Mary Katherine Goddard: The Printer Who Gave America Its Signatures

When Americans think about the Declaration of Independence, they naturally remember Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and the other Founding Fathers who signed the historic document. Far fewer know the name of the printer who helped ensure that future generations would know who those signers were.

That printer was Mary Katherine Goddard.

In January 1777, six months after independence was declared, the Continental Congress commissioned Goddard to print a new broadside of the Declaration of Independence. Unlike earlier copies, which omitted the names of the signers, her edition boldly listed all 56 names beneath the Declaration, publicly identifying the men who had pledged “their Lives, their Fortunes and their sacred Honor” to the American cause.

Operating a printing business in Baltimore during the Revolutionary War, Goddard was one of the few female printers in colonial America. She published newspapers, printed official government documents, managed a bookstore, and served as Baltimore’s postmaster. Accepting the assignment to print the Declaration with the signers’ names was an act of courage. Had the Revolution failed, those names—and those who helped publish them—could have faced severe consequences.

Today, the Goddard Broadside is recognized as one of the most important printed documents in American history. It reminds us that the ideals of liberty and independence reached the American people not only through the words of great leaders, but through the skill, dedication, and courage of the printers who put those words into the hands of citizens.

Nearly 250 years later, Mary Katherine Goddard’s work stands as a powerful reminder that printers have always done more than produce documents—they have helped preserve history and strengthen democracy.

Why She Matters

By printing the first widely distributed copy of the Declaration of Independence bearing the names of its signers, Mary Katherine Goddard helped transform one of history’s most important manuscripts into a public declaration of courage, accountability, and national purpose.

Did You Know?

• Mary Katherine Goddard printed the first widely distributed Declaration of Independence listing all 56 signers.
• She operated one of the most respected printing businesses in Baltimore during the Revolutionary War.
• She also served as Baltimore’s postmaster—one of the earliest women to hold such a position in America.
• Original copies of the 1777 Goddard Broadside are among the rarest and most treasured documents of the American Revolution.

The Modern Connection

From the colonial broadsides that announced independence to today’s packaging, labels, books, direct mail, educational materials, and commercial printing, the printing industry has remained essential to informing, educating, and connecting people. Mary Katherine Goddard’s legacy reminds us that while technology has changed dramatically, the mission of print—to communicate ideas that matter—remains as important today as it was in 1777.

This article is part of PGCA’s America Was Born in Print campaign celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. Through this series, PGCA is highlighting the printers, publishers, and printed works that helped shape our nation while promoting awareness of the vital role the printing industry continues to play in American life.