Marie F. Kapp grew up in Germany before moving to the United States in 1850. Her family fled their country as refugees and left many friends and relatives behind. Kapp always felt that her history was in Germany and held a strong connection to her homeland throughout her life. She was there in 1864 during the Danish War. During the winter of 1871-1972, Kapp was in Paris directly after the Franco-Prussian War. In 1880, she joined the faculty at Smith College as a teacher of German. It was not until 1911 that she retired, and even then was honored as a professor emeritus until her death on October 20, 1923. She was known as a 'cultured German lady' who came from an intellectual family, and held a strong enthusiasm for her subject material which she successfully communicated to her students.

The Marie F. Kapp papers contain biographical materials, correspondence, photographs, and newspaper clippings covering Kapp's career as a faculty member of German, Smith College, and other aspects of her personal life.