Elizabeth Timothy

Print shop of Lewis Timothy, Elizabeth's husband

Elizabeth Timothy (née Villin born 30 June 1702 – died 2 April 1757) ^[1] was the first female newspaper publisher in America.^[2]

Early life

Born as Elizabeth Villin on 30 June 1702, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, she married Lewis Timothy, a Hugenot in 1724.^[3] Eventually, both of them immigrated to Philadelphia in 1731, with their four children at that time.^[4]

Career

In Philadelphia, Lewis worked with Benjamin Franklin, who trained him in the printing business. In 1733, Franklin sent Lewis to Charleston, South Carolina, to revive the South Carolina Gazette, the colony’s first successful newspaper.^[1]

However, when Lewis suddenly passed away in 1738 and the oldest child, Peter, was too young and inexperience at that time, Elizabeth decided to take over the management of the newspaper. This made her the first female editor and publisher in American history. She published her first issue on 4 January 1739, with her eldest son listed as the publisher, as a woman was not allowed to have such job. However, the issue also announced that Timothy was running the newspaper.^[5]

She continued running the newspaper, publishing news, poetry and literary classics until her son, Peter, now aged 21 years old, took over his mother's role as the publisher and editor in 1746. After her job, Timothy opened a bookstore for a year before leaving Charleston for nine years. Later, she returned to Charleston and passed away on April 2, 1757. She was buried in St. Philip's Church.^[1]

References

1. "Elizabeth Timothy, First Female Publisher and Charleston Resident: A Story of Perseverance". Charleston Women. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
2. Notable American Women: 1607-1950. Credo Reference. 1971.
3. "The Country's First Female Publisher Made Headlines In Charleston". Charleston Magazine. December 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
4. Credo Reference > Where Are You From?
5. Mark A. Leon (6 September 2020). "CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA'S ELIZABETH ANN TIMOTHY: FIRST FEMALE NEWSPAPER EDITOR AND PUBLISHER IN AMERICA". Charleston Daily. Retrieved 5 June 2025.

Bibliography

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• Marzolf, Marion (1977). Up from the footnote. Hastings House. ISBN 0803875029.

• Perry, Lee Davis (2009). Remarkable South Carolina Women. Globe Pequot. ISBN 978-0-7627-4343-8.

• Read, Phyllis J. (1992). The Book of Women's Firsts. Random House Information Group. ISBN 978-0-679-40975-5.

• Schilpp, Madelon Golden (1983). Great women of the press. Southern Illinois University Press. ISBN 0809310988.

• Sherrow, Victoria (2002). A to Z of American Entrepreneurs. Facts On File, Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-8160-4556-3.

• Turner, Janine (4 March 2008). Holding Her Head High. Thomas Nelson Inc. ISBN 978-1-4185-3762-3.

• Vaughn, Stephen L. (2007). Encyclopedia of American Journalism. CRC Press. ISBN 978-0203942161.

• Waldrup, Carole Chandler (1 January 1999). Colonial Women. McFarland. p. 125. ISBN 978-0-7864-5106-7.

• Wallace, David Duncan (1951). South Carolina: A Short History, 1520-1948. University of North Carolina Press.

• "18th Century S.C. women". The Times and Democrat. Orangeburg, South Carolina. 19 September 1982. p. 28. Retrieved 10 August 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
• "Early Journalism in S.C." The Greenville News. Greenville, South Carolina. 27 May 1934. p. 21. Retrieved 3 August 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
• "Women in History". The Times and Democrat. Orangeburg, South Carolina. 4 March 2007. p. 26. Retrieved 10 August 2021 – via Newspapers.com .