Her Name Was Mary Katharine: A Picture Book Exploration

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Meet Mary Katharine Goddard. She was born before her country, she defied societal norms, she had the courage to add her name to the Declaration of Independence, she is a hero of our national history. Her Name Was Mary Katharine: The Only Woman Whose Name is on the Declaration of Independence by Ella Schwartz, illustrated by Dow Phumiruk is a beautiful ode to this incredible woman. With the 250th anniversary of America just a few weeks away, today is a perfect day to remember Mary Katharine and celebrate what would have been her 288th birthday!

Her Name Was Mary Katharine by Ella Schwartz, illustrated by Dow Phumiruk

This picture book is a perfect example of why I love picture books so much! A true living picture book it will transport you right into Mary Katharine’s print shop! Ella Schwartz’s writing is clear, concise and a delight to read. It has been well researched and we really get to know Mary Katharine and fall in love with her loyalty and courage. Dow Phumiruk’s (a fellow Coloradoan) illustrations are beautiful! The historical accuracy and the intricacies of each illustration are a perfect “moment frozen in time”.

Who was Mary Katharine Goddard?

Mary Katharine Goddard was a young woman who received a  great education, by the standards of the day. She also had a great love for her family and had a mind of her own. When her brother became disinterested by his printshop she seized the opportunity. She pursued a career that was not readily open to women at the time. She was not afraid to openly publish her opinions, even if only under her initials.

Mary Katharine opposed the Stamp Act of 1765 as it would raise the price of paper drastically. She was very vocal against it, making her a prominent patriot. In 1777 she was the first to publish the signed Declaration of Independence. Until then only 2 names had featured on the printed copies.  On what became known as the Goddard Broadside, Katharine boldly printed her full name, making her the only woman to have signed the Declaration of Independence. She soon became the very first postmaster of Baltimore, Maryland. She deserves to be remembered for her courage, her dedication to her burgeoning nation and the many “firsts” that she accomplished.

History

The Stamp Act was a tax passed by the British that forced the American colonies to pay a tax on all printed papers. A special stamp was created and all printed papers had to display that stamp to show that the tax had been paid. This impacted all printed papers from legal documents to newspapers and books. This tax was levied to pay off the war debt incurred by Britain during the 7 Years War. The British Crown decided that the Colonies should be thankful for its support in enlarging the land available on the continent. In other words, what Britain started to enrich itself cost too much and they tried to pass the buck to the colonists who had not asked for anything but protection that they rightfully expected from their government.

History

It is sometimes difficult to keep track of all these events and their consequences. The best way to do that is to keep a Book of Century. A Book of Century is a notebook in which you can use as a timeline and in which you can keep track of different events, people and situations you are encountering. With a Book of Century you are able to keep track  and get a better bird eye view of the time period you are studying. Enter the Seven Years War, the Stamp Act, the Declaration of Independence and Mary Katharine Goddard in your Book of Century. If you do not already have a Book of Century, this summer is a great time to start it with all the events of AMerica 250 being highlighted everywhere.

The printed word

The world of printing has changed so much since Katharine Goddard’s day! We can now just click a button and print anything we want. But sometimes, it is lovely to slow down and pick up an old art form. It teaches us new skills and helps us appreciate others and their work better. After watching this short documentary, get to printing! I have been eyeing this Printing Press (out of stock as of right now) for quite a while… I love the quality of the Kiwi Crates and the projects always come out in working order, a big plus. Otherwise you can do some print making with a kit like this one.

Recipe

To celebrate Mary Katharine Goddard’s birthday let’s enjoy a simple colonial fare: Eggs in Paper Cases. I picked this recipe because it involves paper! Definitely something Mary Katharine prized. To make it more fun, create your own egg cases with this easy origami tutorial.
Happy birthday Mary Katharine Goddard!
Love,
Mattie