Purdue University and the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs have a program that looks wonderful. The Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Summer Institute (BFTF) is designed “to introduce Fellows to Benjamin Franklin’s ideas and legacy” and further the contributions of Dr. Franklin to foster relations between Americans and Europeans. What’s not …
The American Philosophical Society and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania are sponsoring a free event on Franklin’s Birthday this year, on the eve of the traditional day-long celebration, featuring Nick Bunker discussing his new account of Franklin’s early life. The event is free and open to the public: please RSVP to attend. See Also Photo …
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 …
I visited the National Archives on December 12, 2018, and made some notes about the Charters of Freedom display in the Rotunda. The Rotunda contains 17 display cases. Aside from the three major documents in cases 8-10, each case contains facsimile documents and supporting information on modern placards. Franklin is featured in the display case …
The Relgion of Ignorance line was never said, only quoted incorrectly.
In my posting of August 23, 2015, I mentioned this quote: “This will be the best security for maintaining our liberties. A nation of well-informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the religion of ignorance that tyranny begins. ” …
A nice set of articles today, all linked: 1) Herbie Hancock awarded the Benjamin Franklin Medal 2) The Franklin Institute’s 8-Bit Digital Franklin and from May, an article by Nancy Gupton on 3) The Musical Talents of Benjamin Franklin which features a recording of the tiresome 4) Quartet attributed to Franklin.
Benjamin Franklin’s son William (known as “The Governor” in some circles, do distinguish him from his son, William Temple Franklin) was imprisoned in New York during the Revolutionary War, and returned to England through an exchange of prisoners. He remarried there (to widow Mary D’Evelin on August 14, 1788) and his days ended there. In …
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 …
