Apology For Printers
The Washington Post has an interesting take on Franklin’s Apology for Printers.
Kite Experiment Coverage
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.
Bumping Into Benjamin Franklin on The West Wing
I am slowly binge-watching episodes of West Wing and notice in Season 6, Episode 20, “In God We Trust” that Franklin shows up in the decorations of people in both parties. It’s a nice compliment that the set designers imagine both these classy characters would want Franklin’s image nearby. The Senate office of Republican Senator …
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Resting and Fasting
This article from Dubai credits Dr. Franklin with The best of all medicines are resting and fasting. Best of Ramadan wishes to all, but I don’t recognize that as a Franklin line: the only fasting I recall from Franklin was in connection with vegetarianism – that he has since occasionally abstained from eating meat – …
Newport, Rhode Island: The Grave of Ann Franklin
There are wonderful pictures of the grave of Benjamin’s sister-in-law on the Atlas Obscura website I’m personally a big fan of FindAGrave, but this can’t be beat. Congratulations, and thanks!
World’s Fair of Money
An attractive lecture series coming up in Philadelphia on August 15th, 2018: Sundman Luncheon To highlight the Founding Father’s role in shaping U.S. money, the 2018 theme for the Sundman Lecture Series is “Fugio to Franklins: The Influence of Poor Richard”. Enjoy lunch with this year’s lecturers at a catered, gourmet luncheon from 12:15-1:45 p.m. …
Epitaph for a Printer – The New Colophon
The Papers cites an article in the New Colophon, A Book-Collectors Miscellany published in 1950: “For an exhaustive discussion of the sources, variations, and sequels of the Epitaph, see L. H. Butterfield, “B. Franklin’s Epitaph,” New Colophon, III (1950), 9–30, where eleven variants are considered. ” This New Colophon article is beautifully available online from …
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Three-Wheeled Clock
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, …
Franklin as Philanthropist
This article by the Smithsonian includes images of several nice objects.
Benjamin Lay, Abolitionist
This informative page by BBC News is a valuable introduction to Benjamin Lay. May 2018 article in the Washington Post: The Quaker abolitionist disowned by his faith for condemning slave owners.