It may have started with old Ben Franklin peering owlishly over his tiny specs. Winston Churchill may have helped with his head-down scowl and black-rimmed glasses at half-mast on his nose. Then ...

In 1877, the Ben Franklin business began as a mail-order wholesaler, selling general store items. The company began the retail chain in 1927. At Ben Franklin's peak, there were 2,500 stores.

Universities: Old Ben’s New Penn. 5 minute read. TIME. August 23, 1963 12:00 AM GMT-4. ... Philadelphia Lawyers. Penn’s new look would surely delight Ben Franklin, ...