The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-01-07
FROM the Newspaper Reporter.
Women Type.
SHORT SKETCHES OF SOME RKMARKABLE
WOMEN PRINTERS

WOMEN PRINTERS.
The introduction of women into the
printing office is often spoken of in late
years. 1t is referred to with pride, az
being special proof of the liberality
of printers of this generation, and NIT
few Of the craft think it to be boon for
which they expect wome n tobe duly CRATE
full But :his notion is founded upon
an error our forofatbers recognized the
value OF women In the printing Office,
and We read Of many instances In which
hey were introduced with weighty
responsibilities. It is true that the
hproporti"n Of female compositors a.
compared with the male was much less
than at present; yet the fact exis ed oil
abe same, and our pioneer women printers
date their advent soms fifty years before
the Declaration of Independence. The
steady increase in number and usefulness
ct this class is but a growth and develop
| Ment vs. natural as it has been beneficial.
ds slows what persistence and patience
will accomplish in spite Of all artificial
resistance They who were capable and
faithful. and know h,w to wait. are
ga ahe true road to win oil good gifts.
Reference has been made to the
Declaration of Independence; printers
mag not know the fact, but even that
important document was PRINTED by a
lady, Mary Catharine Goddard. To print
that immortal State paper ia the year
l777 was 10 run the risk of losing ones
| head
Miss Gnddard was the sister of viii
liam Goddard, the first printer in Prnvi-
dence, r. |. He also published the
AaryIasaG Journal in Baltimore, in the
early part Of the Revolution. When
BenJamin Eranklin became Postmaster
General, after Congress had superseded
the British Government, he appointed
Goddard Con,ntroller and Surveyor of
Post Roads. While he was thus engaged
in public matters his sisters conducted
the aftirs OF the printing house with
marked ability. being able 70 personally
perform any of the duties of thorough
pr inter-. while remaining clear-sigh, ed,
orderly and energetic in her nlans cement
If the business
Mention has been made ofthe fact that
women printers were known half
century before the war of theRevnlution
One or two remarkable women, indeed
practiced the art nearly century before
that epoch, and these, If the records are
rect, must be- named the Pioneer Of the
United States. Mrs.. Green, wife OF
Samuel Green, Boston rriDter, was
4eepy interested in all that appertaiued
to printing, and was known to be fully
engaged in the business as early as 1888.
Almost at the same time-certainlv in the
same year-a Mrs. Wilkins, Of Boston,
commenced in that city the regular
publication Of miscellaneous print
ed matter. OF tnis woman il was
said by the right. minded John Dunton,
an English author of that iay,''ti' virtue
70 know her, wisdom to converse with
her, and j W to behold her; rr, to do her
justice In fewer words, she is the counter
part of her husband, who is pioua man;
il there ls such thing in Boston Vi
The latter part of this praise
seems little eccentric in orr day, but it
was we'll meant, and bears the stamp of
sincerity. Of Mrs. Green the eame author
remarked that she was indeed al ex-
traordinary woman" but he adds,
IN conformity with habit of
never leaving ont the husband wher he
prases he wife, "her husband is 80 good |
a man she could not we'll be otherwise. {"
Both are said to have been excellent
mothers. managing their households with
as much ability as though they never
labored in the printing nfice.
Anna Franklin entered The printing
Office in 1889 Her husband, James
Franklin (brother of Be- 'min) estah- !
l;shed him sell in Newport, r. in that
year, bat he died soon after, and his
widow carried on the business successfully
for several years. Size became "Printe. I.
to thesColony," and published pamphlets, |
supplied the public Offices with blanks
Of all kinds, aud also carried ON ge, eral
81 knn hn