In the Margins -Women Printers in the 18th Century

In the 18th century, newspapers and pamphlets were crucial in spreading information and stoking the fires of conflict during the revolutionary period. Although printing was primarily seen as a masculine profession, women—such as widows, wives, and daughters—stepped up to embrace the responsibilities of a free press. These women not only set the type for the material that would be read and shared but, in some cases, also owned and managed their own printing businesses.

In this lecture, you will learn about the essential contributions of women in the printing industry leading up to the American Revolution.