This is the initial Franklin category; we expect to branch off from this many times.
This month’s Franklin Celebration in Philadelphia will be held Friday, January 18, 2019 (apologies for this late posting), and is entitled Liberty and Justice for All? Reforming America’s Criminal Justice System. The Inquirer published an excellent Opinion piece by Bill Keller, What would Benjamin Franklin think of today’s criminal justice? on January 4, 2019. UPenn’s …
Civil Rights attorney Benjamin Crump delivered a speech called “the evolution of Benjamin Franklin and the hope of America” in Fayetteville, Arkansas at Fayetteville State University. His respectful notes are in this article from the Fayetteville Observer. Excerpts: Crump described Franklin, one of the country’s founders, as a Renaissance man at a time during which …
As perhaps its final action as an incorporated group, the Friends of Franklin will present its remaining funds to the Papers of Benjamin Franklin as a donation in honor of Claude-Anne Lopez on November 8, 2018. Questions and comments are welcome by reaching me directly. My contact information is at the bottom of the About …
The National Constitution Center has an excellent overview to coverage of the kite experiment: “The Great Debate About Benjamin Franklin’s Kite.” Thanks to Thomas Kidd for this image, citation and an accompanying article.
An auction notice caught my eye, about a clock designed by Dr Franklin. Papers online has this: James Ferguson: Account of Franklin’s Three-Wheel Clock Printed in James Ferguson, Select Mechanical Exercises: Shewing how to construct different Clocks, Orreries, and Sun-Dials, on Plain and Easy Principles,…(Second edition, London, 1778), pp. 1-4. A Clock shewing the Hours, …
This article by the Smithsonian includes images of several nice objects.
The library at Franklin, Massachusetts has an intimate connection with Dr. Franklin, and is re-housing their collection of books he donated. They were displayed in a standalone, closed bookcase from 1904 till now (2018), when they are going to a more accessible presentation, according to this news report on the renovation. Congratulations! In 1778, the westerly …
We’ve lost a grand fellow, Ralph Archbold of Philadelphia. I have it on good authority that he’s having a beer with Dr. Franklin right around now. There’s a nice article at http://www.philly.com/philly/obituaries/Philly-Benjamin-Franklin-impersonator-Ralph-Archbold-dies.html and a a nice set of pictures with the article at http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/ap/national/article_d646f87a-18cb-569b-b0ce-53e5122114db.html
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts is moving to preserve one of Franklin’s mile markers from the postal system of 1767: Article Site Shrewsbury – Last November, Shrewsbury’s Board of Selectmen approved a proposal to move one of two Benjamin Franklin Mile Markers (Milestone Marker #43) from its current location near the on-ramp to I-290 East on Main …
This article discusses a portrait owned by Benjamin Franklin of Benjamin Lay. Some excerpts: “Stories about our discovery appeared first in the Philadelphia Inquirer, and in January 1979 The Magazine Antiques published a story by Karen M. Jones about the discovery of a rare William Williams painting.” The story quoted a letter from Ben Franklin …
