-

From the Archives: Madame Gagarine’s Enduring Legacy

From Russian Aristocrat to Chatham Hall Icon
This piece has been adapted from a more extensive article by Dr. William Black. 

Dr. Helena Hill ’47 recently donated a memoir written by one of her former Chatham Hall teachers, prompting a deeper look into the impact of Madame Marie Gagarine during her 15-year tenure at the school. Dr. Edmund Lee first invited a Russian émigré, Marie Gagarine, to lecture on “old” Russia in 1941. The success of her talk led to an invitation to join the faculty, initially teaching French. By her second year, she had established the first secondary school Russian language program in the U.S., enriching the school’s curriculum with cultural and historical studies. Annual “Russian Night” events became a cherished tradition, featuring traditional Russian food, music, and student performances that immersed the school community in the language and culture.

Gagarine’s memoir, From Stolnoy to Spartanburg (1971), chronicles her remarkable life journey. Born into Russian aristocracy, she spent her early years in her grandmother’s Ukrainian estate, Stolnoy, and in St. Petersburg, where her grandmother, Countess Mussin Pushkin, served Empress Alexandra. Despite her parents’ belief that formal education was unnecessary for women, Marie attended the elite Taganzeff School, mastering French and English. She later studied at the Raev Historico Philological Higher School, which granted her the right to teach—a rare achievement for a woman of her background.

Her privileged world changed dramatically with the Russian Revolution. Having married Prince Michel Gagarine, a Chevalier Guard officer, she became a Red Cross nurse, witnessing firsthand the horrors of war. Her husband was killed in battle, and as revolution swept Russia, she fled with her three young sons, navigating political turmoil, famine, and danger. Forced to rely on her wits and resourcefulness, she escaped through Crimea and secured passage to Constantinople with the help of a French admiral. There, she worked with the American Red Cross before eventually relocating to France. Struggling to support her family, she took on various jobs, including nursing, tutoring, and even acting in silent films to make ends meet.

Marie’s journey to the U.S. began in 1929 when she accompanied an American family as a governess. She worked tirelessly to bring her sons to America, teaching at private schools and eventually gaining citizenship in 1933. After a teaching stint at Dana Hall in Massachusetts, Dr. Lee invited her to Chatham Hall, where she built a legacy of excellence. She later reflected that Chatham Hall was “certainly the best” school she taught at, praising its academic rigor and Christian values. She was known for her high expectations, her dedication to her students, and the warmth and humor she brought to the classroom.

Her influence was deeply felt. The 1952 Chathamite yearbook was dedicated to her, and in 1956, students honored her with the phrase: “Dauntless (she) in time of peril.” After retiring from Chatham Hall, she continued teaching Russian at Wofford College in South Carolina, ensuring that her remarkable story and dedication to education lived on.
Back
800 Chatham Hall Circle  •  Chatham, VA 24531
Main Phone
+1 434.432.2941  

Admissions Contact
+1 434.432.5516 • admissions@chathamhall.org

Day and boarding school for girls grades 9-12 in the Episcopal tradition.

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Please enter your email above