There are many desks in Van Pelt Library -- two of which are priceless.
The two desks, once owned and used by Ben Franklin, are on display along with several other personal effects and a nearly complete collection of manuscripts produced by Franklin's printing company.
This is nothing new, but students have been slow to catch on to the Americana in their own backyard.
To promote the University's collection and inaugurate the Muriel Pfaelzer Bodek Public Events Series, the library hosted a presentation by H.W. Brands last week. Brands, a professor of history at Texas A&M; University, is the author of The First American, a biography of Franklin published in 2000.
The book marks the first full-length biography on Franklin in more than 60 years.
"None of his biographers have done it better than Brands," History Professor Michael Zuckerman said. "He is smart enough to make you forget to wish you were reading [Franklin's autobiography] instead."
Brands, who has written 15 books, including a biography on Theodore Roosevelt, said that in choosing to write about Franklin he was "looking for a subject as multifaceted as Roosevelt."
Acknowledging Franklin's strong presence on campus, Brands said that it is "with trepidation that I come to Philly.... I have the impression that half the people on the street know everything about Franklin and are going to point out my mistakes."
In the five years spent researching the book Brands made several trips to Philadelphia, but admits neglecting Penn. However, the book does touch upon Franklin's founding of the nation's first university.
Brands signed books before speaking to a crowd of distinguished alumni and friends of the library, including former University President Martin Meyerson.
Brands "was as lively as could be," Meyerson said. "He was as vibrant as Franklin was withdrawn."
The Franklin items are continuously on display in the T. Edward Ross Room of the Annenberg Rare Book and Manuscript Center, but the display attracts few visitors, according to Center Director Michael Ryan. "In Quaker tradition, [the artifacts are] a very well kept secret," he said.
