Benjamin Franklin translated works in German and French

PGA Weblog ^

[ProgressingAmerica]

He even helped to establish a German-language College. Benjamin Rush, with financial assistance from Dr. Franklin, established Franklin College in Lancaster, Pa.: (Translation Studies Reader, by Lawrence Venuti, page 454)

In Pennsylvania alone, there were enough German speakers that Benjamin Franklin thought of publishing his first newspaper, the Philadelphische Zeitung(1732), in that language, and another Founding Father, Benjamin Rush, even put forth the idea of establishing German-language colleges.

In 1787, Benjamin Rush wrote about this in his "Letter Describing the Consecration of the German College at Lancaster in June, 1787", though I was unable to find a version readily readable online. It's clear enough: German College means German language. The reference to Franklin's paper above brings me to the meat of the topic. In Alan Craig Houston's "Benjamin Franklin and the Politics of Improvement", the following is written: (page 138)

Prior to the Seven Years' War, Pennsylvania Germans resisted assimilation. They supported German printing houses, patronized German stores, and taught their children in German. Christopher sauer - the man who drove Franklin's German-language paper, the Philadelphische Zietung, out of business - "assaulted all proposals that hinted at closer English-German union in religious or political affairs in Pennsylvania." Sauer had "one simple lesson" he "hammered home" : "Support the Quakers and avoid courts, lawyers, politics, and unnecessary involvement with English-speakers that might endanger our language, our families and customs, and our faith."

Franklin's ire at German immigrants began to crystallize in 1747, when they refused to heed his call to join the Association. Franklin had praised "the brave and steady Germans." And he had translated, printed, and distributed a German-language edition of Plain Truth. But it was to no avail; his campaign was immediately countered by Sauer, and very few Germans took the oath of engagement. Their reasoning-that if they remained neutral, then it did not matter whether the British or the French governed the colony-disturbed Franklin.

And again on page 139:

By the early 1750s, parliamentarians and members of the metropolitan elite solicited Franklin's views on German immigration. Manuscript copies of the Observations were eagerly read and discussed. In private correspondence Franklin embraced proposals to establish free English schools in German communities, to require that all legal documents be written in English, and to require that all public officials be competent speakers of English.

Franklin would write by his own hand, to Peter Collinson by the mid 1750's:

With regard to the Germans, I think Methods of great tenderness should be used, and nothing that looks like a hardship be imposed. Their fondness for their own Language and Manners is natural: It is not a Crime. When People are induced to settle a new Country by a promise of Privileges, that Promise should be bonâ fide performed, and the Privileges never infringed: If they are, how shall we be believed another time, when we want to People another Colony?

The most interesting observation, at least to me at this moment, is how the Founders(in this instance, Dr. Franklin) used the schools as a way to help Americanize immigrants. Foster unity over diversity, which is the exact opposite of how progressives use the schools today. I have little doubt that Benjamin Rush's ideal was the same for Franklin College: assimilation and fostering the distinct American culture.

Regarding Franklin's translations into French - from "Benjamin Franklin: An American Life", by Walter Isaacson, the following is written: (page 370)

Franklin used his bagatelles as a way to improve his language skills; he would translate them back and forth, show them to friends like the Abbe de la Roche, and then incorporate corrections. He wrote his famous story about paying too much for a whistle as a child, for example, in two columns, the left in French and the right in English, with space in the margins for revisions. Because Madame Brillon spoke no English, Franklin sent her the French versions of his writings, often showing her the corrections others had made.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Actually Germans are the biggest immigration group ever, from colonial all the way through at least c. 1900. I don’t know why no one notices such a huge population, maybe partly what you mention, but Germans never seemed to make much over themselves. Never made waves, per se.

My family is very German both sides. Mother again recounted today how anti-German people were from WWI, but not so much WWII. Her family had a local meat-packing plant and they experienced much more boycotting, etc in WWI than the latter. Mom lived through the latter albeit very young, and never felt prejudice.

[Tainan]

Pigeon Roost Scottsburg Indiana

[muawiyah]

The Collings Richie book quotes one of the settlers as stating that Little Buck, a Shawnee, was getting into a warlike mood ~ that settler is, himself, most likely a member of the Oneida tribe ~ and one of the Collins sisters is married to another identifiable Oneida, and another Collins sister married a well known Virginia-Kentucky woodsman named Simon Kenton. He, in turn ran with a group made up of Daniel Boone, Simon Girty, Spencer Records, Thomas S. Hinde, Dr. Thomas Hinde, and Isaac Shelby. All together they were known as THE LONG KNIVES OF THE SKIN HOUSE.

The Boone family split over the idea of settling Indiana, so the local Boones in this area are not Daniel Boone descendants, but most of them also have an ancestor among a competing settlement company operated by James Harrod.

These folks were on the rawest of the raw frontiers in America during wartime and found themselves fighting the British ~ along the Ohio and its tributaries. As part of the treaty ending the Revolution the Brits had been allowed to maintain forts in the Indiana territory for the purpose of protecting their interests in the fur trade. Here they were using the forts to provision the Indians to attack women, children and other civilians as part of a war.

You go anywhere in that area and you can easily dig up a modicum of sheer hatred for the British and disgust for their ways. Really stands out too.

[Tainan]

I grew up in the Oxford Ohio area, Butler County. The Miami, and the Little Miami, River flows through there. It s very ripe with history - both Indian settlements and the early colonists and land grants for their service. The county seat is Hamilton, Ohio. Originally Fort Hamilton. Right on the banks of the Miami river. Named after the Miami tribe of Indians.
Simon Kenton is a well-known name. Not always in a good way.
Ohio and Indiana was heabvily populated by various Indian nations.
My alma mater, Miami University, used to be, not sure anymore, a big repository of early settler and Indian lore and memorabilia.
There is state park just outside of Oxford which used to have a group of paintings on loan from the University depicting early Indian and settler scenes. Each was accompanied by background information.
One I remember quite well was of a Lacrosse game. It was something the Indians had learned from the French fur traders they came in contact with. Of course, the Indians added their own twist to the game. Their tossing sticks were made to resemble their war clubs and they used this to beat the crap out of their opponents (usually French, British or settlers) without being penalized by the 'white man.'
In my youth I, and other of my young buddies, became quite the artifact collectors during our time out in the fields and woods. It was, maybe still is, very rich with Indian camps and settlements in certain areas.