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Episode Description
In this episode of America’s Founding Series, Professor Nick Giordano uncovers the remarkable story of Mary Katherine Goddard, the fearless printer who risked her life to publish the names on the Declaration of Independence. At a time when free expression could be punished as treason, Goddard embodied the true meaning of a Free Press during the American Revolution. As Baltimore’s Postmaster and the printer of the famous Goddard Broadside, she demonstrated extraordinary courage by putting her own name beneath the signers of the Declaration. Her story reveals how ordinary citizens played extraordinary roles in securing America’s liberty.
Episode Highlights
- How Mary Katherine Goddard became the first printer to publish the Declaration of Independence with all 56 signatures.
- Why her role as Baltimore’s Postmaster made her central to Revolutionary communications and the Patriot cause.
- The enduring lesson of her courage and what it means for the survival of a free press in America.
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The Spirit of Sacrifice: Nathan Hale and the Heroes of 9/11
00:52 The America’s Founding Series
01:33 The Role of Mary Catherine Goddard
08:55 Mary Catherine’s Impact on Communication
12:37 Legacy of Mary Catherine Goddard
Mary Katherine Goddard: The Patriot Who Risked Her Life to Print the Declaration
In the struggle for independence, not all heroes carried muskets onto the battlefield. Some wielded tools far less violent but equally powerful. One of those heroes was Mary Katherine Goddard, a printer who understood that words could be as dangerous as bullets during the American Revolution.
In January 1777, as the Continental Army struggled to survive and morale plummeted, Congress made a bold decision. It was time for the world to see that the men who signed the Declaration of Independence stood firmly by their pledge. Until then, only John Hancock and Charles Thomson’s names had appeared on the first printed copies. Publishing the names of all fifty-six signers meant there was no turning back. The British Crown would see those names as treason, and retribution was almost certain.
To carry out this risky order, Congress turned to a trusted printer in Baltimore. Mary Katherine Goddard accepted the task and produced what is now known as the Goddard Broadside. She not only printed the Declaration with every signature, but she also added her own name at the bottom as the printer. It was a remarkable act of courage that declared to the world her unwavering support for liberty.
Her contributions did not end there. Goddard also served as Postmaster of Baltimore beginning in 1775. The postal system was the vital artery that carried military orders, congressional updates, and revolutionary newspapers. For fourteen years, she ensured that communication flowed freely at a time when the very survival of the Republic depended on it.
Mary Katherine Goddard’s story reminds us that America’s founding was not shaped by generals and politicians alone. It was built by ordinary people who risked everything for extraordinary ideals. She stood for a free press, she stood for truth, and she stood for liberty when it mattered most.
To learn more about this forgotten patriot and her remarkable role in the American Revolution, listen to the full episode of America’s Founding Series on The P.A.S. Report Podcast.
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