Which woman’s name appears on the Declaration of Independence?
The only woman whose name appears on the Declaration of Independence is Mary Katherine Goddard. While the prominent signers were all men, Goddard’s name is on a significant printing of the document, making her an essential, though often overlooked, figure in its history.
Mary Katherine Goddard was a Baltimore printer and postmistress. In January 1777, after the initial signing of the Declaration on August 2, 1776, Congress commissioned her to create an official printed version that would include the names of all the signers. This particular printing was crucial because it was the first time that the names of all the delegates who signed the Declaration were publicly revealed, giving it an unprecedented level of legitimacy and public commitment. Her name appeared at the bottom as “Baltimore: In Mary K. Goddard’s Printing-Office.”
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