The man on the 100 dollar bill lived an incredible rich, wildly active and even controversial life. He was a scientist, statesman, gourmand, historian, newspaperman, postmaster, ambassador, possible a spy, an enslaver in his early life, an abolitionist in later life and so much more. Rather than ramble on about all the life and times of Benjamin Franklin, I'll share some resources - including some food related history as well!
The Library of Congress holds a tremendous collection of Franklin's papers, biographies and ephemera. In this collection you can find hundreds of letters from Franklin as he traveled between Europe and the United States. Transcriptions are available for some of the items, otherwise, you have to be brave and try to decipher the writing of the 18th Century! One favorite item is this undated manuscript sent in a letter, the "Manner of Making Parmesan Cheese."
The National Archives has transcriptions of Franklin's early writings, letters and records from his businesses.
And take a look at this Recipe for Milk Punch, held by the Massachusetts Historical Society, which also has a large collection of papers from Franklin and the other early politicians and statesmen as well as letters to and from family and friends. There's nothing like getting lost in the rabbit hole of everyday life in the 18th Century!
For a really good overview of the life of Benjamin Franklin, - both achievements and controversies, take a look at this article on History.org, and this article on Franklin and the Vexing Question of Race in America by Dr. Emma Lapsansky-Werner.
And then, because this is Booklady Cooks, and cooking is what we do -- we share this YouTube video edition of A Taste of History.
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