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Above, Roberta Trahan at 2024 Readathon.
Inspired originally by the public, readathon of Moby Dick, interested locals in Franklin began participating in a reading of the autobiography of the town’s namesake, Ben Franklin, several years ago at the library, on or near Ben’s Jan. 17 birthday.
This year, to better coordinate with the potential availability of Dean students, the Autobiography Readathon has been moved to Thursday, Jan 24, starting at 1:30 pm at the Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central Street.
A New Bedford Icon
The New Bedford Whaling Museum’s annual Moby-Dick Marathon attracts thousands of people of all ages from around the world, who share a fascination with the sweeping story penned by Herman Melville. The Whaling Museum’s Moby-Dick Marathon marks the anniversary of Melville’s January 1841 departure from the Port of New Bedford, aboard the whaleship Acushnet. Melville would later publish the famous novel in 1851.
While not yet quite as well attended as the Melville event, the Autobiography Readathon has drawn several loyal readers who return every year. And it further underscores the historical connection between the town and America’s greatest ‘Founding Father.’
The cornerstone activity of Ben Franklin Month, the program is made possible through a grant from the Franklin Cultural District and funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
Wikipedia notes that Franklin was a drafter and signer of the Declaration of Independence; and the first postmaster general as well as a diplomat, scientist, and inventor.
Franklin became a successful newspaper editor and printer in Philadelphia, the leading city in the colonies, publishing the Pennsylvania Gazette at age 23. He became wealthy publishing this and Poor Richard's Almanack, which he wrote under the pseudonym "Richard Saunders". After 1767, he was associated with the Pennsylvania Chronicle, a newspaper known for its revolutionary sentiments and criticisms of the policies of the British Parliament and the Crown.
He pioneered and was the first president of the Academy and College of Philadelphia, which opened in 1751 and later became the University of Pennsylvania. He organized and was the first secretary of the American Philosophical Society and was elected its president in 1769. He was appointed deputy postmaster-general for the British colonies in 1753, which enabled him to set up the first national communications network.
He was active in community affairs and colonial and state politics, as well as national and international affairs. Franklin became a hero in America when, as an agent in London for several colonies, he spearheaded the repeal of the unpopular Stamp Act by the British Parliament. An accomplished diplomat, he was widely admired as the first U.S. ambassador to France and was a major figure in the development of positive Franco–American relations. His efforts proved vital for the American Revolution in securing French aid.
The Autobiography was written at different times during his life and was far from finished when Franklin died. Nonetheless, it is widely regarded as one of the most important documents in American history and has remained in print almost continuously.
Sign Up to Read HERE:
You can still sign up for a reading slot here or just come by to listen. Sign up slots are for 15 minutes but readers can do less or more...The event is Free.
