Printed by Alice Broade: The Career of York’s First Female Printer, 1661–1680

Abstract

Alice Broad was York's first female printer and, for a time, the only printer in York following the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1661. Very little is known about Broad, and this chapter draws on archival research from the holdings of York Minster Library, which houses eleven of her seventeen extant publications. Broad's career also underwrites the later development of York's print trades. Alice's tools and presses went with Hannah Broad into her marriage with John White and became the foundation of his own extremely successful printing business.Alice Broad was among White's first collaborators in York and both she and her daughter would have provided the future 'printer to their Royal Majesties' (William and Mary) with materials, expertise, and connections in the regional trade. The unique position of York forms an important backdrop to Broad's career as a city that is both central and regional. This chapter is the first in-depth exploration of her career in the history of York's print trades. period by Thomas Broad 1 , a man whose success in York was opportunistic. When the Civil War sent the King's court and the King's printer, Stephen Bulkley 2 , further north to Newcastle, Broad filled the gap made in the turning fortunes of York's print trade. Thomas Broad left standard traces in the public records: he was born in Gloucestershire and completed an apprenticeship in London before moving his business to York. By 1650, Broad had established his press on Stonegate as well as a shop 'near Common-Hall-Gates' near the Guildhall, the seat of power for the Parliamentarian government, for whom he printed; he was admitted gratuitously to the freedom of the city in 1647 (Sessions, 1998, 4; 1976, 21). The imprint in the 1661 sermon, however, heralded a change: it was 'Printed by ALICE BROADE', with her name in all capital letters (the only time she would do this; see figure 2.1 below). Following Thomas's death and until Bulkley's return to York in 1664, Alice Broad was the city's sole printer. Based on extensive research in regional (York Minster Archives and the Borthwick Institute) and national archives (British Library), this chapter is the first detailed scholarly consideration of Alice Broad and her role in the printing history of York.