By ALLISON BOURG, Staff Writer
Published 03/18/10

A century and a half before women earned the right to vote in America, an Annapolis woman became the country's first female newspaper publisher.

It was 1767, almost a decade before the American Revolution. Maryland Gazette publisher Jonas Green died, leaving his wife Anne Catharine in charge of the paper.

Unwilling to let the newspaper fizzle, she took over as printer, editor and publisher until her death in 1775.

"She's the one who kept it going," local historian Susan Morrison said. "Her portrait is hanging in the National Portrait (Gallery) … in Washington, D.C., and in her hand is a copy of the Maryland Gazette."

Today, Anne Catharine Hoof Green is to be inducted into the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame. The hall of fame was formed in 1985 to honor Maryland women who have made significant contributions to the state.

But those who know Green's story wonder why the state honored her husband's memory by naming a park on the Severn River for him, but forgot about her contribution.

"I think her name could easily be added" to the park, Morrison said.

Jean Russo, a historian with Historic Annapolis Foundation, said it would be nice to see Green's name attached to the park at the end of the Baltimore Annapolis Trail Park and at the foot of the Naval Academy Bridge.

Russo, along with Mimi Calvert of the Maryland State Archives, nominated Green for the Women's Hall of Fame.

"There's no reason her name couldn't be added, but I don't think it's ever been brought up," Russo said.

Most women in Colonial times didn't have prominent public roles. Green's decision to take over as publisher "gave her a degree of influence that women didn't have then," Russo said.

Though the park is owned by the state, it's managed and leased by the county Department of Recreation and Parks. Mark Garrity, parks administrator for the county, said the state named the park years ago.

To get the name changed, someone would have to submit a recommendation to the county, and the Recreation Advisory Board would review the request. Final approval would come from the director of Recreation and Parks and the county executive.

History shows that Green already was actively involved in the newspaper business before her husband's death.

According to Russo's nomination, Green gave birth to 14 children between 1738 and 1760; eight died as infants or young children. In addition to her responsibilities as a mother during those years, she also handled some of the advertising in the Gazette. And, to help make ends meet, she sold homemade chocolates at the post office.

The Gazette was founded in 1727 by William Parks. Jonas Green became publisher when he and his wife moved to Annapolis about 10 years later.

After Jonas died at age 52, Anne Catharine pleaded for the continued support of his customers in the next paper.

Records show she had some assistance from her sons, William and Frederick. But "several events in Green's life further support the portrait of a woman independently and competently managing her own affairs," Russo wrote.

Shortly after her husband passed away, Green informed about 1,200 debtors that she was willing to take legal action against them and publish their names - and the amount of money they owed - in the Gazette.

Green also moved the print shop supplies into the family home and connected the house directly to the shop. In 1770, she purchased the lot, house and outbuildings that she and Jonas had been leasing since 1738.

"The family was always in debt when Jonas had the paper, but after she took over, she was able to pay off the debts and buy the house," Russo said.

She said it's also worth noting that Green hired painter Charles Willson Peale to paint the portrait that now hangs in Washington.

"Most women did not go and seek to have a portrait painted on their own," Russo said. "Even though she was working, she was dressed as elegantly as anyone."

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