Brochure 6 10/4/07 4:53 PM Page 1

BACK COVER FRONT COVER

EXHIBIT SITES Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World

Being ignorant is not so much a Shame,

as being unwilling to learn.—Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1755
Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World is being
displayed at 40 libraries throughout the United States. For a
schedule of exhibition locations and display times, please visit
D I P LOM AT
B enjamin Franklin was one of the most remarkable and

influential Americans of any generation. In his own time, he stood

SCIENTIST out in the distinguished company of George Washington, John
http://www.ala.org/publicprograms; contact the American
Library Association Public Programs Office, 50 E. Huron St., P H I LO S O P H E R Adams, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson as a wise and
Chicago, IL 60611; or call 1-800-545-2433, ext. 5045.
PHILANTHROPIST pragmatic leader during America’s move towards independence.
Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World is a national
Franklin was a diplomat, scientist, philosopher, philanthropist,
traveling exhibition for libraries organized by the Benjamin HUMORIST
Franklin Tercentenary and the American Library Association humorist and entrepreneur who left us with an astounding array
Public Programs Office. It is based on a major exhibition of the ENTREPRENEUR
of achievements and writings through which we can come to know
same name mounted by the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary to
commemorate the 300th anniversary of Franklin’s birth. The him better. His life was filled with many successes and some setbacks,
A Traveling Exhibition to America’s Libraries
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary is a nonprofit organization but he undertook everything he did in order to be useful to himself
supported by a major grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts.
and to society. In a letter to his mother, he once declared, “I would
To learn more about the Tercentenary exhibition, please visit
http://www.benfranklin300.org/ rather have it said, ‘He lived usefully,’ than, ‘He died rich.’ ”

The traveling exhibition for libraries has been made

Portrait of Benjamin Franklin, 1787
possible by a major grant from the National Endowment Charles Willson Peale
for the Humanities: great ideas brought to life. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia,
bequest of Mrs. Sarah Harrison (The Joseph Harrison, Jr. Collection)
Photo courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed
in this brochure do not necessarily reflect those of the National
The Pennsylvania Gazette, no. 422, Endowment for the Humanities.
January 6-13, 1736/37
Philadelphia: Benjamin Franklin, 1736/37
Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Curators: Rosalind Remer, Ph.D., and Page Talbott, Ph.D.,
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Photo by Peter Harholdt Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary, Philadelphia, PA

FRONT COVER Design: Chester Design Associates, Chicago, IL

Bifocals Constitution of the United States
Design suggested by Benjamin Franklin
Frankliniana Collection
[Philadelphia: Dunlap and Claypoole, 1787]
Printed, with Benjamin Franklin’s
Tour Coordination: American Library Association
The Franklin Institute Inc., Philadelphia handwritten annotations
American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia
Public Programs Office, Chicago, IL
Seal of the Library Company, 1731–1733
Owned by Benjamin Franklin
Philip Syng, Jr.
Photo by Frank Margeson
Library Company of Philadelphia
Photo by Peter Harholdt “Electrical battery” of Leyden jars, 1760–1769
American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia
Glass Armonica (English), 1761–1762
Owned by Benjamin Franklin
Built by Charles James; owned by Benjamin Franklin
Photo by Peter Harholdt
The Frankliniana Collection,
The Franklin Institute, Inc., Philadelphia Benjamin Franklin, 1777
Descended in the family of William Bache Engraving by Augustin de Saint-Aubin after
Photo by Peter Harholdt Charles-Nicholas Cochin
Collection of Stuart E. Karu
Photo by Peter Harholdt
Poor Richard, 1733
Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin, [1732]
Rosenbach Museum & Library, Philadelphia
Photo by Peter Harholdt
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E A R LY Y E A R S A L I F E O F S E RV I C E A N D S T U DY S TAT E S M A N A N D PAT R I O T R E L AT E D R E A D I N G S

Throughout his life, Benjamin Franklin believed that overcoming Brands, H.W. The First American: The Life and Times of
Form of the Pages society’s challenges required mutual action, collaboration and Benjamin Franklin. (New York: Doubleday, 2000).
T E M PE R A N C E generosity on the part of all citizens. He organized the Junto, a
Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.
Eat not to Dulness. group of Philadelphia tradesmen committed to improving
Drink not to Elevation. Various publishers and dates.
themselves through service to mankind. With their help, Franklin
S M T W T F S Franklin, Benjamin. Franklin: Writings, edited by J.A. Leo
embarked upon public projects which benefited all citizens and
T served as models for other American colonies. In 1731, the Junto Lemay. (New York: The Library of America, 1987).
S
•• • • • started the Library Company of Philadelphia, and five years later, Isaacson, Walter. Benjamin Franklin: An American Life.
O
• • • • • • the Union Fire Company, the first firefighting brigade in the
•
(New York: Simon and Schuster, 2003).
R
• city. Franklin and his fellow Junto members also founded the
F
• • Pennsylvania Hospital, a fire insurance company and an educational Declaration of Independence, June 1776 Lopez, Claude-Anne. My Life with Benjamin Franklin.
I
S
• academy which became the University of Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia: John Dunlap, 1776
American Philosophical Society,
Philadelphia
(New Haven: Yale University Press, 2000).

J Morgan, Edmund S. Benjamin Franklin.

Franklin’s interest in science and in practical solutions to problems
M (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2002).
spurred him to develop many useful devices, among them bifocals,
CL swimming fins, the Pennsylvanian Fireplace, also known as the Talbott, Page, ed. Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World.
The latter part of Benjamin Franklin’s life was devoted to
T Franklin stove, and a new musical instrument, the glass armonica. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2005).
diplomacy and to negotiations which helped to shape the future of
CH He is perhaps best known for his study of electricity, which included the United States of America. He first rose to political prominence
H the legendary experiment with a kite and a key during a lightning as a member, and later, Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly. ON THE WEB
Chart of Virtues for “Temperance”
based on an illustration from Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography storm. Appointed postmaster of Philadelphia in 1737 and deputy Although Franklin was critical of British policies toward America,
http://www.benfranklin300.org
postmaster general of North America in 1753, Franklin plotted the he wanted to avoid war with England. But he became a powerful
The web site of the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary.
best postal routes and set up new post offices to expedite mail force in the fight for independence when he realized conflict was
Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston in 1706 into a Puritan delivery, even in the backcountry of America. http://www.franklinpapers.org/franklin/
inevitable, and he forged an alliance with France which was crucial
family accustomed to hard work, thriftiness and self-discipline. The Papers of Benjamin Franklin.
in winning the Revolutionary War.
Although he attended school for only two years, the young
Franklin read extensively and worked hard to perfect his writing Franklin was the only person to have signed five of America’s key http://www.librarycompany.org/BFWriter/
style, often imitating the essays of renowned authors. At age 12, he founding documents: the Albany Plan of Union (1754), the The Library Company of Philadelphia online exhibition,
Odometer or Wayweiser (American or French), ca. 1763
was apprenticed to his brother James, a printer, and began The Frankliniana Collection,
Declaration of Independence (1776), The Treaties of Amity and “Benjamin Franklin: Writer and Printer.”
The Franklin Institute, Inc., Philadelphia
working in the trade that would later bring him great success. Owned by Benjamin Franklin
Commerce with France (1778), The Treaty of Paris (1783) and the http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/franklin-home.html
Photo by Peter Harholdt
Intellectually precocious, Franklin was penning satirical essays for U.S. Constitution (1787). Three years before his death, Franklin The Library of Congress exhibition,
submission to his brother’s newspaper, the New-England Courant, became at age 81 the oldest member of the Constitutional “Benjamin Franklin in His Own Words.”
at the age of 16. Convention. In poor health, he nonetheless played a significant
role in the “Great Compromise,” which resulted in the legislature
Franklin left Boston in 1723 and eventually settled in Philadelphia.
of two houses which is today the United States Congress. His last
Over the next 25 years, with the help of his wife, Deborah, he
years were spent in writing his autobiography, which he did not Portrait bust of Benjamin Franklin, 1779
established a flourishing printing and stationery business and Jean Antoine Houdon
complete, and in promoting the abolition of slavery. Philadelphia Museum of Art:
published The Pennsylvania Gazette and the renowned Poor Richard’s Purchased with a generous grant from the Barra Foundation, Inc.,
matched by contributions from the Henry P. McIlhenny Fund

Almanack. A sociable, witty and curious man, he built a large Franklin biographer Walter Isaacson has written, “Franklin has a in memory of Frances P. McIlhenny, the Walter E. Stait Fund,
the Fiske Kimball Fund, and with funds contributed by

network of friends and business connections in Philadelphia and particular resonance in twenty-first century America….we would Mr. and Mrs. Jack M. Friedland, Hannah L. and J. Welles Henderson,
Mr. and Mrs. E. Newbold Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Mark E.Rubenstein,
Mr. and Mrs. John J. F. Sherrerd, The Women’s Committee of the
beyond, and became a leading citizen, but he was always proud of relate to the way he tried to balance, sometimes uneasily, a pursuit Philadelphia Museum of Art, Marguerite and Gerry Lenfest,
Leslie A. Miller and Richard B. Worley, Mr. and Mrs. John A. Nyheim,

his roots as a tradesman and printer. of reputation, wealth, earthly virtues, and spiritual values.” Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Fox, Stephanie S. Eglin, Maude de Schauensee,
Mr. and Mrs.William T. Vogt, and with funds contributed by individual
donors to the Fund for Franklin, 1996

Photo by Graydon Wood