Mary Katharine Goddard

Mary Katharine Goddard
Born(1738-06-16)June 16, 1738
Connecticut
DiedAugust 12, 1816(1816-08-12) (aged 78)
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Postmaster, publisher, book seller
Known forFirst to print the United States Declaration of Independence with the names of the signatories.
Notable workThe Goddard Broadside
Parents
RelativesWilliam Goddard (brother)

Mary Katharine Goddard (June 16, 1738 – August 12, 1816) was an early American publisher, and the postmaster of the Baltimore Post Office from 1775 to 1789. She was the older sister of William Goddard, also a publisher and printer. She was the second printer to print the Declaration of Independence. Her copy, the Goddard Broadside, was commissioned by Congress in 1777, and was the first to include the names of the signatories.[1][2] In 1998, Goddard was inducted into the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame.[3]

  1. ^ Dvorak, Petula (July 3, 2017). "Perspective - This woman's name appears on the Declaration of Independence. So why don't we know her story?". Washington Post.
  2. ^ "Mythbusting the Founding Mothers". National Women's History Museum. July 14, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  3. ^ "Mary Katherine Goddard". Maryland Women's Hall of Fame. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved February 5, 2022.