In the 18th century, newspapers and pamphlets were crucial in spreading information and stoking the fires of conflict during the revolutionary period. Although printing was primarily seen as a masculine profession, women—such as widows, wives, and daughters—stepped up to embrace the responsibilities of a free press. These women not only set the type for the material that would be read and shared but, in some cases, also owned and managed their own printing businesses.
In this lecture, you will learn about the essential contributions of women in the printing industry leading up to the American Revolution.
About the Speaker: Michele Gabrielson, M.Ed., is a professional historian, public school educator, and historical interpreter of the 18th century. She serves on several historic committees and is secretary for the recently formed nonprofit, The Mercy Otis Warren Society. The Massachusetts History Alliance awarded her a 2024 Rising Star Award for Public History for her programming titled “The Revolutionary Classroom.” She was named a 2024 Massachusetts History Teacher of the Year finalist. Michele was recently awarded the Massachusetts Daughters of the American Revolution’s Outstanding History Teacher of the Year for 2025.
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