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Isaiah Thomas
| Isaiah Thomas was born to Moses and Fidelity in January, 1749. A printer by nature, he began to learn his trade at the age of six. Thomas was apprenticed to Zechariah Fowle in 1756. While still in his teens, Thomas took over management of the print shop, and by the age of seventeen was considered an excellent printer. Through the coming years Thomas would become restless at Fowle's shop and yearned for London where he felt he could perfect his printing ability. After many failed attempts, Thomas returned to Boston and Fowle in 1770. Shortly after, they became partners who established the newspaper Massachusetts Spy. Soon after its establishment, Thomas bought out Fowle and in the following years made his paper very famous. Thomas's Whig tendencies led his paper to continuously support the liberties of the people. As a result, Thomas was in constant struggle with the royal government. His political feelings eventually led him to participate as a minute man as well as join Paul Revere on his famous ride throughout the countryside. Thomas was well known for his printing ability and the historical feats he made as a printer. Thomas was a founder of the American Antiquarian Society as well as their first president resulting from his interest in the preservation of American history materials. Thomas eventually became connected to Allegheny College and its library through Rev. William Bentley's estate. Through dealings with Timothy Alden, Thomas made a trade of books from his print shop, ones he felt were more suitable for college students, for a number of valuable colonial history books. As a result, the Thomas collection was born at Allegheny College. | |||
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| Special Collections | Original Library | Timothy Alden Biography | William Bentley Biography | James Winthrop Biography |
Copyright 2001. Pelletier
Library, Allegheny College All Rights Reserved
Sited Designed by Emily MacKinnon, Class of 2000 and Jane Westenfeld / Maintained by Jane Westenfeld
Date Created March 14,2001 Last Modified: January 16, 2002
URL: http://library.allegheny.edu/Special/BioThomas.htm