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.
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.