Collection of Benjamin Franklin materials: Finding Aid

Box 1

1750 July 26 Belcher, Jonathan. Order to the Treasurers of New Jersey to pay Benjamin Franklin for printing Sundry Acts & Laws ... HM 1472

Burlington, New Jersey. Document signed. 1 page; 19.5 x 16 cm.

Document also signed by Charles Read, Secretary, and endorsed by Benjamin Franklin.

Transcribed in Labaree, ed. Papers, vol. 4: 6-7.

Acquired from the E. N. Crane Library (Smith).

1753 June 6 Franklin, Benjamin. Letter to [Joseph Huey]. HM 22613

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Contemporary copy. 4 pages; 23 x 19 cm.

First page incorrectly titled "Copy of Dr. Franklin's letter to Geo. Whitfield …"

1753 June 26 Franklin, Benjamin. Letter to Peter Collinson. HM 21693

New Haven, Connecticut. Autograph letter signed. 2 pages.

Bound.

Transcribed in Labaree, ed. Papers, vol. 4: 511-512.

Purchased from the F. R. Halsey sale (lot 432), February 17-19, 1919. Card lists letter to Collinson and "Deborah Franklin, his wife, L. S., April 30, 1755, to the same; William Franklin, their son, A. ?L. S., June 18, 1764, to William Strahan, with portraits of B. Franklin and Collinson, all inlaid to folio size, and bound in light morocco.

1753 [i.e. 1754] January 1 Franklin, Benjamin. Letter to "Gentlemen" [Thomas Darling and Nathan Whiting]. HM 21675

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Autograph letter signed. 1 page; 21 x 21 cm.

In the margin: two-line note written and signed by Nathan Whiting.

Transcribed in Labaree, ed. Papers, vol. 5: 487.

Bixby.

1756 June 22 Franklin, Benjamin. Memorial to James Abercromby on expresses. LO 1239

New York. Autograph document signed. 2 pages; 32 x 20.5 cm.

With postscript on second page signed by Franklin, July 22, 1756.

Transcribed in Labaree, ed. Papers, vol. 6: 462-463.

Purchased as part of the Loudoun papers from the Campbell family through the agency of Sotheby's and Sir Joseph Duveen, 1923. From Loudon Papers.

1756 July 22 [Franklin, Benjamin]. Memorial of the State of the Forces in Pensilvania [i.e. Pennsylvania]. LO 1328

New York. Autograph document. 2 pages; 32 x 20 cm.

Transcribed in Labaree, ed. Papers, vol. 6: 470-471.

Purchased as part of the Loudoun papers from the Campbell family through the agency of Sotheby's and Sir Joseph Duveen, 1923.

[1756 August?] [Franklin, Benjamin]. Extract of letter to Thomas Pownall. LO 1298

Contemporary copy. 1 page; 30 x 18.5 cm.

Transcribed in Labaree, ed. Papers, vol. 6: 497-498.

Purchased as part of the Loudoun papers from the Campbell family through the agency of Sotheby's and Sir Joseph Duveen, 1923.

1756 September 9 Franklin, Benjamin. Extract of letter to Thomas Pownall. LO 1749

Contemporary copy. 1 page; 31.5 x 20 cm.

Transcribed in Labaree, ed. Papers, vol. 6: 502-503.

Purchased as part of the Loudoun papers from the Campbell family through the agency of Sotheby's and Sir Joseph Duveen, 1923.

1757 January 31 Franklin, Benjamin. Letter to William Strahan. HM 22614

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Autograph letter signed. 2 pages with leaf of superscription; 33 x 21 cm.

The letter is preceded by Franklin's copy of a previous letter from Franklin to Strahan, January 1, 1757.

Transcribed in Labaree, ed. Papers, vol. 7: 115-116.

Anderson 1386.

1757 February 20 Franklin, Benjamin. Letter to John Campbell, the Earl of Loudoun. LO 2870

Transcribed in Labaree, ed. Papers, vol. 7: 133.

Purchased as part of the Loudoun papers from the Campbell family through the agency of Sotheby's and Sir Joseph Duveen, 1923.

1757 March 3 Franklin, Benjamin. Letter to [John Campbell, the Earl of Loudoun]. LO 2963

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Autograph letter signed. 1 page; 20 x 16 cm.

Transcribed in Labaree, ed. Papers, vol. 7: 143.

Purchased as part of the Loudoun papers from the Campbell family through the agency of Sotheby's and Sir Joseph Duveen, 1923.

[1757 March 21] [Franklin, Benjamin]. Extracts and answers to points proposed to be amended in the bill now before the Governor. LO 3119

Autograph document. 8 pages; 32.5 x 20.5.

Transcribed in Labaree, ed. Papers, vol. 7: 145-152.

Purchased as part of the Loudoun papers from the Campbell family through the agency of Sotheby's and Sir Joseph Duveen, 1923.

1757 April 21 List of Servants, Belonging to the Inhabitants of Pensilvania and taken into His Majesty's Service, For whom Satisfaction has not been made by the Officers according to Act of Parliament [with an abstract]. LO 3415

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Document. 22 pages; 42 x 33.5 cm, folded.

Table containing claims of 612 servants (listing number, owners names, servants names, term bound for, term serv'd, term of service due, considerations/money paid, due to the owner, and regiment or company enlisted in). The title and a note of 3 lines on page 22 are in the handwriting of Franklin. With loose 1-page abstract: "Castings of the Account of the List of Servants belonging to the Inhabitants of Pensilvania [sic]" and loose note on folded leaf: "This List is not yet compleat; the Claims continuing to come in daily."

Purchased as part of the Loudoun papers from the Campbell family through the agency of Sotheby's and Sir Joseph Duveen, 1923.

1757 May 21 Franklin, Benjamin. Letter to John Campbell, the Earl of Loudoun. LO 3699

Woodbridge, New Jersey. Autograph letter signed. 2 pages; 23.5 x 19 cm.

Transcribed in Labaree, ed. Papers, vol. 7: 214-215.

Purchased as part of the Loudoun papers from the Campbell family through the agency of Sotheby's and Sir Joseph Duveen, 1923.

1763 May 9 Franklin, Benjamin. Letter to William Strahan. HM 22616

Virginia Autograph letter signed. 2 pages; 23 x 19 cm.

Transcribed in Labaree, ed. Papers, vol. 10: 260-261.

Hoe library (Smith)?; And. 13867.

1763 September 22 Franklin, Benjamin. Letter to William Strahan. HM 22615

Boston, Massachusetts. Autograph letter signed. 1 page; 22 x 18.5 cm.

Transcribed in Labaree, ed. Papers, vol. 10: 343.

Smith; Grove sale.

1768 December 6 Franklin, Benjamin. Letter to George Whitefield. HM 21676

Craven Street [London, England]. Autograph letter signed. 1 page; 29 x 18.5 cm.

9-line handwritten biographical sketch of Franklin is attached to bottom of leaf.

Transcribed in Willcox, ed. Papers, vol. 15: 286.

Removed from "Autograph letters of Benjamin Franklin" extra-illustrated collection of portraits" Bixby.

1771 July 4 Franklin, Benjamin. Letter to William Smith. HM 25022

London, England. Autograph letter signed. Bound with HM 3000. 1 page.

Transcribed in Willcox, ed. Papers, vol. 18: 163-164.

1776 July 20 Franklin, Benjamin. Letter to Lord Howe [Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe]. CO 33

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Letter signed. 4 pages; 33.5 x 21 cm.

Marked: "Copy."

Transcribed in Willcox, ed. Papers, vol. 22: 518-521.

1777 April 26 Franklin, Benjamin. Letter to [Jan Ingenhousz]. HM 21677

Passy (Paris, France) Autograph letter signed. 2 pages; 23 x 18.5 cm.

Transcribed in Willcox, ed. Papers, vol. 23: 613-614.

Removed from "Autograph letters of Benjamin Franklin" extra-illustrated collection of portraits" Bixby.

1778 April 7 Strahan, William. Letter to Mary Lacock Hall. HM 44037

London, England. Autograph letter signed. 1 page; 23 x 18.5 cm.

The letter quotes a February 4, 1777, letter from Franklin.

Acquired from Bernard Quaritch, October 8, 1976.

1779 March 12 Franklin, Benjamin. Letter to Charles Dumas. HM 22617

Passy (Paris, France) Letter signed. 3 pages; 31.5 x 20.5 cm.

In the handwriting of William Temple Franklin.

Transcribed in Obserg, ed. Papers, vol. 29: 100-101.

Grove sale.

1779 October 27 Franklin, Benjamin. Letter to Samuel Cooper. CO 38

Passy (Paris, France) Letter signed. 3 pages; 31.5 x 20.5 cm.

In the handwriting of Jean L'Air de Lamotte. Additions and corrections in Franklin's hand. Marked: "Copy."

Transcribed in Obserg, ed. Papers, vol. 30: 397-9.

1780 March 16 Franklin, Benjamin. Letter to Samuel Cooper. CO 27

Passy (Paris, France) Letter signed. 3 pages; 23 x 19 cm.

In the handwriting of William Temple Franklin.

Transcribed in Obserg, ed. Papers, vol. 32: 117-118.

1780 December 2 [Franklin, Benjamin]. Letter to Samuel Cooper. CO 53

Passy (Paris, France) Letter signed. 2 pages; 31.5 x 20.5 cm.

In the handwriting of William Temple Franklin. Signature cut away; autograph subscription and address. With seal. On cover: "To be sunk if in Danger of being taken."

Transcribed in Obserg, ed. Papers, vol. 34: 96.

1781 January 18 Franklin, Benjamin. Letter to Charles Dumas. HM 22770

Passy (Paris, France) Letter signed. 4 pages; 23 x 18 cm.

In the handwriting of Jean L'Air de Lamotte. The postscript is in Franklin's handwriting.

Transcribed in Obserg, ed. Papers, vol. 34: 287.

Hoe library (Smith)?

1781 November 26 Franklin, Benjamin. Letter to John Trumbull. HM 21678

Passy (Paris, France) Letter signed. 1 page; 23 x 18.5 cm.

In the handwriting of William Temple Franklin.

Transcribed in Cohn, ed. Papers, vol. 36: 118.

Removed from "Autograph letters of Benjamin Franklin" extra-illustrated collection of portraits" Bixby.

1783 May 20 Franklin, Benjamin. Letter to Samuel Cooper. CO 29

Passy (Paris, France) Letter signed. 2 pages; 23 x 18.5 cm.

In the handwriting of Jean L'Air de Lamotte.

Transcribed in Cohn, ed. Papers, vol. 40: 42-43.

1783 December 15 Franklin, Benjamin. Letter to William Carmichael. HR 153

Passy (Paris, France) Letter signed. 3 pages; 25 x 20 cm.

In the handwriting of Jean L'Air de Lamotte.

Transcribed in Cohn, ed. Papers, vol. 41: 290-291.

Possibly Harbeck Collection (HR 153).

1785 July 13 Franklin, Benjamin. Letter to Jane Mecom. HM 22771

St. Germain, France. Autograph letter signed. 1 page; 22.5 x 18.5 cm.

Transcribed in Albert Smyth, ed. The Writings of Benjamin Franklin (1905-07), vol. IX: 363-364.

Grove sale.

1786 March 26 Franklin, Benjamin. Letter to William Alexander. HM 22786

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Autograph letter signed. 3 pages; 23 x 19 cm.

G.D. Smith.

1787 April 10 Franklin, Benjamin. Order to the Secretary of the Council. HM 5265

[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]. Autograph document signed. 1 page; 11 x 20 cm.

Smith 204.

1787 June 13 Franklin, Benjamin. Order to David Rittenhouse, Treasurer, to pay Samuel Meredith. BR Box 260 (7)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Document signed. 1 page; 18 x 20.5.

With Meredith's receipt on verso.

1787 June 17 Chaumont, Jacques-Donatien Le Ray de, 1760-1840. Letter to William Alexander & Company. BR Box 260 (8)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Autograph letter signed. 1 page; 23.5 x 19 cm.

1787 June 21 Pennsylvania. Supreme Executive Council. Patent to Samuel Pleasants for 416 1/2 acres in Bedford County. HM 1771

Document signed. 1 page; 34.5 x 40 cm.

Vellum with seals. Signed by Benjamin Franklin and attested by James Trimble for John Armstrong.

Smith.

1787 October 29 Pennsylvania. Supreme Executive Council. Commission appointing Christian Gettig, Joseph Jacob Wallis, and Samuel Weiser as Justices of the Peace. HM 1772

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Document signed. 1 page; 30 x 37.5 cm.

Printed form filled in. Signed by Franklin and attested by Charles Biddle, with recorder's note and signature of J. Simpson. With seals broken in the folds.

Purchased from Anderson Galleries Learmont Library sale (lot 310/1325), January 9-11, 1918.

1787 November 21 Franklin, Benjamin. Order to the Secretary of the Council. HM 39940

[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]. Autograph document signed. 1 page; 16 x 24 cm.

Verso has fragment of petition by Saml Judah [Samuel Bernard Judah?].

Removed from RB 87821.

[Before 1790] [Franklin, Benjamin]. Copy of verses on a Philadelphia Gent. HM 900

Autograph manuscript. 1 page; 15 x 18.5 cm.

14 lines beginning "Religion take from …"

Removed from "Autograph letters of Benjamin Franklin" extra-illustrated collection of portraits" Bixby.

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