Growing attention is being given to the part women have played in journalism history, and this paper examines some of the ways in which the methods used in studying women may affect journalism history as a whole and perhaps the ways in which all historical figures are viewed. Noting that insufficient information exists about women printers with respect to the public areas of life and work usually stressed in journalism history, this paper concentrates on areas that have been infrequently studied, including male-female relationships, family structures, marital status, motivations for paid work, personal and social values, and other significant aspects of day-to-day existence. Previous research on five women printers of Colonial New England--Ann Franklin, Sarah Goddard, Margaret Draper, Mary Crouch, and Hannah Watson--is cited to demonstrate how research on private lives illuminates the knowledge of journalism history. (MKM)