Fermilab's Franklin as Scarecrow

Photograph taken in October, 2007 by Niles Staff Member Daisy Topalova.

Franklin's Court

All of the pictures uploaded today were taken by Librarian Darlene Fox of the Niles Public Library Staff during her August vacation in Philadelphia.

Franklin Gravesite Plaque

Franklin at Constitution Center

Franklin Diorama

Franklin Exchange

Interactive display underground at Franklin Court

Outline of Franklin's Last House

Claes Oldenberg's 1981 "Split Button" Outdoor Art Piece in Blanche Levy Park

"The button is said to have popped off the vest which Ben Franklin wears in his statue directly across from the sculpture."

Franklin Photos - August, 2007, Conor O'Shea

Oldenberg said, "The Split represents the Schuylkill. It divides the button into four parts--for William Penns original Philadelphia squares."
-Philadelphia Inquirer, 6/9/81

The Seated Franklin, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

George Washington's tribute to Franklin:

Venerated for benevolence, admired for talents, esteemed for patriotism, beloved for philanthropy.

visible at foot of statue below.

Statue by John J. Boyle marks the center of the Park and "the Green."

Franklin Photos - August, 2007, Conor O'Shea

About the exhibition

Press Release, Public Programs Office, ALA

Frankin Traveling Exhibition Is

Coming to Niles, Illinois

Niles Public Library District
6960 W. Oakton St. Niles, IL, corner of Oakton and Waukegan.

In the meantime, Chicago's Benjamin Franklin

Joseph Medill, editor of the Chicago Tribune , presented Richard Henry Park's work to Lincoln Park in 1896. It is now located at the south end of Lincoln Park, facing north and the visible zoo, with "its back to LaSalle Drive." -- from Ira J. Bach's A Guide to Chicago's Public Sculpture, 1983. Photo taken by Michael O'Shea.

The Youngest and Oldest Signers of the Declaration of Independence
The youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence was Edward Rutledge, age 26, of Southern Carolina. He argued for the removal of Jefferson’s condemnation of slavery. Although initially opposed to independence, he signed the Declaration for the purpose of unanimity.
The oldest signer was Benjamin Franklin, age 70, At the signing, Franklin observed "We must all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately."

Happy Fourth!

Benjamin Franklin, visible on the right, served on the Committee to write the Declaration of Independence He was appointed with Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston on June 11, 1776 to draft a declaration of independence.

For an analysis of John Trumbull's famous painting see David's McCullough surprising analysis of the masterpiece in the Wall Street Journal, 6/30-7/1 issue, P1, p.1 An Icon's Secret - WSJ.com

3 Unique Philadelphia Franklin Photos: Gravesite Plaque

Photo taken by Ken Frank,
Niles (IL) librarian.
June, 2007 Philadelphia

1. B. Franklin
2. 17 January 1706
3. 17 April 1790

Another staff photo: Franklin's 1778 French Portrait-Duplessis

This photo was taken at the

Metropolitan Museum of Art,

New York in July

by Niles Library staff member

Daisy Topalova,

Reference Services Department.

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), 1778Joseph Siffred Duplessis (French, 1725–1802)The Friedsam Collection, Bequest of Michael Friedsam, 1931 (32.100.132

National Constitution Center

Benjamin Franklin among other bronze, life-size statues of Constitution signatories in

the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia

Photo taken by Ken Frank, librarian Niles Public Library (IL).

Pennies Upon Ben

Photo depicts practice of pitching pennies on grave until lucky "heads" results

- a "tails" said to mean you're next.

Taken by Niles (IL) librarian Ken Frank, June, 2007.