Fall 2005

Focus on Franklin

As we approach the end of the year, Philadelphia is gearing up for the major celebration of Benjamin Franklin’s 300th birthday on January 17, 2006. This will be highlighted by the international blockbuster exhibition Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World, which premieres at the National Constitution Center on Philadelphia's Independence Mall on December 15, 2005 and then travels to four major museums around the United States before its grand finale in Paris, in 2008.

We are delighted that Stenton will play a significant role in all the hoopla surrounding Franklin's milestone. As one of the first venues to get its Franklin-related programming underway, Stenton opened its own exhibition, Shaping Franklin, in September 2005. As we know, Franklin drew lightning from the sky, helped establish the first public hospital, university and library, and was a printer, writer, scientist, inventor, civic leader, revolutionary and international diplomat. At the same time, we less often think about Franklin as a young man and how he was shaped to become the one of the more extraordinary men of his time.

Shaping Franklin examines the twenty year friendship between James Logan of Stenton and Franklin, highlighting a friendship between two colonial Philadelphians of different generations built around books, science, ideas, and the quest for knowledge – shaping a man who would change America forever: Benjamin Franklin.

The tour and exhibition offers an unparalleled glimpse of Franklin's formative years in Philadelphia, as seen through his visits to Stenton, the elegant home of James Logan, one of Pennsylvania's most learned men. Visitors can view the exhibition, stand in the library where Franklin sought advice on books to purchase for his Library Company, and experience the spaces where Franklin and Logan exchanged ideas on mathematics, science, nature, and the nature of man. And, enjoy a complimentary tea following the tour. The Shaping Franklin tour and exhibit will run through December 15, 2006. Stenton will be open throughout 2006, Tuesday through Saturday, 1 – 4 P.M. and other times by appointment. Please come see us!

Visit Stenton. Ben Franklin thought it was worth the trip.

The Creation of Shaping Franklin

The Shaping Franklin exhibition opened with rave reviews from all who attended the Preview Party on September 14. The exhibit team of staff, volunteers and exhibit designer, M.R. Daniels of SMRD Theatricals, worked tirelessly in the week leading up to the opening (and the night before) to bring together all the details, cutting and gluing.

Designer, M.R. Daniels gave our heady ideas a visually fun and sometimes playful expression by creating “stations” for various concepts. She applied her artistic talents and crafty knowledge of set design, helping us to stage the exhibit and transform the Stenton greenhouse into a three-dimensional exploration of the mentoring friendship between James Logan and the young Benjamin Franklin. Stenton Committee artist Nancy Wessells created adorable cartoons of James and Ben that became signatures of the exhibition. Miriam Cady scanned image after image for the exhibit, and Stenton Chair Jane Foster Willson used her photographic talent to obtain a beautiful image of the physical embodiment of the Logan-Franklin Legacy in the buildings on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and on Logan Circle today.

The informative and interactive exhibit even offers you the opportunity to think about and write a tribute to someone who played a mentoring role in your own life. To coordinate with the exhibit, the mansion is set to reflect Benjamin Franklin's first visit to Stenton on March 30, 1732, when he and glazier Thomas Godfrey called on James Logan, seeking his advice about which books he judged best for the men to acquire for the new Library Company they were forming.

Ben Franklin Treasure Trail

Franklin aficionados can collect a special Passport for the Ben Franklin Treasure Trail at one of 21 participating institutions.  At each location visitors will answer a special Franklin-related question in order to obtain a stamp.  The more sites you visit the higher Level of Achievement, which you can verify on the official Ben Franklin website, www.benfranklin300.org.  If you “pass” the test by answering the required number of questions correctly, you will be directed to a page where you can download your very own CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT!

History Hunters wins more accolades

The History Hunters Youth Reporter Program continues to draw accolades and attention. In September, Stenton Executive Director traveled to Pittsburgh to receive a national Award of Merit from the American Association for State and Local History. In addition, the program has been highlighted in articles in the Chestnut Hill Local's Fall Education Supplement and in a full length focus piece in the Philadelphia Inquirer in November. For recent gifts making this outstanding program possible, many thanks to the Barra Foundation, the Douty Foundation, the Phoebe W. Haas Charitable Trust "A," the Tides Foundation, Laura Haines Belman, Lilian S. L. Chance, Jane Foster Willson, and Leonore S. Wetherill.

National History Day and National Mentoring Month

National History Day, a year-long project that allows students to showoff their talents in the field of history, has been in existence for over twenty-five years and, after a hiatus, made its re-appearance in Philadelphia in 2004. Students, grades 6-12, gather materials on the topic of their choice and present them through museum-type exhibits, documentaries, original performances or traditional research papers. For the second year Stenton is a participating partner providing local research and project support for National History Day Philly participants.

In January Stenton will present special programs to organizations with mentor programs in celebration of National Mentoring Month. Mentors and youth will try their hand at quill pen writing, and work together on bookmaking and paper marbling, completing a hand-sewn journal to take home. James Logan mentored a young Benjamin Franklin and Mentoring Days looks to guide another generation of students.

Madeira and Debate:
Ceramics and Glass at Stenton

All who attended the third Annual Decorative Arts Workshop on September 29th expanded their knowledge and experience of ceramics and glass in early America with an image-filled lecture by Leslie B. Grigsby, Curator of Ceramics & Glass at Winterthur Museum. Following the lecture, Leslie led a hands-on examination of the re-assembled ceramics and glass objects from Stenton's 1982 archeological excavation. Her husband, Lindsay, also an expert in the field, was along to enliven the discussion.

The Stenton workshops are a special opportunity to learn about the past within the context of object connoisseurship (closely observing, evaluating, and handling real artifacts), and help us to broaden our material knowledge. In keeping with our "All Ben All The Time" theme for 2006, we will focus on paper-based objects for next fall's workshop. Look for details in the spring 2006 issue of the Stenton newsletter.

Staff Changes

This past fall Stenton has undergone many staff changes and we would like to fill you in with all that has been happening.

After four years and a National Award Winning Education program later, Stenton's Program Director Anne Burnett has moved on. Anne joined Stenton in November 2001 to assist with a little collaborative project we called the History Hunters Youth Reporter Program. The program grew under Anne's leadership from serving 8 classes in 2002-2003 to serving over 60 classes in 2004-2005. Without Anne's dedication and hard work Stenton would not have been able to lead a State and National Award winning education program. We all wish Anne the best of luck in her future endeavors.

With the absence of Anne, Liz Gavrys has moved into the Museum Educator position. Liz started as a History Hunters guide and has been working with the program as the Program Coordinator for the past two years. She will try to fill the big shoes of her predecessor through introducing new and innovative programs that will keep Stenton at the forefront of museum education and programming.

We are also happy to welcome our new site managers, Laureen Griffin and Martina Plag. Both Laureen and Martina have been very active in the arts in the Philadelphia area and now find themselves serving our community.

Dames Lines - the lastest news from the NSCDA/PA

Featured Article: Franklin and Logan: A Mentoring Friendship

How to join the Friends of Stenton