Women Printers in Colonial America 

  

"Every school boy and girl who has arrived at the age of reflection ought to know something about the history and the art of printing." 

-Horace Mann 

 

The very first printing firm in the thirteen English colonies was established by a woman in 1638. 

 

Elizabeth Glover set out with her husband, Jose Glover, from England. Jose Glover died on the voyage, leaving all his equipment to his wife. Elizabeth had to get permission from the New England officials to even go into business. But she did start her business in the city of Cambridge near the then small Harvard College. The firm became known as The Cambridge Press. The Bay Psalm Book was one of its earlier and most famous publications . 

In 1696, Dinah Nuthead became the first woman in America officially licensed to operate a printing press. Another widow, she took over her husbands business after his death. She also had to go before the authorities in order to work in printing. It took approval of the Maryland House of Representatives for her license to be granted. In some minds there was more concern that she was a woman than the fact that she could neither read nor write. She was completely illiterate.

Another first for women printers was gained by Elizabeth Roulstone in 1804 who assumed ownership of the first print shop and the office of public printer for the state of Tennessee. Like Glover and Nuthead, she too was the widow of a printer. Her accomplishments included the publication of The Knoxville Gazette. Subscriptions were paid to her in corn, butter, chickens and other farm produce which she in turn sold at her business.

Elizabeth Timothy, the first woman appointed state printer in South Carolina, would have been happy to have the food stuffs in exchange for her work. History records she had a continual battle with the state legislators to pay their printing bills.

The longest operating and most successful of all woman printers was Ann Franklin, sister-in-law to Benjamin Franklin. She worked in Boston with her husband, James Franklin and like her sister printers previously mentioned her took over after James' death in 1735. She printed official government publications as well as The Rhode Island Almanack and The Newport Mercury newspaper. Ann's son was trained by her to take over the printing and did so until his own death in 1762. Ann again stepped in to run the popular newspaper and business until 1763. 

Benjamin Franklin wrote an account of his experience with a woman printer.

"In 1733, I sent one of my Journeymen to Charleston, South Carolina where a Printer was wanting. I furnish'd him with a Press and Letters, on an Agreement of Partnership, by which I was to receive One Third of the Profits of the Business, paying One Third of the Expense. He was a Man of Learning and honest, but ignorant in Matters of Account; and tho' he sometimes made me Remittances, I could get no Account from him, nor any satisfactory State of our Partnership while he lived. 

 

On his Decease, the Business was continued by his Widow, who being born & bred in Holland, where as I have been inform'd the Knowledge of Accounts makes a Part of Female Education, she not only sent me as clear a State as she could find of the Transactions past, but continu'd to account with the greatest Regularity & Exactitude every Quarter afterwards; and manag'd the Business with such Success that she not only brought up reputably a Family of Children, but at the Expiration of the Term was able to purchase of me the Printing-House and establish her Son in it. I mention this Affair chiefly for the Sake of recommending that Branch of Education for our young Females, as likely to be of more Use to them & their Children in Case of Widowhood than either Music or Dancing, by preserving them from Losses by Imposition of crafty Men, and enabling them to continue perhaps a profitable mercantile House with establish'd Correspondence till a Son is grown up fit to undertake and go on with it, to the lasting Advantage and enriching of the Family."- 

Special thanks to Steve Spofford, who suggested this subject. Some of the information for this article was obtained from a research monograph prepared by Robin A. Newman, student, of Murray State University.