Ben Franklin's World
722 episodes - English - Latest episode: 13 days ago - ★★★★★ - 988 ratingsThis is a multiple award-winning podcast about early American history. It’s a show for people who love history and who want to know more about the historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our present-day world.
Each episode features conversations with professional historians who help shed light on important people and events in early American history. It is produced by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
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Episodes
010 Don N. Hagist, British Soldiers, American War: Voices of the American Revolution
December 30, 2014 06:00 - 43 minutes - 30.4 MBWhat about the British Redcoats? When we discuss the military history of the American War for Independence, we tend to focus on specific battles or details about the men who served in George Washington’s Continental Army. Rarely do we take the opportunity to ask questions about the approximately 50,000 men who served in the British Army that opposed them. Don N. Hagist, independent scholar and author of British Soldiers, American War: Voices of the American Revolution, leads us on exp...
010 British Soldiers, American War: Voices of the American Revolution
December 30, 2014 06:00 - 43 minutes - 30.4 MBWhat about the British Redcoats? When we discuss the military history of the American War for Independence, we tend to focus on specific battles or details about the men who served in George Washington’s Continental Army. Rarely do we take the opportunity to ask questions about the approximately 50,000 men who served in the British Army that opposed them. Don N. Hagist, independent scholar and author of British Soldiers, American War: Voices of the American Revolution, leads us on exp...
009 Peter G. Rose, Delicious December
December 16, 2014 06:00 - 41 minutes - 28.9 MB“’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house/ Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse./ The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,/ In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.” Undoubtedly, you have heard, or read, this first stanza of Clement Moore’s famous “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (1822) poem, but have you ever wondered about the traditions and saint contained within its lines? Where did the Christmas traditions of stockings, presents, and cookies ...
009 Delicious December
December 16, 2014 06:00 - 41 minutes - 28.9 MB“’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house/ Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse./ The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,/ In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.” Undoubtedly, you have heard, or read, this first stanza of Clement Moore’s famous “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (1822) poem, but have you ever wondered about the traditions and saint contained within its lines? Where did the Christmas traditions of stockings, presents, and cookies ...
008 Gregory O'Malley, Final Passages: The Intercolonial Slave Trade of British America, 1619-1807
December 02, 2014 06:00 - 45 minutes - 31.8 MBThe Middle Passage forced millions of African men, women, and children to migrate across the Atlantic Ocean, but did you know that there existed an even more deadly voyage for slaves? For many Africans the journey into slavery did not end with their arrival at a Caribbean entrepôt such as Barbados or Jamaica. After their transatlantic journey, many captives had to embark on a second, deadlier voyage to their new homes. In this episode we explore this second, deadlier voyage with Gre...
008 Final Passages: The Intercolonial Slave Trade of British America, 1619-1807
December 02, 2014 06:00 - 45 minutes - 31.8 MBThe Middle Passage forced millions of African men, women, and children to migrate across the Atlantic Ocean, but did you know that there existed an even more deadly voyage for slaves? For many Africans the journey into slavery did not end with their arrival at a Caribbean entrepôt such as Barbados or Jamaica. After their transatlantic journey, many captives had to embark on a second, deadlier voyage to their new homes. In this episode we explore this second, deadlier voyage with Gre...
007 Sara Georgini, John Adams & The Adams Papers Editorial Project
November 18, 2014 05:00 - 54 minutes - 38.5 MBThe United States declared independence from Great Britain in July 1776, but the King and Parliament of Great Britain did not recognize this independence until April 9, 1784. On June 1, 1785, King George III received his first diplomat from the United States. Do you know what happened when His Majesty came face-to-face with John Adams? The Papers of John Adams reveal much about his meeting with King George III as well as the time he spent as a Revolutionary, Statesmen, President, and...
007 John Adams & The Adams Papers Editorial Project
November 18, 2014 05:00 - 54 minutes - 38.5 MBThe United States declared independence from Great Britain in July 1776, but the King and Parliament of Great Britain did not recognize this independence until April 9, 1784. On June 1, 1785, King George III received his first diplomat from the United States. Do you know what happened when His Majesty came face-to-face with John Adams? The Papers of John Adams reveal much about his meeting with King George III as well as the time he spent as a Revolutionary, Statesmen, President, and...
006 At the Point of a Cutlass
November 04, 2014 05:00 - 38 minutes - 27.1 MBArrr, so ye like pirates do ye? Did ye know that as much as 33% of pirate crews were made up of captured seamen, not pirates? We’ll be talking about the “Golden Age” of pirates in this here episode of Ben Franklin’s World with historian and pirate expert Gregory N. Flemming, author of the new book At the Point of a Cutlass: The Pirate Capture, Bold Escape, and Lonely Exile of Philip Ashton. Show Notes: http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/006 Helpful Show Links Ben Franklin's World...
006 Gregory N. Flemming, At the Point of a Cutlass
November 04, 2014 05:00 - 38 minutes - 27.1 MBArrr, so ye like pirates do ye? Did ye know that as much as 33% of pirate crews were made up of captured seamen, not pirates? We’ll be talking about the “Golden Age” of pirates in this here episode of Ben Franklin’s World with historian and pirate expert Gregory N. Flemming, author of the new book At the Point of a Cutlass: The Pirate Capture, Bold Escape, and Lonely Exile of Philip Ashton. Show Notes: http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/006 Helpful Show Links Ben Franklin's World...
005 Revolutionary Medicine
October 21, 2014 04:00 - 36 minutes - 15.5 MBYou likely know the names of George and Martha Washington, John and Abigail Adams, and James and Dolley Madison, as the names of a few of the founding mothers and fathers of the United States. You may have heard of some of their deeds and political accomplishments. But did you know that all of these couples endured tragic and sometimes frequent episodes with illness and disease? Do you know what the founding fathers and mothers really understood about health and wellness? Jeanne Abra...
005 Jeanne Abrams, Revolutionary Medicine
October 21, 2014 04:00 - 36 minutes - 15.5 MBYou likely know the names of George and Martha Washington, John and Abigail Adams, and James and Dolley Madison, as the names of a few of the founding mothers and fathers of the United States. You may have heard of some of their deeds and political accomplishments. But did you know that all of these couples endured tragic and sometimes frequent episodes with illness and disease? Do you know what the founding fathers and mothers really understood about health and wellness? Jeanne Abra...
004 Thomas A Foster, Sex and the Founding Fathers
September 30, 2014 16:40 - 31 minutes - 13.5 MBDid you know that most biographies about the founders of the United States reveal more about the Americans who wrote the biographies than about the true character of the founders themselves? Thomas A. Foster, Professor of History at DePaul University, joins us to discuss his latest book Sex and the Founding Fathers: The American Quest for a Relatable Past, an exploration of how Americans have imagined and reimagined the founding fathers from the 18th century to the present. Show Note...
004 Sex and the Founding Fathers
September 30, 2014 16:40 - 31 minutes - 13.5 MBDid you know that most biographies about the founders of the United States reveal more about the Americans who wrote the biographies than about the true character of the founders themselves? Thomas A. Foster, Professor of History at DePaul University, joins us to discuss his latest book Sex and the Founding Fathers: The American Quest for a Relatable Past, an exploration of how Americans have imagined and reimagined the founding fathers from the 18th century to the present. Show Note...
003 Future of the Library Company of Philadelphia
September 28, 2014 12:13 - 37 minutes - 15.8 MBBenjamin Franklin founded the Library Company of Philadelphia in 1731. Today, you can visit his library and its amazing collections, which begs the question: How has the Library Company managed to stay open, and remain relevant, for over 283 years? Richard S. Newman, Director of the Library Company of Philadelphia discusses past and present efforts of the Library Company to serve the public at large. Newman reveals how the Library Company has adapted to the needs of the public over time. H...
003 Richard S. Newman, Future of the Library Company of Philadelphia
September 28, 2014 12:13 - 37 minutes - 15.8 MBBenjamin Franklin founded the Library Company of Philadelphia in 1731. Today, you can visit his library and its amazing collections, which begs the question: How has the Library Company managed to stay open, and remain relevant, for over 283 years? Richard S. Newman, Director of the Library Company of Philadelphia discusses past and present efforts of the Library Company to serve the public at large. Newman reveals how the Library Company has adapted to the needs of the public over time. H...
002 Exhibitions at the Library Company of Philadelphia
September 28, 2014 12:10 - 22 minutes - 9.87 MBHave you ever walked through a museum and wondered why its staff chose to feature the artifacts you saw? Cornelia King, Chief of Reference at the Library Company of Philadelphia discusses “That’s So Gay: Outing Early America,” an exhibition that she curated for the Library Company. In addition to providing us with information about the history of gay men and women in early America, Connie gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how she decided what artifacts, books, and ephemera to display in...
002 Cornelia King, Exhibitions at the Library Company of Philadelphia
September 28, 2014 12:10 - 22 minutes - 9.87 MBHave you ever walked through a museum and wondered why its staff chose to feature the artifacts you saw? Cornelia King, Chief of Reference at the Library Company of Philadelphia discusses “That’s So Gay: Outing Early America,” an exhibition that she curated for the Library Company. In addition to providing us with information about the history of gay men and women in early America, Connie gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how she decided what artifacts, books, and ephemera to display in...
001 History of the Library Company of Philadelphia
September 27, 2014 23:32 - 40 minutes - 17.1 MBDd you know that Ben Franklin founded the first successful lending library in North America? With James N. Green, Librarian at the Library Company of Philadelphia, we explores the role Franklin played in the founding of the Library Company of Philadelphia, the history of libraries in colonial North America, and the Junto, Franklin’s sociability and improvement club for Philadelphia tradesmen. Show Notes: http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/001
001 James N. Green, History of the Library Company of Philadelphia
September 27, 2014 23:32 - 40 minutes - 17.1 MBDd you know that Ben Franklin founded the first successful lending library in North America? With James N. Green, Librarian at the Library Company of Philadelphia, we explores the role Franklin played in the founding of the Library Company of Philadelphia, the history of libraries in colonial North America, and the Junto, Franklin’s sociability and improvement club for Philadelphia tradesmen. Show Notes: http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/001
000 Pilot- Ben Franklin's World with Liz Covart
September 27, 2014 19:52 - 7 minutes - 3.65 MBHost Liz Covart welcomes you to Ben Franklin's World: A Podcast About Early American History. Liz describes the show and reveals what what you can expect to discover in future episodes. Show Notes: http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/000
000 Ben Franklin's World with Liz Covart
September 27, 2014 19:52 - 7 minutes - 3.65 MBHost Liz Covart welcomes you to Ben Franklin's World: A Podcast About Early American History. Liz describes the show and reveals what what you can expect to discover in future episodes. Show Notes: http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/000