Women in History

USNews.com: Cokie Roberts on the founding mothers

History books rarely mention the woman who, in a way, signed the Declaration of Independence.

Mary Katherine Goddard was a printer who ran a newspaper in Baltimore. She printed the declaration, and her name is right there on it, at the bottom. She later became the first female postmaster in the country, but then a man wanted her job, and got it.


You include recipes from some of the founding mothers. Did you worry that the recipes would trivialize them?

One of my points is that while they were doing everything else, they were still doing everything women do. I certainly cook every night except when I'm on book tour. It's a point of connection with them. And I highly recommend Martha Washington's crab soup.

In 2004, Cokie Roberts published a book, Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation. I have not yet read it, but it is on my reading list. Once I do read it, I'll publish another post on it if it is worth commenting on. However, I had to briefly comment on this interview from U.S. News & World Report, April 26, 2004 print edition.

One of the positive contributions that modernism has made to historical studies is to get us to acknowledge the contributions of women and of people of various ethnic backgrounds. One of the more annoying tendencies of modernist history is to focus on the insignificant and mundane rather than the big ideas and events that shape history (modernism does not believe in big ideas & events shaping human history). Likewise, feminist studies have done a great service to our understanding of history by drawing our attention to important, influential women in history. One of my favorite women in history is Abigail Adams. She was a model of proper feminism, but also of love and dedication to her husband and family. The letters between John and Abigail Adams radiate love, humor, and the great intellect of both of these great people. On the other hand, feminist studies often stretch well into the mundane to find female contributions to our country's history. I strongly believe that women played important roles in history, but it will take time and study to show real, substantive contributions.

From this short interview, it seems that Cokie Roberts may have actually done a pretty good job in her handling of women in history. I don't know much about Mary Katherine Goddard, and I look forward to studying about her. It seems quite a stretch to claim that she was almost a signer of the Declaration of Independence because her name appears on the first public printing. I hope the interviewer, and Cokie, had tongue firmly implanted in cheek for that statement. To be a signer of the Declaration meant more than simply having your name on the bottom of the document - it meant being involved in the debate, compromises, and worries that went into the formation of that document. However, the importance of printers in gaining support and unity for the Revolutionary War is undeniable, and the story of the first female postmaster would be valuable to study as well. I get a kick out of the question, "You include recipes from some of the founding mothers. Did you worry that the recipes would trivialize them?" Why would recipes trivialize the founding mothers? Is it trivial to be mothers, home makers, and wives? Does the interviewer have such little regard for the familial role of women? Cokie's response was wonderful. I wish historical studies would stress the familial role of men as husbands and fathers more. Such a focus shouldn't trivialize their role in history to know which of our founding fathers were good husbands and fathers.