client shot and killed Brown, leaving Katherine a widowed mother of three. The following year, she met George C. Marshall in Columbus, Georgia. They were married in October 1930.
We believe that Katherine’s supporting role in Marshall’s life and her own public service efforts deserve more recognition. To that end, the Marshall Center is finalizing an exhibit to honor the life and work of Katherine Tupper Marshall, including never-before-seen archival photos and objects, informational panels, supporting educational programs and more.
The exhibit is scheduled to open April 23, 2021. We hope to see you there.
