This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Franklin and the birth of press freedom in America
In early English and colonial printing the license bound press to government control. James Franklin defied licensing, starting the New England Courant in Boston with Ben Franklin as nominal editor. The paper mocked leaders, pushed independence, and inspired later presses to separate government from newspapers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
England
Colonies
James Franklin
Franklin
Boston
Ben
Boston Gazette
The
New England Courant
Mather
Cotton Mather
Courant
Brother Ben
the Courant
Reading
Rhode
America