Tours

Benjamin Franklin and the Pennsylvania Germans

Join us for our annual fall tour program, September 15-17, 2011, in Philadelphia for a weekend of not-to-be-missed Franklin events. Meet with like-minded Friends and enjoy learning and sharing Franklin's involvement with the Pennsylvania Germans.

THURSDAY:

The weekend begins with our inaugural gala dinner on Thursday evening at the "Ballroom at the Ben" to honor The Papers of Benjamin Franklin as well as the American Philosophical Society and Yale University for their contributions to the Papers Project. The dinner will include special guests and those who have played a significant role in The Papers of Benjamin Franklin including Ellen Cohn, Editor, of The Papers of Benjamin Franklin and Barbara Oberg, former editor of the Papers.

FRIDAY:

On Friday, we begin exploration of the Franklin's relationship with the Pennsylvania Germans with a fascinating symposium at The Brossman Center on the campus of The Lutheran Theological Seminary in historic Germantown.

Speakers will include Friederike Baer, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of History, Pennsylvania State University, Abington College who will talk about "Germans in Colonial Pennsylvania." John B. Frantz, Ph.D., Past President, Pennsylvania Historical Association will speak on "Benjamin Franklin and the Pennsylvania Germans." Carla J. Mulford, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English, Pennsylvania State University will present "Franklin, the Palatinate Germans, and the British Empire in North America."

Lunch is included along with a presentation by John E. Peterson, Curator of the Lutheran Archives Center at Philadelphia, on the Muhlenbergs, their influence on colonial America, and their connections with the Founding Fathers, with emphasis on Benjamin Franklin.

A panel discussion will follow with our esteemed speakers. After the panel discussion, we will tour the archives with John Peterson to learn about the current project of conserving the Muhlenberg Journals and view a display of several Franklin related documents including Franklin's financial gift for construction of the Lutheran Church at Germantown.

The day will conclude at the Brossman Center with a wine and cheese reception.

SATURDAY:

Visit The German Society of Philadelphia Joseph P. Horner Memorial Library both a lending library and a research facility, housed in an original 1888 reading room. The library houses more than 60,000 volumes, three-quarters are in German. It is considered the largest private collection of German books in the United States (outside of universities). Violet Lutz, Ph.D., Special Collections Librarian, will talk on Franklin and Christopher Sauer and show manuscripts and documents printed by Franklin from their collection.

From there we visit the sites of Historic Germantown and learn about Franklin’s connections to the neighborhood. The tour begins at Grumblethorpe, the ancestral home of the Wister Family, and will highlight a receipt between John Wister and Ben Franklin documenting a year’s worth of transactions for the property Franklin rented from the Wisters.

Next the group will travel to Stenton, the home of James Logan, completed in 1730. Franklin was a frequent visitor to Stenton and he and Logan shared many interests and became very good friends. Franklin came to Logan for financial backing for several institutions, and Franklin also wrote to Logan when Logan was ill about how he should try and use his new “electrolysis” machine to try to remedy his paralysis. Lunch will be provided.

The tour will continue at Wyck, the home of nine generations of the Haines and Wistar families. Among their fascinating collections is a chair that to belonged to Ben Franklin, from his London apartment.

The last stop will be Historic RittenhouseTown, A National Historic Landmark District and 1690 site of British North America’s first paper mill. Much like his good friend Benjamin Franklin, Mr. Rittenhouse practiced many professions and held and variety of offices. He was a scientist, astronomer, clockmaker and surveyor. In addition to being the first director of the U.S. Mint, he served as the second President of the American Philosophical Society succeeding Franklin. Historic RittenhouseTown’s collection includes a David Rittenhouse clock and an important 18th century compass.

Our Farewell Dinner will be held on South Street at Brauhaus Schmitz, Philadelphia’s only authentic German Bierhall and Restaurant. Enjoy authentic German cuisine, German music, and a choice of over 20 beers. A spectacular evening of Friendship and the conclusion of our Franklin weekend.

For more information contact Kathy DeLuca at 856-833-1771. To register for the tour, please log on to https://eventsplus.webconnex.com/friendsoffranklin.