Historical Fiction: Franklin with Internet
Damien Ober’s new book, “Doctor Benjamin Franklin’s Dream America,” published by Night Shade Books of New York, sounds interesting.
Who is John Paradise?
I’ve been studying the Franklin, Massachusetts library, and reading through the correspondence between Dr. Richard Price and Benjamin Franklin in the 1780s. Their discussion ranges wonderfully — through Georgiana Shipley’s woes, the miracle of compound interest, the Finances of France, nasty reports of chaos in America (discounted by Franklin), great confusion in England (reported by …
Library of Congress Digital Archive
The Announcement in Philly.com is a nice introduction to The Benjamin Franklin Papers collection at the Library of Congress. Nice timing on the announcement, on April 17, 2018, the 228th anniversary of Dr. Franklin’s death. Announcement on Fine Books & Collections Here is coverage by Smithsonian Magazine.
Alas, Poor Mungo!
John Kelly of the Washington Post features Squirrel Week each year, and he’s all over Mungo. At the end of his most recent addition he clarifies where Mungo actually died: But it turns out that when Mungo died, Twyford House was being renovated. The Shipleys were living at a place called Northwood House, 14 miles …
Franklinia Tree
A nice mention of the home of the Franklinia tree in John Bartram’s Home, though the formal name is not spelled exactly correctly. See Missouri Botanical Garden’s entry.
Franklin, Massachusetts Library
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 …
Benjamin’s On Franklin
Here in the Washington, DC area, we have a new Franklinian spot: congratulations! Check out the City Paper Review.
The Quill Project
Announced at the U.S. Capitol on February 13, The Quill Project is a research platform on the Constitutional Convention.
Reading Code
An excellent application by James Coppel of M.I.T. applying Franklin’s reading approach to software code: I would clarify to make a note of the general “drift” of the code, and later, from that synopsis, start filling in the details. The Benjamin Franklin Method of Reading Programming Books Thanks, Ben!
Benjamin Franklin High School
A friend in Oregon started sending pictures of the fabulous WOODEN statue of Dr. Franklin in front of the newly-renovated Benjamin Franklin High School. It’s a very handsome thing, and I hope to post his pictures here shortly.