Friday, September 3, 2021

"Finding Benjamin Franklin in the archives & collections of the MHS"

"I grew up in Franklin, MA so I always knew the true legend about how in 1778, the town changed the name from Exeter to Franklin, in honor of Benjamin Franklin, in the hopes that he would donate a bell for the church. He never donated money, but sent books instead, which the town debated how to use. In the end, they formed a library where every member of the town could read equally.
This started the first public library in the United States. Those books still reside in the Franklin Public Library today. And I know that Benjamin Franklin spent time in Boston during his youth, but I had no idea how often his name would come up while searching the online collections of the MHS. I’d like to share with you a selection of my favorite items and stories I have come across about Benjamin Franklin."

Continue reading the article online at the MA Historical Society

Ben's books are indeed on display at the Library. Photos from the unveiling of the new case can be found online ->  https://photos.app.goo.gl/BuBL0ZVshZR0vxXP2

Those books still reside in the Franklin Public Library
"Those books still reside in the Franklin Public Library"

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