BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BIBLIOGRAPHY
Selections from the Collection of the State Library of Pennsylvania
Digitized Materials About Ben
BOOKS
Brands, H. W. The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin. New York: Doubleday, 2000.
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In the first comprehensive biography in 60 years, Brands brings to life one of the most delightful, bawdy, brilliant, original and important figures in American history.
Cohen, I. Bernard. Benjamin Franklin, Scientist and Statesman. New York: Scribner, 1975.
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Cohen explores Franklin’s life as a serious scientist.
Diller, Theodore. Franklin’s Contribution to Medicine, being a collection of letters written by Benjamin Franklin bearing on the science and art of medicine and exhibiting his social and professional intercourse with various physicians of Europe and America. Brooklyn: A. T. Huntington, 1912.
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Franklin’s writings on and contributions to medicine.
Isaacson, Walter. Benjamin Franklin: an American life. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2003.
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Isaacson’s biography demonstrates how Franklin invented and re-invented both himself and America.
Lemay, J. A. Leo, ed. Reappraising Benjamin Franklin: a Bicentennial Perspective. Newark: University of Delaware Press, 1993.
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Twenty-four essays by distinguished Franklinists.
McCormick, Blaine. Ben Franklin: America’s Original Entrepreneur. Irvine, CA: Entrepreneur Press, 2005.
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Franklin’s autobiography adapted for modern times.
Morgan, David T. The Devious Dr. Franklin, Colonial Agent: Benjamin Franklin’s Years in London. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press, 1996.
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Morgan discusses Franklin’s role as colonial agent to Great Britain.
Sandrich, Mark. Ben Franklin in Paris: Libretto. New York: Random House, 1965.
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Play/musical about Franklin’s time in Paris.
Schiffer, Michael B. Draw the Lightening Down: Benjamin Franklin and Electrical Technology in the Age of Enlightenment. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2003.
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Schiffer tells the story of the very beginnings of our modern electrical world. This book makes clear that Franklin played a major role in laying the foundation of modern electrical science.
Skemp, Sheila L. Benjamin and William Franklin: Father and Son, Patriot and Loyalist. Boston: Bedford Books, 1994.
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A biographical approach to the question of how and why the American colonists divided into opposing camps in the Revolutionary era.
Smith, William. Eulogium on Benjamin Franklin, L.L.D. President of the American Philosophical Society, held at Philadelphia, for Promoting Useful Knowledge, fellow of the Royal Society of London, member of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris, of the Royal Society at Gottingen, the Batavian Society in Holland, and of many other literary societies in Europe and America; Late Minister Plenipotentiary for the United States of America at the court of Paris, sometime president, and for more than half a century a revered citizen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Benjamin Franklin Bache, 1792.
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Microfiche. Eulogy delivered March 1, 1791 before the American Philosophical Society.
Waldstreicher, David. Runaway America: Benjamin Franklin, Slavery, and the American Revolution. New York: Hill and Wang, 2004.
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The politics of slavery during the American Revolution.
WEBSITES
The Electric Ben Franklin. 30 Dec. 2005. www.ushistory.org/franklin.
An excellent introduction to the life and work of Benjamin Franklin.
Benjamin Franklin. An Extraordinary Life. An Electric Mind. 30 Dec. 2005. www.pbs.org/benfranklin.
A companion website to the PBS documentary.
Benjamin Franklin. A Documentary History. 30 Dec. 2005. www.english.udel.edu/lemay/franklin.
Well documented chronology of Franklin’s life and achievements.
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. 30 Dec. 2005. www.earlyamerica.com/lives/franklin/index.html.
The e-text of Franklin’s autobiography.
Books by Ben
Compiled by Kathy Hale, Government Documents Librarian, State Library of Pennsylvania
Account books kept by Benjamin Franklin ... Notes by George Simpson Eddy. New York [Columbia University Press] 1928-
Forum - Rare Books 973.3 F854 1928
An account of the new invented Pennsylvanian fire-places: [microform]: wherein their construction and manner of operation is particularly explained; their advantages above every other method of warming rooms demonstrated; and all objections that have been raised against the use of them, answered and obviated. With directions for putting them up, and for using them to the best advantage. And a copper-plate, in which the several parts of the machine are exactly laid down, from a scale of equal parts. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin., 1744
Forum Room 102 - Main Closed Stacks Microfiche Evans 5395
Account with the "Lodge of Masons," 1731-1737, as found upon the pages of his daily journal. Read before the right worshipful Grand Lodge F. and A.M. of Pennsylvania at the annual grand communication held at Philadelphia, December 27, 1898 by Julius Friedrich Sachse. Philadelphia, Lippincott Press, 1899?]
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An address to the public from the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, and the Relief of Free Negroes, Unlawfully Held in Bondage. [microform]. Philadelphia: Printed by Francis Bailey, [1789]
Forum Room 102 - Main Closed Stacks Microfiche Evans 45559
Advertisement. Lancaster, April 26, 1755. [microform]: Whereas 150 waggons, with 4 horses to each waggon, and 1500 saddle or pack-horses are wanted for the service of his majesty’s forces now about to rendezvous at Will’s Creek; and his Excellency General Braddock hath been pleased to impower me to contract for the hire of the same ..., [Lancaster, Pa.? : Printed by William Dunlap?, 1755]
Forum Room 102 - Main Closed Stacks Microfiche Evans 7346
Advice to a young tradesman. [microform] / (Written by Benjamin Franklin, anno 1748.) Philadelphia: : Printed by Daniel Humphreys, at the new printing-office, in Spruce-Street, near the drawbridge., [1785?]
Forum Room 102 - Main Closed Stacks Microfiche Evans 44684
The Almanack of Poor Richard the Second, or, An astronomical museum, for the year of Our Lord, 1802 ... [microform] : calculated for the town of Boston ... : interspersed with much useful matter. Boston : Printed and sold by Andrew Newell, [1801]
Forum Room 102 - Main Closed Stacks Microfiche Shaw & Shoemaker no. 46.
The American medley of wit and entertainment, or, A selection of humorous, witty, singular, wonderful, droll, and interesting narraitives, [sic] stories, anecdotes, &c. [microform] : prose and verse : to which are added, a choice collection of approved songs ..., Philadelphia : s.n., 1809.
Forum Room 102 - Main Closed Stacks Microfiche Shaw & Shoemaker no. 16843a.
Arrangement of papers of Madison, Jefferson, Hamilton, Monroe, and Franklin; Miscellaneous index [microform]. Washington, D.C. : [s.n.], 1894, [Of manuscripts of Continental Congress]; Appendix, Documentary history of Constitution.
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Autobiography: The autobiography of Benjamin Franklin : a genetic text / edited by J. A. Leo Lemay and P. M. Zall. Knoxville : University of Tennessee Press, c1981.
Forum Room 102 - Main Closed Stacks Reference 973.3 F854Z F85a 1981
Autobiography: The autobiography of Benjamin Franklin; a restoration of a "fair copy" by Max Farrand. Pub. in cooperation with the Huntington Library, San Marino, Calif. Berkeley, Univ. of California Press, 1949.
Forum Room 102 - Main Closed Stacks 973.3 F854Z F85a 1949
Autobiography: Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Ed. from his manuscript, with notes and an introduction, by John Bigelow, Philadelphia, J.B. Lippincott & Co.; [etc., etc.] 1868.
Forum Room 102 - Main Closed Stacks Reference 973.3 F854Z F85a 1868
Autobiography: The autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, edited by Leonard W. Labaree [and others] New Haven, Yale University Press, 1964.
Forum Room 102 - Main Open Stacks 973.3 F854Z F85a 1964
The bagatelles from Passy. Text and facsimile. New York, Eakins Press [1967]. Written by [Franklin] ... in French and English and printed on his own press at Paris while he was America’s first Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of France."
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Ben Franklin laughing : anecdotes from original sources by and about Benjamin Franklin / edited with an introd. by P. M. Zall Berkeley : University of California Press, 1980
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Benjamin Franklin : a biography in his own words / edited by Thomas Fleming ; with an introd. by Whitfield J. Bell, Jr. ; Joan Paterson Kerr, picture editor. New York : Newsweek ; distributed by Harper & Row, c1972.
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Benjamin Franklin on education. Edited with an introduction and notes by John Hardin Best. New York, Bureau of Publications, Teachers College, Columbia University [1962].
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The Benjamin Franklin papers, by Frank Donovan. New York, Dodd, Mead [1962]
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A Benjamin Franklin reader, edited by Nathan G. Goodman; original drawings by Fritz Kredel, text illustrations by Rafael D. Palacios.
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Benjamin Franklin’s account books [kept by Benjamin Franklin] [microform] Wilmington, Del.: Scholarly Resources, 1977
Reel 1. Domestic accounts 1743-1787. Business Accounts 1730-1757 -- Reel 2. Business Accounts. 1748-1766. Post office books 1737-1767 -- Reel 3. Post office books, 1767-1768. London, 1757-76. Paris, 1777-78. Loan books 1776-1784. Misc. Accts. 1714-1874.
Forum Room 102 - Main Closed Stacks Microfilm 973.3 F854 1977
Benjamin Franklin’s autobiographical writings, selected and edited by Carl Van Doren.
New York, The Viking Press, 1945.
Forum Room 102 - Main Closed Stacks 973.3 F854Z F85a 1945
Benjamin Franklin’s Experiments; a new edition of Franklin’s Experiments and observations on electricity. Edited, with a critical and historical introduction, by I. Bernard Cohen. Cambridge, Mass., Harvard University Press, 1941.
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Benjamin Franklin’s own story; his Autobiography continued from 1759 to his death in 1790, with a biographical sketch drawn from his writings, by Nathan G. Goodman. Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Press, 1937.
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Bericht fu¨r diejenigen weiche nach Nord-Amerika sich begeben, und alldort ansiedein wollen. Aus dem Englischen ... Hamburg, Johann Nicolaus Albers, 1786
Forum - Rare Books 917.3 F854i 1786
A bird in the hand; sayings from Poor Richard’s almanack, by the wise American, Benjamin Franklin Pictured by Maud and Miska Petersham, [New York] Macmillan [c1951].
Forum Room 102 - Main Closed Stacks 818 F854p 1951
Boston, April 7, 1783. [microform] : By the ship Astrea, Captain John Derby, who arrived at Salem, last Friday, in twenty-two days from France, we have received a printed copy of a declaration of the American ministers, asl follows: By the ministers plenipotentiary of the United States of America, for making peace with Great-Britain. A declaration of a cessation of arms, as well by sea as land, agreed upon between His Majesty the King of Great-Britain and the United States of America. [Boston] : Sold at E. Russell’s office, near Liberty-Stump., [1783] Signed: Given at Paris the twentieth day of February, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three. John Adams, (L.S) B. Franklin, (L.S.) John Jay, (L.S.).
Forum Room 102 - Main Closed Stacks Microfiche Evans 17851
A catalogue of books belonging to the Library Company of Philadelphia. [microform] : [One line of quotation in Latin] Philadelphia: : Printed by B. Franklin,, 1741.
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A catalogue of choice and valuable books, [microform] : consisting of near 600 volumes, in most faculties and sciences, viz. divinity, history, law, mathematics, philosophy, physic, poetry, &c. Which will begin to be sold for ready money, only, by Benj. Franklin, at the Post-Office in Philadelphia, on Wednesday, the 11th of April 1744. at nine a clock in the morning ... [Philadelphia : Printed by Benjamin Franklin, 1744]
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The causes of the present distractions in America explained: [microform] : in two letters to a merchant in London. / By F--. B--.[New York?] : Printed [by James Rivington?], in the year 1774 Advertised as "just published" in Rivington’s New York gazette, Nov. 17, 1774, where it is suggested that the author might be either Sir Francis Bernard or Benjamin Franklin. Although it has commonly been attributed to Bernard, it is attributed to Franklin in Crane, Verner W. "Certain writings of Benjamin Franklin ..." Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America 28 (1934): 13-15.
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Chess made easy : new and comprehensive rules for playing the game of chess : with examples from Philidor, Cunningham, &c. &c. : to which is prefixed a pleasing account of its origin : some interesting anecdotes of several exalted personages who have been admirers of it. And, The morals of chess / written by the ingenious and learned Dr. Franklin [microform]. Philadelphia : Printed and sold by James Humphreys, 1802.
Forum Room 102 - Main Closed Stacks Microfiche Shaw & Shoemaker no. 2025
The chronicle of the kings of England, [microform] : from the reign of William the Conqueror, (first King of England) down to His present Majesty George the Third: containing a true history of their lives, and the character which they severally sustained, whether in church or state, in the field, or in private life. / By the late Dr. Franklin. Litchfield [Conn.]: : Re-printed by Thomas Collier,, 1791.
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A collection of the familiar letters and miscellaneous papers of Benjamin Franklin; now for the first time published. Boston, C. Bowen, 1833
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The complete Poor Richard almanacks published by Benjamin Franklin. Reproduced in facsim., with an introd. by Whitfield J. Bell, Jr. Barre, Mass., Imprint Society, 1970.
Forum - Rare Books 093 P. F854c 1732
The complete works of Benjamin Franklin; including his private as well as his official and scientific correspondence, and numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed, with many others not included in any former collection, also, the unmutilated and correct version of his autobiography. Comp. and ed. by John Bigelow New York and London, G. P. Putnam’s sons, 1887-88.
Forum Room 102 - Main Closed Stacks 973.3 F854 1887
Constitutions of the publick academy, in the city of Philadelphia. [microform] [Philadelphia : Printed by Benjamin Franklin, 1749] "These constitutions drawn up by Franklin and Attorney General Tench Francis at the request of the first Board of Trustees formed the government for operating the newly established academy and charity school in Philadelphia, proposed and nurtured by B[enjamin] F[ranklin], and finally opened to students on Jan. 7, 1751."--Miller.
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Continuation of the account of the Pennsylvania Hospital; from the first of May 1754, to the fifth of May 1761. [microform] : With an alphabetical list of the contributors, and of the legacies which have been bequeathed, for promotion and support thereof, from its first rise to that time. : [Eleven lines of Scripture texts] Philadelphia: : Printed by B. Franklin, and D. Hall., MDCCLXI. [1761] Issued as a continuation of: Franklin, Benjamin. Some account of the Pennsylvania Hospital ... Philadelphia: Franklin and Hall, 1754 (Evans 7197).
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Cool thoughts on the present situation of our public affairs. In a letter to a friend in the country Philadelphia, Pirnted [!] by W. Dunlap, 1764
Forum - Rare Books 093 P. D92 1764
Declaration of the American Ministers. [microform] : Providence, April 7, 1783. By a gentleman who came to town last evening from Boston, we have received a handbill printed at Salem on Saturday last, of which the following is a copy. Salem, April 5. By the ship Astrea, Capt. John Derby, we have received a printed copy of a declaration of the American Ministers, as follows: By the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, for making peace with Great Britain. A declaration of the cessation of arms …Providence: : Printed by John Carter., [1783]
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The deed of settlement of the society for insuring of houses, in and near Philadelphia. [microform] [Philadelphia : Printed by Benjamin Franklin and David Hall, 1751]
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A defence of the Rev. Mr. Hemphill’s observations: or, An answer to the vindication of the reverend Commission. [microform] : [Eleven lines of quotations] Philadelphia: : Printed and sold by B. Franklin at the new printing-office near the market., 1735
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Directions to the deputy post-masters, for keeping their accounts. [microform] [Philadelphia? : Printed by Benjamin Franklin and David Hall?, 1753?] Signed at end: B. Franklin Imprint suggested by Bristol. Miller suggests a slightly later date of publication and the possibility that it was printed by William Hunter at Williamsburg. Evans supplies [Philadelphia : Printed by John Dunlap, 1775].
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Educational views of Benjamin Franklin, edited by Thomas Woody. New York and London, McGraw-Hill book company, 1931.
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The essays, humorous, moral and literary of the late Dr. Benjamin Franklin [microform]. Boston : John West and Co., 1811 (Boston : E.G. House)
Forum Room 102 - Main Closed Stacks Microfiche Shaw & Shoemaker no. 22847.
The examination of Doctor Benjamin Franklin, before an august assembly, relating to the repeal of the stamp-act, &c. [microform] [Boston? : Re-printed by Edes and Gill?, 1766?]
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