Penn Today is commemorating America's 250th anniversary by delving into the significant roles played by the University of Pennsylvania and its founder, Benjamin Franklin, during the Revolutionary era. A special video tour highlights Franklin's journeys through Philadelphia, from his arrival at Market Street Wharf to the establishment of his businesses, the founding of the College and America's first hospital, and his signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Franklin's remarkable journey began 300 years ago on October 6, 1723, when he arrived in Philadelphia as a nearly penniless 17-year-old printer. He evolved into an author, inventor, scientist, diplomat, and statesman, founding several learned institutions. His bold vision for learning laid the groundwork for America's first university, which has since grown into a world-class Ivy League institution at the forefront of research and education.
The University's rich history is further illuminated by artifacts such as Franklin’s fire bell, cast in 1752 and now displayed in the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center. Archivist Jim Duffin has traced the bell's history, noting its use for signaling classes and fires. Amidst the "unsettled state of affairs" in June 1776, as described by the College's Trustees, seven graduates received their degrees in a private ceremony.