“The
Princess & the Patriot” Exhibit Highlights Russian-American
Cooperation and Technological Development Through the Lives
of
Ekaterina Dashkova and Benjamin Franklin
The Mid-Atlantic Russia Business Council (MARBC) is pleased
to support the “The Princess & the Patriot”
exhibit, currently being held at the Museum of the American
Philosophical Society in Philadelphia. The exhibit has been
chosen to be part of various MARBC events and conferences
during 2006, including hosting visiting delegations from Russia,
because it illustrates the long history of Russian-American
cooperation and technological development. MARBC encourages
those interested in Russian history and the Age of Enlightenment
to view the exhibit.
“The Princess and the Patriot” exhibit is being
held from February 17 – December 31, 2006 as part
of the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the birth
of Benjamin Franklin. The exhibit presents Franklin’s
life in a novel way, emphasizing his role as an Enlightenment
thinker and placing him alongside Ekaterina Dashkova, an
important figure in 18th century Russia. Though the two
came from very different backgrounds, both Franklin and
Dashkova were profoundly influenced by the ideas of the
Enlightenment that had been developed in Western Europe.
Franklin made his mark as a scientist, a printer, and a
politician, playing an important role in the development
of American democracy. In 1743 he founded the American Philosophical
Society, an internationally respected organization dedicated
to scholarly pursuits.
During the same era, Princess Ekaterina Dashkova was making
a name for herself in her native Russia. In 1762, at the
age of only 18, she helped her friend Catherine Alexeyevna
(Catherine the Great) take the Russian throne in a coup
d’etat. Ekaterina was an intellectual who studied
literature and mathematics. She traveled extensively in
Europe and became a friend of major literary figures including
Voltaire and Diderot. Dashkova achieved further prominence
as an intellectual when she was appointed as director of
the Academy of Russian Language and the Russian Academy
of Sciences.
Franklin and Dashkova met face to face only once –
in 1781 in Paris – but each developed a strong respect
for the intellect and achievements of the other. In 1789
Franklin nominated Dashkova to become a member of the American
Philosophical Society, making her the only female member
of the group. In the same year, Franklin was nominated by
Dashkova to join the Russian Academy of Sciences, making
him its first American member.
In April, as a part of the 4th Semi-Annual Russian-American
Innovation Technology Week (RANIT) from April 6-12, 2006,
the program included a visit to the exhibit and a Russian
musical performance at Benjamin Franklin Hall, which complemented
the exhibit. The Russian musical performance featured the
group “Talisman,” which specializes in performing
pieces by female Russian composers who were at the court
of Catherine the Great. In the future, MARBC will include
the exhibit as a part of the Russian Mayors Delegation’s
visit to Philadelphia on July 12, 2006, when mayors and
local government officials from the Russian Federation will
visit the United States. On October 5, 2006, Russian participants
of the Russian-American Venture Industry Cooperation Program,
who will be attending the Mid-Atlantic Venture Conference,
will visit the exhibit. MARBC also plans to include “The
Princess and the Patriot” exhibit as a part of the
program of the 5th Semi-Annual Russian-American Innovation
Technology Week, which will be held from November 13-17,
2006. The 5th Semi-Annual RANIT will include a panel discussion
on Franklin and Dashkova and will be followed by a viewing
of the exhibit. MARBC would also be pleased to support more
Russian musical performances in the future.
The Museum of the American Philosophical Society is located
at 104 South Fifth Street in Philadelphia. For further information
about the exhibit, visit http://www.amphilsoc.org/exhibitions.
For further information about “The Princess and the
Patriot” exhibit, contact Val Kogan, Mid-Atlantic-Russia
Business Council, by phone: (215) 708-2628, or email: val@ma-rbc.org,
or visit the MARBC website at: http://www.ma-rbc.org
