Talk:Benjamin Franklin/Draft

Humorous writings by Benjamin Franklin

What do we do with these writings? Fart Proudly: Writings of Benjamin Franklin You Never Read in School by Carl Japikse

I question their authenticity. --Robert W King 15:13, 3 April 2008 (CDT)

Not sure what there is to question. Ben Franklin was famous for his wit. I've never read this book, but if I recall correctly Fart Proudly is referenced in the Isaacson biography. --Todd Coles 16:19, 3 April 2008 (CDT)

Suggestions

• Benjamin Franklin#Early Life: "puritan": I think by this time puritanism was mostly dead as an identifiable denomination. How about "Congregationalist?" Do we have a source that makes this claim that Franklin was a "puritan?" "Silence Dogood": Didn't Franklin also keep the identity of Silence a secret from even his brother (for a while)? If so, the article should make that clear.
• Benjamin Franklin#Printer and Civic Leader: Samuel Keimer should be mentioned earlier in the paragraph. I'm not sure which employer Keimer was when the article says "former employer." "Vaccinations": I think there is a history of medicine issue here in that the term in use in the 18th century for the medical practice describe was "inoculation." Do we have a source for Franklin's advocacy of "vaccination?"

I've gone through these two sections and made some copy edits too. These suggestions above, I think, will require some re-writing. Still working. Russell D. Jones 13:28, 5 March 2009 (UTC)

I don't have any sources in front of me but I will follow up on this. I do know that Franklin was influenced at a young age by the writings of Cotton Mather, so there is some puritan influence. I believe you are correct in that Franklin's brother was unaware of who Silence Dogood was.

It would be nice to get this article approved, so I appreciate you looking into it. I had been neglecting it until it caught someone elses interest. --Todd Coles 13:56, 5 March 2009 (UTC)