- Created by
- Handel Film Corporation, American, founded 1953
- Subject of
- Franklin, Benjamin, American, 1706 - 1790
- Narrated by
- Stoddard, Ed
- Owned by
- D.C. Public Library, American, founded 1896
- Date
- 1971
- Medium
- acetate film
- Dimensions
- Duration: 28 Minutes
- Length (Film): 1000 Feet
- Caption
- This film was a part of the Washington D.C. Public Library's circulating 16mm film collection housed at the Martin Luther King Jr. Central Library. The collection is particularly noted for the wide variety of African American and African diaspora content.
- Description
- A documentary film with the title Benjamin Franklin. It consists of a single reel of color 16mm acetate film with optical sound.
- The documentary explores the life and contributions of American “scientist, statesman, scholar and sage” Benjamin Franklin. It opens with a brief historical speculation about America's founding, before moving on to a discussion of Franklin's childhood and youth.
- The rest of the film focuses on some of Ben Franklin’s popular accomplishments and contributions, such as his career in publishing, and creation of a printery in Philadelphia; his development of the almanac; his creation of/contributions to a number of institutions, such as the subscription library, fire brigade, fire insurance, hospital, a militia, the now University of Pennsylvania; his contributions as postmaster general; his inventions, such as the odometer, storage battery, bifocal glasses; as well as some of his other scientific discoveries, such as the gulf stream and electricity.
- Place used
- Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
- Place depicted
- Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
- Collection title
- DC Public Library Film Collection
- Classification
- Time-based Media - Moving Images
- Topic
- Documentary films
- Film
- Men
- Science
- Technology
- U.S. History, 1783-1815
- U.S. History, Colonial period, 1600-1775
- U.S. History, Revolution, 1775-1783
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Object number
- 2017.55.104.1a
- Restrictions & Rights
- Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




