At the beginning of World War I, Chapman traveled from Liverpool, England aboard the SS New York in September 1914, ultimately bound for Arlington Heights in Illinois.SS New York Passenger List, September 16 to 24 in 1914. Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897–1957. Microfilm Publication T715, 8892 rolls. Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; National Archives at Washington, D.C. By that time she had lived for 21 years in Paris, with trips to Chicago. During the war she lived in Chicago, Illinois and San Diego, California. She returned to Paris in 1919, intending to stay 2 years. She declared that year that she had never been married.Passport issued August 18, 1919 to Minerva J. Chapman. Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 – March 31, 1925. NARA Microfilm Publication M1490, 2740 rolls. General Records of the Department of State, Record Group 59. National Archives, Washington, D.C. She captured the 19th century independent, educated New Woman in her paintings, as described in the article Minerva J. Chapman's Miniatures: Costume and the New Woman."Minerva Chapman's Miniatures: Costume and the New Woman." Dress, January 1, 2002. 29(1), pp. 75–85.
