This womans name appears on the Declaration of Independence. So why don't we know her story?

[ehrnst]

"This Fourth of July, look closely at one of those printed copies of the Declaration of Independence.

See it? The woman’s name at the bottom?

It’s right there. Mary Katherine Goddard.

If you’ve never noticed it or heard of her, you aren’t alone. She’s a Founding Mother, of sorts, yet few folks know about her. And some of America’s earliest bureaucrats did their best to shut her down. Same old, same old.

Goddard was fearless her entire career as one of America’s first female publishers, printing scoops from Revolutionary War battles from Concord to Bunker Hill and continuing to publish after her offices were twice raided and her life was repeatedly threatened by haters.

Yup, she faced down the Twitter trolls of 1776."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/this-womans-name-appears-on-the-declaration-of-independence-so-why-dont-we-know-her-story/2017/07/03/ce86bf2e-5ff1-11e7-84a1-a26b75ad39fe_story.html

[msongs]

1. because only white male property owners are created equal? nt

[panader0]

2. That's not the original Declaration

It's a printed copy.

[ehrnst]

6. That's the subject of the article. She was a publisher. (nt)

[panader0]

9. The title of the OP is mieleading is what I mean.

It says her name appears on the Declaration.
She was a remarkable woman and a brave person.

[ehrnst]

11. I understand. She put her name on the published version - at great peril to herself.

I interpret it as someone proudly contributing to getting this document into the hands of as many people as possible during a dangerous time.

[Croney]

3. Very interesting article.

She printed the copies that were first distributed to the colonies. And she was the first female postmaster in the colonies, in 1775.

[Igel]

8. She was the second printer, actually.

She was #2. #1 was a man. She owned the press but her brother was the printer.

The USPS says she "may have been" the first woman postmistress. Lack of records, after all. There were others around the same time, and the distinction might have been one of whose name was on the patent. If you're a man and have a post office but are away for 6 months, who do you think runs it?

Seeking validation in firsts isn't a wise use of time, but I get that a lot of people assume they can't do something unless somebody else that they can identify with has gone ahead. Still doesn't strike me was a wise use of time when the problem is a sense of inferiority.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. A big, fat K&R!

[BadgerMom]

5. Quite right, CaliforniaPeggy! K & R!

[Me.]

7. But You Know...Identity Politics....

[underpants]

10. Have to check this out later

Thanks