About KM
Kate Marsden was a Victorian nurse who, in 1891, trekked thousands of miles across Russia to help Siberian leprosy sufferers.
On her return, she became one of the first women to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and for a while was feted for her adventures and able to raise significant funds to aid the plight of the lepers.
But, the story goes, people took against her; the veracity of her journey was called into disrepute, as well as her management of the funds she was raising, and as a result of a smear campaign led by American translator Isabel Hapgood, KM was unable to ever really restore her reputation or succeed at any other philanthropic projects she initiated. She died in 1931 and was buried in an unmarked grave.
I have been interested in KM, as my namesake (though we are not related), since the 1980’s, after being given a copy of her travel account On Sledge and Horseback to Outcast Siberian Lepers. I’ve travelled to Siberia twice, read hundreds of newspaper articles, and transcribed over 250,000 words from letters written at the time.
I am currently working towards a PhD in Biography through the University of Buckingham in the UK, focusing, of course, on Kate Marsden, with the aim of publishing a full account of her life (the drama didn’t just end in Siberia…). If all goes according to plan, my thesis should be complete by the end of 2024, at which point I intend to re-publish this website with its contents checked and updated. You can read more about my research here (including why some of the content on this blog is currently inaccessible).
One of the unexpected joys from this process has been meeting and connecting other people interested in KM. If you’re one of these (whether an academic, explorer or just someone curious), do get in touch. I’d love to hear from you.
Kate Marsden (the 21st century one)
August 2022
“Highly Commended” Bradt Travel Guides New Travel Writer of the Year (2016, 2020)
PS: In April 2014, I ran the London Marathon for the charity Lepra, in recognition of the work Kate Marsden (the first) did over 100 years ago. You can read more about Lepra’s continued fight against leprosy, and donate, here.
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Kate Marsden 
Hello! It is lovely to see your website. I leave on 21st July to recreate Kate Marsden’s journey across Siberia and then I will be returning in winter to deliver the ‘Kate Marsden Ambulance’ to the hospital in Vilyuisk. It has been a massive undertaking. http://www.pinkgingerfilms.com
Do stay in touch and perhaps you would like to link this site to my journey where you can follow progress and be there to wave us off in London. Jacki
Hi Jacki! That’s such exciting news and thanks so much for getting in touch, will be really interested to hear how you get on. VKM’s blog has been a bit neglected since I originally set the framework up, but was planning to refocus on it this year – shall now do so with renewed vigour. Good luck and god speed!
Is your name actually Kate Marsden? I was hoping to reach out to anyone with this name and get them involved. can you come to the departure in London or Bristol and do you know any more Kate Marsdens? J
Kate, are you still working on her story? I was inspired to write a historical fiction picture book, and am in the revision process. How are things going for you?
Hi Jarm, lovely to hear from you. Yes, I am stilllllll working on her story as well as juggling lots of other stuff, so not quite sure when (but not if) it’ll ever come to fruition. Keep in touch! Kate.
Hello Kate. I am Vice Chairman of Uxbridge Local History Society, and until last week I had never heard of your namesake or her exploits. I attended a ‘Monument Consecration’ on 3rd September at her grave in Uxbridge & Hillingdon Cemetery. It now has a new and expensive headstone. The ceremony was attended by the Bishop and a colleague from the Russian Orthodox Church in London, the Vicar of All Saints Church in North Hillingdon, The Parish Priest from the Catholic Church in Uxbridge, the First Secretary of the Russian Embassy, representatives from various interested guilds and societies, a Siberian TV crew, and a few people from the town in Siberia. The new headstone was paid for by the Vilyuisk Ulus, Sakha Republic, Yakutia. I took several photos which I could send to you if you let me know your email. Regards, Tony Mitchell
Hi Tony, great to hear from you, and I would love some photos, thank you! Am emailing you directly. Kate
I have been giving history talks on the Columbian Expo of 1893. In researching the possible effects the Fair had for women, I ran across Kate Marsden, and have been caught up in her life ever since. I am a history major, taught middle school for 30 years, and started doing history talks when I retired. Would love to know how your book is coming along. Isabel Hopgood is a villain I cannot figure. That is why I would be interested in your take in your book.
Hi Noreen! Thanks so much for getting in touch. You’re right, IFH is a really interesting character, and her motivations for taking on KM are deep. I’ll drop you an email… K.
I host a podcat, Women of HERstory: A Podcast, and I am writing an episode about Kate right now! Your site has been an amazing source of information!
Hi Heather, that’s lovely to hear! Send me a link & I’ll put it up. Kate
Hi Kate! I am an assistant researcher on the Emily Harris in NZ and Australia project and Kate Marsden makes an appearance in Emily’s diaries while she’s in Nelson and we’ve found some photos of Kate Marsden from around that time! Would love to hear from you!
Hi Brianna! That is super exciting – I’m emailing you now!
Hi Kate! I’m working on a project about the Kate Marsden’s expedition and I would like to find the map which appears behind her back in the picture. It would be really helpful if you knew where I could find this photo in better quality? Thank you so much for your help. Almu
Hi Almu! That’s great to hear. I’ll email you. Kate
In doing research on my parents home in Lansdowne, PA in Delaware County, I believe I may have stumbled across a small connection to Miss Kate Marsden. It seems that during the early years of the property being purchased, it was bought and sold a couple of times between a Mr. Gallagher (possibly an attorney) and Kate Marsden for a sum if $1. I am not sure the depth of the connection, but I’d be curious about any information that might connect Kate further to the property at 76 W. Greenwood Ave., Lansdowne, PA, even if it was just a vested interest in the parcel and not a residence at that time. Did Kate live in the US during a certain period if her life where she might have been seeking to build a home?
Hi Paul. Many thanks for your email. KM did indeed live in Philadelphia at the end of the 1890s; she was there for several years. If the dates match, how exciting! I’ll drop you an email with more details. Kate
Hi Kate. I’m an academic who works on women’s travel writing and who has done some work on KM. I very much appreciate your website! I stumbled across this tonight — The Feat of the Sister of Mercy Kate Marsden, a virtual exhibition created by the National Library of Republic Sakha (Yakutia), 2021. https://artsandculture.google.com/story/the-feat-of-the-sister-of-mercy-kate-marsden-national-library-of-republic-sakha/VwVxp2NvmMk-oA?hl=en It’s lovely and adds a couple of little details about the people she met in Yakutia. I thought I’d let you know in case you hadn’t seen it.
Hi Betty, that’s a lovely find, thank you for getting in touch! I’ll drop you a line. Kate
Hi KM! It’s great to find this blog. I’m recording Kate’s adventures soon as an audiobook, as I think her adventure should be more widely known. I was wondering if you knew why Kate often wrote two dates, such as, “The first meeting was appointed for May 1st (13th), my birthday, and one of the happiest days of my life, for my plans were now to receive official recognition and aid.” She often does this.
Hi! Thanks forgetting in touch and what a lovely project the audiobook will be!
The date combo is when she’s talking about events in Russia, where there were two calendar systems running concurrently (even Russian newspapers showed both dates). The later date would be the one being used in the UK, US etc. There’s more info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates
Best wishes, Kate