PA PAST PLAYERS
Mary S. Leader
1835 – 1913
Hanover, PA
Mary Leader was a reporter for the
Hanover Spectator, a rare occupation for a 19
th-century woman. Leader was sent to
Gettysburg in November 1863 to cover the dedication of the Gettysburg Cemetery and Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
While other journalists scorned the president’s brief speech, Leader was one of the first and few reporters who recognized its greatness—a view that is widely shared today among researchers and historians.
Contact Mark Beyerle for more information on planning your
group tour or call 215-625-7908.