Contents and Arrangement Expanded View
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Collection Overview

Creator:
Eddy, George Simpson, 1867-1947.
Title:
George Simpson Eddy Collection of Benjamin Franklin
Repository:
Manuscripts Division
Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/0k225b12z
Dates:
1684-1947
Size:
23 boxes and 22.5 linear feet
Storage Note:
  • ReCAP (scarcpxm): Box 1-23
Language:
English

Abstract

Consists of material by and about American patriot and founding father Benjamin Franklin collected by George Simpson Eddy in the process of pursuing various projects on and studies of Franklin.

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of material by and about Franklin divided into two main sections: the 20th-century papers of Eddy and the 18th-century material of Franklin. The Eddy section, which comprises the bulk of the collection, contains correspondence between Eddy and members of the Franklin family, booksellers, collectors of Frankliniana, and scholars, as well as Eddy's notes, notebooks, and manuscripts relative to the various projects and studies he undertook about Franklin. Included in the Eddy section are pamphlets, books, and periodicals collected by him.

In the Franklin section are photostats and transcripts of correspondence between Benjamin Franklin and members of the family, such as William, William Temple, and Deborah Franklin, the Baches, and Jane Mecom; it includes letters by Franklin to Thomas Jefferson, John Jay, Samuel Johnson, George Washington, John Witherspoon, and many others during the Colonial, Revolutionary, and post-Revolutionary periods. In addition, there are copies of portraits of Franklin, transcripts and photostats of documents, pamphlets, and books contemporaneous with Franklin, many of which bear annotations by him, and 18th-century newspapers.

Arrangement

Arranged as follows: Section I. George Simpson Eddy Material--Correspondence, Notebooks, Printed Material, Bibliographical Items; Section II. Benjamin Franklin Material--Correspondence, Memoranda, Documents, Photostats of Printed Matter, Rare French Frankliniana, and Miscellaneous Material.

Collection Creator Biography:

Eddy, George Simpson, 1867-1947.

George Simpson Eddy was the author of a number of works about founding father Benjamin Franklin.

Collection History

Acquisition:

This collection was the gift of Mr. Whitfield J. Bell, Jr. in 1962.

Appraisal

No appraisal information is available.

Processing Information

Folder inventory added by Nicholas Williams '2015 in 2012.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Credit this material:

George Simpson Eddy Collection of Benjamin Franklin; Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/0k225b12z
Location:
Firestone Library
One Washington Road
Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
(609) 258-3184
Storage Note:
  • ReCAP (scarcpxm): Box 1-23