On April 11, 1925, Popel married chemist William Andrew Shaw; their daughter, Esther Patricia, was born on June 1, 1926.

[1][3] Forty years later, she privately published an anthology of lyrical and political poems entitled A Forest Pool and dedicated it to the memory of her mother, who had recently died.

[5] She wrote one of her most recognized poems, "Flag Salute," in response to the highly publicized October 18, 1933 lynching of an African-American man named George Armwood on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

[1] A committee reporting the Board of Education in Washington found the poem "objectionable" and it was used to recommend that the District of Columbia schools disallow The Crisis.

[3][4] In order to support herself, Popel Shaw taught junior high school classes in French, English, algebra, and penmanship.

In 1923, the club became the National Association of College Women (NACW), and as a charter member Popel Shaw was appointed chair of the committee on the constitution.

In 1933, Popel Shaw represented NACW when the Women's International League of Peace and Freedom presented disarmament petitions to President Roosevelt in the White House.

[1] Other positions that Popel Shaw held included serving on Delta Sigma Theta vigilance committee.

Popel served as a consultant to the Educational Policies Commission and a board member of the Southeast Settlement House for African-Americans.