Printer
In an age before TV, radio, and the internet, the printed word was the primary means of long-distance mass communication. Watch and learn as printers set type and use reproduction printing presses to manufacture colonial newspapers, political notices, pamphlets, and books.
Watch the Video
Colonial Williamsburg senior journeyman printer Peter Stinely and journeyman printer Chad Jones explain how this trade works and what we can learn from it.
FAQs
Read below to find the answers to some of our most common questions about the Printer trade. Visit us onsite to learn more and discuss further.
What did the Founders mean by “Freedom of the Press”?
The founding generation’s understanding of a free press has a long history, partly inherited from English law. But that doesn’t mean that England always had a free press.
Explore Historic Trades & Skills
The Historic Trades and Skills community at Colonial Williamsburg uses 18th-century tools and techniques to apprentice in and eventually master more than 20 historic trades and skills. These world-renowned experts not only make goods and provide services to the Historic Area, they also consult and produce for other cultural institutions around the world.
Support Our Mission!
Our donors are the reason we can continue to create an authentic, immersive 18th-century experience for our guests. Since we are not state or federally funded, we rely on your support to fulfill our mission. Give today and help us keep this special place alive.
