Kansas City journal., 1898-02-27
The FIRST TO EDIT PAPERS
EARLY DAYS OF JOURNALISM IN
AMERICA.
Women Were In the Field Almost as
Soon as Men-SOme of Those Who
Took Up Work of Husband or
Brother and Continued 1t.

| bfOther ana
From the Chicago Record.
There is a woman at the beginning of all
| things" says Lamartinc, and this is true
| in relation 10 their connection with the
| typographical art in America.
Jonas Green edited and published the
| Maryland Gazette at Annapolis. Nd, for
| twenty-one years, and upon his death, in
l16' it was continued by his widow, Anne
| Catherine Green. during the most eventful
| period in Maryland history During a hot
| newspaper controversy with the Rev Ben
| nett Allen. the fighting parson of Mary
| land who subsequently killed Lloyd Du-
| lany in duel, the parson visited Mrs.
Green's printing Office and threatened Ito
| break up her press if she printed any moro
| pieces about him. His conduct only had
| the effect of making Mrs. Green popular
| heroine and bringing about her election
to the Office of printer for the proprietary
| government, which she held until long
| after the Revolution.
| James Franklin, the brother of Benjamin,
| published the first newspaper in Rhode
after, and his widow continued the bust
| ness several years. She was printer to the
| coiony, supplied blanks to the public offices,
pIITasqM In iis Mrs anne Franklin printed for the
| colony an edition OF its laws containg $40
pages. She was aided in her office by hei'
Two WHO were QUICK anu cOTTeCl
compositors and very sensible women. A
servants of the house usually worked the
press. 1t seems printing with type was
nos the only occupation of Mrs. Franklin,
for in an advertisement she says: THE
printer hereof prints linens. calicoes. silks,
etc, in figures, very lively and durable
cCiors, and without the offensive smell
which commonly attends linen printed
here
First Paper In Pennsylvania.
In,
vania was the American Weekly Mercury.
issued Dec. %, 1,19, by Andrew Bradford.
He continued its publication until his
death in 1742 when it was continued by
his widow. Cornelia Bradford. Mrs. Brad
ford published the paper until the close of
1ai6 about which time it was discontinued
In the same city. upon the death of Cot
onel EleaZer Oswald, the proprietor of the
Independent Gazetteer, or the Chronicle or
Freetdom. Sept. 30, 1885. his widow contin-
ued the publication until she sold it to Jo-
Seph Gales. Upon the death of Benjamin
Franklin Bache. the nephew of Benjamin
Franklin. and the proprietor of the cele-
brated Democratic paper the aurora and
General Advertiser, on Sept. TO- 1I9S. his
widow. whose maiden name was Margaret
Hartman Markoe, succeeded 10 the publ
cation.
Although at the period of the Revolution
it was not customary 10 employ females in
printing offices. yet a woman master
printer" was not an uncommon thing.
Margaret Draper, the widow of Richard.
succeeded her husband in 1744 as publisher
of the Boston News Letter. and conducted
the British evacuated Boston. Mrs. Dra-
per. being a loyal woman. left with the
army and went to England, where she
received Il pension from the government:
Mrs. Mary Holt. widow of John Holt. and
publisher of the New York Journal in 1893,
was appointed printer TO the state. The
olution. Mrs. II. Boyle published a, paper
at Williamsburg. Va, in liA. 1t favored
the British. and lived but a short time.
Clementine Bird succeeded her husband
in the Virginia Gazette in l712, and con-
tinued its publication until LIS. when she
died. Thomas jefferson was one of her
after the death of her husband in 1913. con-
tinued publishing the Gazette in Charles
ton. S. {. She continued its publication a
few years until she was succeeded by her
son.
Other Women in Journalfsm.
Anne Timother, the widow of this son.
after the Revolutionary war ceased revised
the Gazette. which had been discontinued
while the British troops were in possession
of Charleston. She was appointed primer
TO the state and held the office until 1892.
The most distinguished example of the
woman in Journalism was Miss Mary
katharine Goddard, who was an actuality
more than 100 years before the recent en-
ployment of members of her sex as editors
and reporters. Miss Goddard's family was
of the upper colonial class, her father.
Giles Goddard. a physician. having been
postmaster of New London. Conn, where
dard, in February, 1U3. determined to
start a newspaper in Baltimore. and on
Aug. 20 of the same year he published in
that city the first number of the Mary
land Journal and Baltimore Advertiser. the
first newspaper published in Baltimore.
His sister. Mary Katharine Goddard. ac-
able assistant. Miss Goddard did a large
share of the work of the paper and very
often had entire charge during the absence
OF her brother. The paper and every work
which issued from the press appeared in
her name.
During the period of the Revolution Will
liam Goddard fell under the suspicion of the
wings and was engaged in many exciting
controversies. and while he was settling
matters with his enemies Miss Goddard
conducted all the departments of the
Journal with rare fidelity and ability.
News in 1.-The Olive"
Early on the morning of Feb. 49, 11S3, a
Baltimore clipper ship came into the home
port with the news that Benjamin Frank
lin and Silas Deane had signed the pre-
limnary articles of peace between the
United States and Great Britain, in con-
junction with the British minister at Paris
Miss Goddard quickly caught up the news.
and before 1t was three hours old it was
announced in the extra issue of the Jour
mai, to which the felicitous title of The
Olive" WAS given. 1t was another instance
of the extreme cievernesS of a woman who
if she had not been born $50 years too soon
would have filled Il very conspicuous place
in journalism and literature.
She continued in sole charge of the Jour
nal until Jan. l. 1883 when William God
dard, on his return from one of his long
journeys. formally resumed his control of
the paper The issue of Jan. bore the
imprint of William and Mary X. Goddard.
Miss Goddard was remarkab bic woman
in many respects. The simple fact that
she conducted the Journal during the most
trying and critical periods of the Revolu-
ton and that she was instructed by her
brother with the sole management of his
business when the eXigencies of his occu-
patton demanded his presence elsewhere.
proves that she possessed extraordinary
Judgment, energy, nerve and strong good
sense.
Rno,ouca in rnvnrr