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Secondary sourceBook1900 (text written earlier by Franklin)

The Life of Benjamin Franklin, Written by Himself

Benjamin Franklin (edited by John Bigelow) · 1900 (text written earlier by Franklin)

Franklin's own autobiography, edited from his original manuscripts and correspondence, published in a multi-volume edition.

This is Franklin's own account of his life, edited from his manuscripts, offering his perspective on his own story.

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About this source

What it is

This is an edition of Benjamin Franklin's autobiography, titled The Life of Benjamin Franklin, Written by Himself. It was edited by John Bigelow from Franklin's original manuscripts and printed correspondence, with this edition published in 1900.

Why it matters

Franklin's autobiography is one of the most famous self-written life stories in American history. Because it is based directly on his own manuscripts, it gives readers access to how Franklin wanted his own life story told.

Look closer

  • Why might someone writing their own life story choose to leave certain things out?
  • What does it mean that this edition was edited "from original manuscripts"—how might editing change a text?
  • What can we learn about Franklin from the way he chose to tell his own story?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Benjamin Franklin on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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