{General Interest}  {Primary Sources}  {For Educators}

Benjamin Franklin: In His Own Words

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/franklin-home.html.

Produced by the Library of Congress, this website is an online version of an exhibition focusing on Franklin's achievements as a printer and writer, an inventor and scientist, and, particularly, as a politician and statesman.

Benjamin Franklin: An Extraordinary Life. An Electric Mind

(Twin Cities Public Television, Inc. 2002)

http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/index.html.

This PBS website derives from a three-part series on Benjamin Franklin’s life and work. Learn more about Franklin in his roles as exemplary citizen, prolific writer, eminent scientist, and worldly diplomat. Experience his most memorable accomplishmentsby making electric sparks, strolling down the streets of “Ben’s Town,” andsailing across the Atlantic. With lesson plans for teachers, an interactivetimeline, and a long list of resources, this site has something for all of Franklin’s admirers.

Penn in the Age of Franklin: 1740-1790

http://sceti.library.upenn.edu/franklin

This site, created by the library and archives of the University of Pennsylvania, traces the relationship between Franklin and the university he founded, against the background of the creation of both a new republic and of higher education in America. Experience the past directly, with original documents and manuscripts such as letters fromFranklin or an issue of Poor Richard’s Almanack. To provide context for these original documents, Penn in the Age of Franklin also includes a timeline for Penn from its beginnings (1740) until Franklin's death (1790), essays by Penn faculty and students and by Library and Archives staff, and digital images.

Benjamin Franklin: A Documentary History

(J.A. Leo Lemay, University of Delaware, 1997)

http://www.english.udel.edu/lemay/franklin

This site, created by Benjamin Franklin scholar J.A. Leo Lemay, initially was compiled as a resource for a biography of Franklin. It offers an all-comprehensive chronology of Franklin’s deeds and writings, largely drawn from the Papers of Benjamin Franklin published by Yale University Press. Additionally, the site includes contextual information telling of events impacting Franklin’s immediate world, accounts of his participation in various assemblies, and references made to him in letters and in newspapers.

Benjamin Franklin: Glimpses of the Man

(The Franklin Institute Science Museum with support from Unisys Corporation. 1994)

http://sln.fi.edu/franklin/rotten.html

Just what made Benjamin Franklin so fascinating a man and so famous an American? Here you get a glimpse of his complex personality, his many achievements, and his influence in the world today. You can even learn to do his scientific experiments at home and play a virtual glass armonica. Before you go, be sure to check out the Franklin Family Tree to see if you—or anyone you know—can trace your roots back to Benjamin Franklin.

The Electric Ben Franklin

(Independence Hall Association. ushistory.org. 1999-2005)

http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/index.htm

“Who was Benjamin Franklin and what did he do?” The Electric Ben Franklin appreciates the many sides and trades of Franklin while seeking out the common bond that links them all. A unique feature of the site is Temple’s Diary, a fictional account of the adventures of Benjamin Franklin’s fifteen-year-old grandson, William Temple Franklin, written by Franklin scholar Claude-Anne Lopez. Explore Franklin’s Philadelphia, learn to perform his scientific experiments at home, peruse his famous sayings, and read scholarly articles about him. Benjamin Franklin himself would be proud of this electrifying site!

Revolutionary Players

http://www.revolutionaryplayers.org.uk/

This British web site focuses on the history of the Industrial Revolution in the West between the years 1700 and 1830, and contains extensive primary and secondary resources on several important philosophers, inventors, and early industrialists, including essays on their relationship to Franklin. Materials from libraries, museums, and archives allows visitors to explore the lives of Joseph Priestley, Erasmus Darwin, and John Baskerville, among others – friends of Franklin, with whom he visited and corresponded for much of his adult life.

Benjamin Franklin in London

http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/page.asp?tip=1&id=4873#a1

The Royal Society's web site contains the panel text of their 2006 exhibition, Benjamin Franklin In London, which analizes Franklin from the perspective of his reports to the Royal Society and his correspondence with the Society's Fellows, among them such notable scientists as Joseph Banks, John Pringle, and Joseph Priestley. Four sections-A modern Prometheus; A magic circle, 1753-1762; Lightning strikes, 1764-1775; and A friend to Mankind 1775-1785-detail Franklin's scientific pursuits, from electricity to hot-air balloons.

Daylight Saving Time: Benjamin Franklin Excerpts and commentary on the essay in Journal de Paris , on April 26, 1784

(Institute for Dynamic Educational Advancement. Daylight Saving Time.)

http://webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/franklin.html

Most people know that Franklin’s legendary kite and key experiment proved that lightning was electrical in nature, but few know that Franklin invented many mechanisms and concepts that we still use today. Visit this site to read how Franklin first conceived the idea of daylight savings time, as written in his letter to the Journal de Paris in 1784.

Franklin Court Kid’s Corner

(Museum Technology Class of the University of Delaware. National Park Service: Independence National Historic Park)

http://www.nps.gov/inde/Franklin_Court/Pages/kids.html

How would you like to live with Benjamin Franklin and his family? Visit this website and discover life at Franklin Court! Learn how the world-famous Franklin related with his family, meet his wife Deborah and daughter Sally, and take a look at some objects that they used. Don’t forget to test your knowledge with the word find and crossword puzzle before you go—Franklin himself would applaud your enthusiasm!

Poor Richard’s Energy Almanac

(California Energy Commission. Energy Quest. 2004)

http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/library/ben/index.html

In the eighteenth century, Benjamin Franklin taught the world about electric energy, how it works, and how we can use it. Who better to teach us about energy conservation in today’s world? Learn about the importance of saving energy and find out how you can do it in your home, school, and town.

Benjamin Franklin House

http://www.benjaminfranklinhouse.org

This site is the homepage of the Benjamin Franklin House at 36 Craven Street, London – the world's only remaining Franklin home. For nearly sixteen years between 1757 and 1775, Dr Benjamin Franklin lived behind its doors, and this site tells that story. It also contains information for visitors to the Benjamin Franklin House’s museum and educational facilities.

Benjamin Franklin’s Mathematics

http://pasles.org/Franklin/index.html

Paul Pasles, Professor of Mathematical Sciences at Villanova University, introduces visitors to his site to regular magic squares, and then gives a taste of the twist that Franklin put on them. The site contains links to his many articles and lectures on the subject.

Antique Spectacles

http://www.antiquespectacles.com

An online museum of vision aids, created and maintained by Dr. David Fleishman. This site sets Franklin’s invention of the split-lens bifocals in the context of eyeglasses through the ages.

The Bakken Library andMuseum

http://www.thebakken.org

The Bakken’s mission is to further the understanding of the history, cultural context, and applications of electricity and magnetism and their role in life. Its website contains online exhibitions and conference abstracts, a description of a modern-day lightning detector, visitor information, and a wonderfully clear explanation of the science behind Franklin’s famous kite and key experiment.

What better way to learn about Benjamin Franklin than to hear from the man himself? Franklin wrote avidly throughout his life. His Autobiography , though never finished, remains the most widely read memoir of all time. He also penned essays for newspapers, letters to family and friends, and his infamous Poor Richard’s aphorisms. The websites listed below contain primary source documents that are required reading for Franklin scholars of all levels.

Autobiography

http://www.earlyamerica.com/lives/franklin/

(Archiving Early America. Archiving Early America)

Full-text of Franklin’s Autobiography , divided into fourteen chapters and including facsimile of the title page from the first edition.

http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/B/bfranklin/franktxt.htm

(Arts Faculty of Gronigen University. From Revolution to Reconstruction…and What Happened Afterwards 2004)

Full-text of Franklin’s Autobiography in a single file (html format), adapted from the printed version edited by Charles W. Eliot, L.L.D. (New York: P.F. Collier and Son Company, 1909)

http://eserver.org/books/franklin/default.html

(Iowa State University. EServer . 1990)

Full-text of Franklin’s Autobiography , divided into eight parts and including Charles W. Eliot’s introduction to the 1909 edition, a timeline of events in Franklin’s life, and a list of web resources.

Essays, Letters, and Other Writings

The Franklin Papers

Sponsored by the American Philosophical Society and Yale University, this site contains the most extensive collection of materials by, about, and around Franklin and his times to be found in a single collection anywhere in the world.

http://www.franklinpapers.org/

Benjamin Franklin on an Early Marriage (Letter from Benjamin Franklin to John Alleyne, Esquire, October 30, 1789)

(Archiving Early America. Archiving Early America)

http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/bookmarks/franklin/frnktext.html

Journal of a Voyage (1726) and How I Became a Printer in Philadelphia

http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/B/bfranklin/frankxx.htm

Founding Documents Franklin Signed

Yale University. The Avalon Project at Yale Law School

Albany Plan of Union, 1754

http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/amerdoc/albany

Declaration of Independence: July 4, 1776

http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/declare.htm

Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the United States and France: February 6, 1778

http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/diplomacy/france/fr1788-1.htm

Treaty of Alliance between the United States and France: February 6, 1778

http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/diplomacy/france/fr1788-2.htm

Articles of Confederation, March 1, 1781

http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/artconf.htm

Constitution of the United States, 1787

http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/usconst.htm

These sites contain lesson plans, links to other resources online and in print, and an array of tools for teachers aiming to bring Benjamin Franklin into the classroom.

Teacher’s Guide from the PBS series Benjamin Franklin

(Twin Cities Public Television, Inc. 2002)

http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/teachersguide.html

Eight lesson plans encourage students to explore Franklin’s various qualities and accomplishments. Activities cover various subject areas and can be adapted to any grade level or classroom need. All involve use of multimedia and computers.

Will the Real Ben Franklin Please Stand Up?

(Educational Broadcasting Corporation. thirteen Ed online. 2005)

http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/lessons/ben_franklin/b.html

A creative way to discuss Franklin’s various roles in Colonial America. Includes lists of websites, primary sources, and secondary sources for preparing the lesson and ways to extend the lesson into contemporary times and across different curricula.

Gulf Stream Voyage

http://www.k12science.org/curriculum/gulfstream/index.shtml

(The Stevens Institute of Technology. The Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education. CIESE . 2004)

A project designed to teach the science and history of the Gulf Stream. Contains activities for various subjects, including the natural sciences, social sciences, and language arts.

Benjamin Franklin Lesson Plans and Teaching Ideas

(Web English Teacher. Web English Teacher. 2005)

http://www.webenglishteacher.com/franklin.html

A list of resources for teaching Benjamin Franklin with a literary flair. Includes links to e-texts of Franklin’s Autobiography, as well as reading comprehension, vocabulary enrichment, and discussion activities for his writings.

Static Electricity: Making an Electrophorus and a Leyden Jar

(Ellen Kuhfeld and Alice Schroeder. Big Washu’s Lab of Arcane Knowledge . 1990)

http://washuu.net/static.htm

Illustrated instructions for constructing two scientific instruments Franklin used in his experiments on electricity.

On the Shoulders of Giants: Benjamin Franklin

(NASA. Earth Observatory)

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Library/Giants/Franklin

Calls attention to Franklin’s contributions to Earth science, especially his climate studies. Discusses his observations of deforestation, the Gulf Stream, and volcanic eruptions.

Benjamin Franklin: A Man of Many Talents from Time for Kids Biographies

http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/specials/articles/0,6709,1076243,00.html

Contains a downloadable teacher’s guide and reproducible worksheet for students. Students can use the site to learn interesting facts about Benjamin Franklin, test their knowledge of him with an interactive quiz, and meet Benjamin Franklin scholar Walter Isaacson.

Benjamin Franklin: A Man of Many Talents

http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/franklin/franklin.htm

A website created by an elementary school teacher and her class for the Franklin Institute. Useful and fun components include: timelines, quizzes, try-it-yourself science experiments, exercises on Franklin’s sayings, and links to other resources online, in print, and on video. (Grades K-5)

Ben Franklin Timeline Lesson Plan

(Discovery Education. discoveryschool.com 2005)

http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/benfranklintimeline

An adaptable lesson plan designed to learn about Franklin’s life and contributions to the United States. (Grades K-5)

Ben Franklin U.S. History/Literature Lesson Plan

(Discovery Education. discoveryschool.com 2005)

http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/realbenfranklin

Students learn to interpret Franklin’s wit and wisdom by paraphrasing his aphorisms. Lesson extensions challenge students to think deeply about the historical context of his writing and its pertinence to the present-day. (Grades 6-8)

Benjamin Franklin Video Lesson Plans

(C-Span. American Writers)

http://www.americanwriters.org/classroom/videolesson/franklin_vlp.asp

Video clips and questions in conjunction with the C-Span American Writers program featuring Franklin and his Autobiography. Choose from three themes: inventions, printing, and diplomacy. (Adaptable for all grade levels)

Lesson Plan on Benjamin Franklin’s Inventions

(Christine Emolo. Adprimia. March 24, 2003)

http://www.adprima.com/social24.htm

Helps students understand the place of Franklin’s inventions in today’s world and the world Franklin inhabited when he invented them. (Grade 5)