Stop 8: Franklin Court and Benjamin Franklin Museum, Chestnut Street between 3rd and 4th StreetsFranklin Court was the site of the handsome brick home of Benjamin Franklin, who lived here while serving in the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention. Franklin died here in 1790; the house was torn down 22 years later. Today the site contains a steel "ghost structure" outlining the spot where Franklin's house stood and features the Benjamin Franklin Museum, a museum that explores Franklin's life and character through artifacts, animations, and hands-on interactives.Franklin Court Peter, Jemima, King, and Othello Over a period of about fifty years, the Franklin household included free, white servants, and several enslaved servants of African descent. Among the enslaved servants were Peter and Jemima, a married couple, purchased by the Franklins sometime before 1750. After preparing a will in which Peter and Jemima would be freed in the event of Franklin’s death, Franklin and his son William left for London in 1757. They brought Peter and another enslaved manservant named King with them. Jemima stayed behind with Franklin's wife Deborah, along with a young boy named Othello, who may have been Peter and Jemima’s son. When Franklin died many years later, he no longer owned any enslaved people. Franklin spoke out publicly against slavery late in his life. He became President of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery in 1787. His last public act was sending a petition to Congress on behalf of the Society seeking an end to slavery and the slave trade. FIND: "Franklin and Slavery" interactive in the Benjamin Franklin Museum. Use this interactive to analyze the evidence about Franklin's shifting views on slavery. (NOTE: fee applies to enter museum) Benjamin Franklin and Slavery: A Document-Based Question lesson plan |
Last updated: December 2, 2024