There’s an excellent story on BillyPenn.com introducing readers to Richard Armandi’s quest to recognize and celebrate the location of Franklin’s first Print Shop. Congratulations to all, and good luck! Rich also wrote in to share this insurance document from the Philadelphia Contributorship digital archives, registering his house at 139 Market Street on June 13, 1752. …
I’m thrilled to find this video recording of Madame Brillon’s sonata by Filament in Philadelphia, published in June 2025. The three movements were recorded at Old Swedes Church, Philadelphia, and feature Evan Few, violin with Elena Kauffman, viola da gamba and John Walthausen, harpsichord. The composer would have been at the harpsichord, and, as in …
I was delighted and proud to receive word that earlier today, November 14, 2024, the building at 27-28 Queen Street in Derby was added to the National Heritage List for England by Historic England, designating it as a building of special architectural or historic interest, and giving it legal protection. This building has been the …
Franklin first arrived in Philadelphia on October 6, 1723, and the 300th anniversary is easy to celebrate!
The grandson of Benjamin Franklin visited Monticello and was sent a letter by James Monroe on June 11, 1799. It is up for auction in 2020. Albemarle, June 11, 1799, six months before commencing his second term as Governor of Virginia, to Dr. William Bache (1773-1820), the grandson of Benjamin Franklin who was then on …
Franklin Square in Washington, DC is undergoing a renovation in 2020. The idea to move the statue of Benjamin Franklin from Pennsylvania Avenue strikes me very favorably, and I’ll use this page to collect links and information. See Also June 2020: Franklin Square to Close August 2020: Tree Removal August 2020: Opinion: Move the Statue …
These are two of my favorite topics: Franklin and the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC. The two overlap in many ways, but I want to start with a quote of the library’s founder that I came across for the first time today. Henry Folger traced his line back to Abiah’s father, Peter. Henry once …
The removing of the statue of George Whitfield from the University of Pennsylvania campus is disturbing to those of us unaware of Whitfield’s “advocating for slavery.” The mention in this Press Release reads: “Whitefield’s connection to Penn stems from a church meeting house he owned at 4th and Arch streets in Philadelphia, which was purchased …
A couple in Philadelphia discovered an 18th-Century privy under their new building near the river. The content and links from this Hidden City Philadephia story reveals some terrific pottery finds, and introduces a pair of very sweet people. Thanks to the Boghouse podcast.
I was delighted to receive a T-Shirt from the Saint Benjamin Brewing Company in Philadelphia from a friend this winter. I like the image, and look forward to visiting and sampling! Further Notes Temple News Bar Guide, February 2018: nice peek at the decor: the Franklin busts make me feel right at home!
