Katrina Trask

Born in 1853, Katrina Trask was an American writer whose work included poetry, fiction, and drama. She is closely linked with Yaddo, the Saratoga Springs estate she shared with her husband, Spencer Trask, and she is remembered both for her writing and for the role she played in shaping the estate’s artistic legacy.

Her life was marked by deep personal loss, including the deaths of her children, experiences that informed the emotional tone of some of her writing. Alongside her literary work, she was also involved in reform-minded and charitable efforts, reflecting the social concerns of her era.

After her death in 1922, Yaddo continued on the path she and Spencer Trask had set, becoming an important retreat for artists and writers. That legacy has kept her name alive not only as an author, but also as a figure in American cultural history.