Ann Smith Franklin (October 2, 1696 – April 16, 1763) was an American colonial newspaper printer and publisher.
[3][6][7] In 1736, Ann petitioned the General Assembly of Rhode Island, seeking printing work in order to support her family.
She was awarded the contract, becoming the General Assembly's official printer to the colony,[2] a position she held until she died.
[6] To supplement her income, she printed sermons for ministers, advertisements for merchants, as well as popular British novels.
In 1741, she began selling her brother-in-law Benjamin's almanac, Poor Richard's Almanack, and in 1745, she printed 500 copies of the Acts and Laws of Rhode Island as a folio edition, her largest commission.