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Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World Exhibit & Events
A Special Invitation
A national traveling exhibition celebrating one of America’s most beloved personalities is coming to Providence and we’d like to invite you to visit.
VIDEO: Ben Franklin Visits PPL ~ Opening Day Events
featuring Gordon Wood and Bill Ochester as Ben Franklin
Kite Exhibit to Complement Ben Franklin Exhibition
Book Discussion/Signing - The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin, by Gordon Wood
Monday, May 19
Links to related resources
Drive Thru History America video about Ben Franklin
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary - Education Guides and Materials
Benjamin Franklin: An Extraordinary Life, An Electric Mind. PBS Documentary Website
The Charters of Freedom: A New World is At Hand. The National Archives Website
The Library Company of Philadelphia Founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1731
American Library Association Public Programs Office - Benjamin Franklin
About the exhibit
After a competitive application process, the Library was designated the sole site in New England to host the exhibition.
The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary of Philadelphia and the American Library Association organized the exhibit with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The result is a unique 1,000 square foot exhibit that combines original documents with artwork and artifacts to explore one of the most extraordinary human beings the world has ever known. Many papers come from organizations that Franklin himself helped to create, like the American philosophic society and the Library Company of Philadelphia. Maps, painting, drawings, and objects owned by Franklin give insight into this prolific writer, scientist, humorist, diplomat, civic leader and international celebrity.
Franklin’s most famous work, his experiments with electricity, and his work forging the American colonies into a new nation are just a small slice of the exhibit, because Benjamin Franklin, the man, was so much more.
Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World was organized by the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary, Philadelphia, and the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The traveling exhibition for libraries has been made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: great ideas brought to life.
The traveling exhibition is based on a major exhibition of the same name mounted by the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Franklin’s birth. The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary is a nonprofit organization established through a major grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts to educate the public about Franklin’s enduring legacy.
Sponsors
Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World was organized by the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary, Philadelphia, and the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The traveling exhibition for libraries has been made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: great ideas brought to life. The traveling exhibition is based on a major exhibition of the same name mounted by the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Franklin's birth. The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary is a nonprofit organization established through a major grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts to educate the public about Franklin's enduring legacy.
RI Sponsors
Programs and activities planned in conjunction with the Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World Exhibit's Rhode Island visit are presented by National Grid and also sponsored by the Rhode Island Freemasons and WJAR-10.
Providence Public Library is committed to providing quality programming on a variety of educational topics. The views and opinions expressed therein are those of the individual presenters and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the Library. We welcome community members to work with us to provide free, thought-provoking events of interest.