​
Benjamin Franklin and the American People
A Program Sponsored by the  National Endowment for the Humanities Landmarks Program.
Benjamin Franklin’s life, ideas, and legacy offer an outstanding lens through which to view early American history and culture. During his long life (1706-1790), Benjamin Franklin was a writer, inventor, community leader, scholar, revolutionary, diplomat, and lawmaker. His words gave meaning to the lives of colonists who were becoming Americans. His inventions reflected the ideas and needs of his fellow citizens. His actions ensured the development of colonial society, the creation of the American republic, and its security under the Constitution.

This website has two goals. First, it will provide up-to-date information and ideas about Benjamin Franklin and his era for educators and students of all ages. Second, it will include all information for K-12 teachers interested in attending one of our future workshops to be held in Philadelphia’s Historic Area.

More information to follow.

George W. Boudreau, Ph.D.
Project Director
Workshop Overview
Introduction
Benjamin Franklin’s Life, ideas, and legacy offer an outstanding lens through which to view early American history and culture. During his long life, Franklin was a writer, inventor, community leader, scholar, revolutionary, diplomat, and lawmaker. His words gave meaning to the lives of the American colonists. His inventions reflected the ideas and needs of his fellow citizens. His actions ensured the development of colonial society, the creation of the American republic, and its security under the Constitution.

Philadelphia is rich in resources that will allow Summer Scholars to improve their understanding of eighteenth-century America, acquire materials that will benefit their classroom teaching, and take those materials into their students’ experiences.

During the workshop, teachers will have the opportunity to visit some of America’s outstanding libraries, including the Library Company of Philadelphia (founded by Franklin in 1731), the American Philosophical Library (founded by Franklin in 1743), The Historical Society of Pennsylvania (which holds one of the largest collections of early American materials in the nation), and the rare book room of University of Pennsylvania (founded by Franklin in 1749). Teachers will study original letters, publications, maps, prints, books, and other resources.

Fully believing that material culture is also a text that is essential to studying this era, Summer Scholars will also view museum installations, historic houses and other buildings, archaeological artifacts, and a cityscape that was laid out in 1682, that remains largely in place as it was when seventeen-year old Benjamin Franklin first walked its streets in October 1723.
Read More

Images of Franklin

No commoner in the eighteenth century posed for as many portraits as Benjamin Franklin, a noted art historian once observed. Indeed, the numerous painted, sketched, and printed images that Benjamin Franklin posed for offer rich insights into 18th century America and its change as a growing nation.

Franklin is well known as a man of unlimited talent—and his many portraits portray nothing less. The ambitious printer and publisher shown in Robert Feke’s 1746 portrait gives way to the man of science in David Martin’s 1766 London painting. Franklin carefully selected his simple clothing and wise, philosophical air in the images that artists captured during the revolutionary era. Finally, we see Franklin after he returned to the United States of America as the founding father, the sage, the man of ideas.

We are deeply grateful to the American Philosophical Society for their willingness to allow us to include their unparalleled collection of Franklin images for our website. Be sure to visit their databases to view the many images of Dr. Benjamin Franklin.

Sites of Interest

Franklin 300 Image Database – a collection of over 300 objects closely related to Franklin

Franklin and His Friends – “Portraying the man of science in 18th century America”

Places Ben Knew

Visiting historic sites is an outstanding way to gain an understanding of the past. History comes alive when we step through the doorways of ancient buildings, allowing us to see the spaces of those who once lived and experience the locales of events that once happened. Philadelphia has an amazing history and a rich heritage of preserving early American buildings. Over 2,000 18th century buildings stand in the greater Philadelphia area. Dozens of them are open to the public on a regular basis, allowing us to encounter the past.

While the only Franklin home to survive is located in London, many Philadelphia buildings continue to breathe his legacy. Franklin noted in his Autobiography, Philadelphia’s streets influenced his life from the first moment he walked on them on the Sunday morning of October 6, 1723. Even today, teachers and students alike find a vibrant link to the past by following in Franklin’s footsteps.

Sites of Interest

Elfreth’s Alley – “Our nation’s oldest residential street”

The Library Company of Philadelphia – founded by Franklin and featuring an extensive collection of rare books, manuscripts, art and more

Independence National Historical Park – home of the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and more

Benjamin Franklin House London – Franklin’s only surviving home; London, England

Stenton – of the earliest historic houses in Philadelphia

Graeme Park – 42 acre historic park in Horsham, PA

Powel House – 18th century townhouse of Philadelphia’s “Patriot Mayor” Samuel Powel





Benjamin Franklin
January 17, 1706-April 17, 1790
​​Benjamin Franklin witnessed many of the most significant changes in modern history during his long life. Born in Puritan Boston just a few years after the Salem Witchcraft Trials, he lived to be one of the leading figures in the worldwide Enlightenment.

A loyal patriot to the English monarchy in his youth, he became a leader in the revolution that separated America’s ties with his once-beloved England. Society, politics, culture, science: each changed during Franklin’s life, and each influenced and was influenced by his life and work.

Sites of Interest
Words by Ben​
Benjamin Franklin’s words gave meaning to the lives of early American colonists. Through his popular Poor Richard’s Almanack and Pennsylvania Gazette newspaper, Franklin gave voice to the lives of the people who lived around him. Those publications, as well as his many pamphlets, essays, and other writings, provided Franklin with a pulpit to spread his own ideas about politics, society, civic engagement, and natural science. Many of those ideas culminated with his posthumous autobiography.

Sites of Interest
The Papers of Benjamin Franklin – an extensive collection of writings by Benjamin Franklin from his record of birth to posthumous autobiography