Benjamin Franklin's American Enlightenment: Documenting Early American Science at the American Philosophical Society

FAIN: PB-274143-20

American Philosophical Society (Philadelphia, PA 19106-3309)
Patrick K. Spero (Project Director: May 2020 to October 2021)

The retention of staff members, postdoctoral fellows, and consultants who have been working on projects to increase the availability of library special collections and archival materials related to the Society’s influential role in early American science.

“Benjamin Franklin’s American Enlightenment: Documenting Early American Science at the American Philosophical Society” will allow the APS to continue to employ staff, graduate students, and recent PhDs to work on several projects meant to enhance our understanding of the importance of science and scientific learning to those living in the 18th and 19th centuries. Projects include a bibliographic database of the publications of APS Members (elected 1775-85); online transcriptions of the APS’s minutes (1774-1787) to be displayed beside images of the original manuscript; digitization and transcription of APS Members James Madison and David Rittenhouse’s meteorological records; a transcription and analysis of Franklin’s financial account books and business transactions; a virtual exhibition and catalogue of “Dr. Franklin, Citizen Scientist”; and educational materials that make these projects accessible and meaningful for learners of all ages.