Image Credit: Koenig & Bauer

This Women’s History Month, Women in Print Alliance would like to highlight an extraordinary female business pioneer in the early 1800s. A woman who was able to rise above her circumstances after finding herself windowed with three children after losing her husband, Friedrich Koenig, early on in their marriage.

Meet Fanny Koenig – a true trailblazer in business and society – and a revered historical figure in today’s modern multi-national corporation, Koenig & Bauer.

Blazing a Trail for Women in Print Since 1833

Friedrich Koenig, along with his business partner Andreas Bauer, founded the world’s first printing press factory – Schnellpressenfabrik Koenig & Bauer – in a secularized monastery in Oberzell, Germany in 1817, according to Printing Impressions. After Friedrich’s passing in 1833, his wife, Fanny Koenig saw her husband’s life work going under and stepped up at a time when women’s rights were overlooked and most were occupied with domestic duties or household labor.

A Pioneer in Gender Equality…

As highlighted in this Koenig & Bauer article, Fanny started off by working as a correspondent in the factory, eventually securing orders for three printing presses for the company. Keep in mind that in West Germany in the 19th century, married women were not allowed to work without permission from their husbands until the First Marriage and Family Law Reform Act was passed in 1977, providing more gender equality within marriages and abolishing the husband’s legal authority over his wife, according to Universität Bielefeld.

Fanny’s determination in a male-dominated business field of printing press manufacture aided in the revival of Koenig & Bauer’s sales and a growing company workforce.

…and in Corporate Social Responsibility

Not only was Fanny championing profit for Koeing & Bauer, but she was ahead of her time when it came to corporate social responsibility. On January 1, 1855, Fanny and Andreas founded the factory health insurance fund, allowing Koenig & Bauer to offer its employees coverage against health risks and financial support towards doctor’s visits, surgical treatment, and free medication.

As a full-time businesswoman and a working parent, Fanny understood the challenges of providing childcare, especially for families struggling financially. Once again, Fanny took action by founding what became known as “Kinderbewahranstalt” (daycare in English) with a local priest in 1865, to offer childcare to her fellow factory workers. 159 years later, the facility is now a modern-day care center for children.

Her Legacy Lives on in Today’s Modern Print World

Koenig & Bauer elaborates on Fanny’s legacy, saying “Fanny’s remarkable achievements over the course of our 200+ year history have served as an enduring source of inspiration for all of our employees, consistently encouraging teams across all departments to embrace leadership and innovative thinking, regardless of gender. This legacy is evident in our North American division, where women hold key positions in areas such as finance, parts, service, and sales, demonstrating their invaluable contributions to both our customers and the wonderful world of print.

“Our rich heritage is not simply a point of pride; it is a cornerstone of our organizational identity, shaping our values, strategies, and operations. We believe that by honoring our past and learning from the trailblazers like Fanny, we can build a future where leadership, innovation, and diversity are welcomed and actively developed in all levels of our organization.”

The company is also paying homage to Fanny while looking toward the future as an inaugural corporate member of Women in Print Alliance, supporting career development for its current female employees.