Jane Aitken facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jane Aitken
Born	July 11, 1764 Paisley, Scotland
Died	August 29, 1832(1832-08-29) (aged 68) Germantown, Pennsylvania
Occupation	Printer, bookbinder
Parent(s)	Robert Aitken, Janet Skeoch

Jane Aitken (born July 11, 1764 – died August 29, 1832) was an important American printer, publisher, bookbinder, and bookseller. She was born in Scotland and moved to America with her family in 1771. She ran her own print shop and bookstore in Philadelphia in the early 1800s. Jane learned everything about printing and selling books from her father. A big part of her income came from bookbinding, which is the art of putting pages together to make a book.

Jane Aitken printed and bound many books for places like the Athenaeum of Philadelphia and the American Philosophical Society. She was also a friend of John Vaughan, who was a librarian for the American Philosophical Society. Jane Aitken made history by being the first woman in the United States to print an English translation of the Christian Bible.

Early Life in Scotland and America

Jane Aitken was born in Paisley, Scotland, on July 11, 1764. Her father, Robert Aitken, was a book merchant who later became a printer and bookbinder in Philadelphia. Her mother was Janet Skeoch. Jane was the oldest of four children in her family who grew up to be adults.

In 1771, Jane and her family were among several Scottish families who moved to Colonial America. They settled in Philadelphia, which was their port of arrival.

Jane Aitken: Printer and Businesswoman

Jane Aitken started working in her father's publishing business in Philadelphia. His business was in a two-story brick house on Market Street. It included a print shop and a bindery, where books were put together. Jane kept careful records, and her notes show that the print shop printed newspapers, journals, books, and stationery.

When her father passed away in 1802, Jane, who was 38 years old, took over the printing business. Even though the property had been sold earlier, the business continued. After her father's death, all the printing and publications were done in her own name, often saying Printed by Jane Aitken. She ran her print shop and bindery from North Third Street in Philadelphia.

Jane faced a big challenge because her father's business had a large debt of $3,000. Her younger brother, Robert Aitken Jr., could not help with the debt. As the oldest child, Jane took on the responsibility of caring for her two younger sisters, as their mother had also passed away. Jane never married and was always known as Miss Jane Aitken.

Her bookbinding work was very important and often brought in more money than the printing part of the business. She bound many books for the Athenaeum of Philadelphia and about 400 books for the American Philosophical Society. Her binding work from 1802 to 1812 looked very similar to the work she did when she was younger, helping her father. In 1812, she even advertised for an assistant bookbinder to help her.

Later Life and Legacy

John Vaughan, a friend and librarian from the American Philosophical Society, gave Jane a lot of work and even some financial help. However, her business struggled and failed in 1813, and her equipment had to be sold. John Vaughan bought the equipment at a special sale and rented it back to her at a low price. But when her business failed again in 1814, she was sent to a debtors' prison in Norristown, Pennsylvania. She stopped working in the printing business in 1815.

There are not many records about Jane Aitken after 1815. Her death record appeared in an obituary in Germantown, Pennsylvania, in 1832. It said she had a long illness before she died on August 29, 1832. It is believed she was buried in a cemetery in Philadelphia that no longer exists.

Important Works by Jane Aitken

Jane Aitken published at least sixty works between 1802 and 1812. One of her biggest projects was The Census Directory for 1811, which was a directory for the city of Philadelphia based on the third United States census.

Jane Aitken's Historical Impact

Jane Aitken is remembered for being the first woman in the United States to print an English translation of the Christian Bible. This important four-volume Bible, printed in 1808, is known as Thomson's Bible. It was translated by Charles Thomson, a leader during the American Revolution. Historian June Melby Benowitz believes this Bible was the most important book Jane Aitken produced in her career. In 1930, a group called the National Federation of Business and Professional Women recognized Jane Aitken as the first American businesswoman.