Library of Congress blog "Bibliomania" publishes "The Aitken Bible(s)", highlighting Jane Aitken’s 1808 Bible as the first printed in the U.S. by a woman.
On 22 July 2026, the Library of Congress blog “Bibliomania” published an article titled “The Aitken Bible(s)” that renewed attention to Jane Aitken’s pioneering role in American Bible printing.[4] The post highlighted her 1808 Thomson Bible as the first Bible printed in the United States by a woman, situating her work alongside that of her father, Robert Aitken, who had produced the first complete English Bible printed in America and the only one authorized by Congress.[4]
This modern recognition forms part of a broader effort by librarians and historians to recover the contributions of women in the book trades. By discussing both the father’s and daughter’s Bibles, the article underscores the family’s multi‑generational importance while emphasizing Jane’s independent achievement in printing and binding a demanding four‑volume English translation of the Septuagint.[4] The blog’s institutional platform at the Library of Congress gives the narrative considerable visibility and authority.
Appearing in 2026, the post speaks to contemporary interest in inclusive historical storytelling and the reassessment of women’s roles in cultural production. It helps reinterpret Aitken’s work not merely as a curiosity but as a significant milestone in religious publishing, women’s entrepreneurship, and early American printing. By presenting digitized images and contextual commentary, the article also makes primary materials related to Aitken more accessible to researchers, educators, and the public.[4]