--- title: Benjamin Banneker, Astronomer-City Planner url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/us-owi-alston-benjamin-banneker-astronomer-city-planner-1943/ description: 'A full-page biographical panel shows a large pencil portrait of Benjamin Banneker with three small scenes: building a clock, writing at a desk.' section: Collection --- 1. [Home](https://propagandaarchive.org/) 2. [Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/) 3. Benjamin Banneker, Astronomer-City Planner [![Benjamin Banneker, Astronomer-City Planner, 1943 US cartoon: A full-page biographical panel shows a large pencil portrait](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/us-owi-alston-benjamin-banneker-astronomer-city-planner-1943.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/us-owi-alston-benjamin-banneker-astronomer-city-planner-1943.jpg) # Benjamin Banneker, Astronomer-City Planner A full-page biographical panel shows a large pencil portrait of Benjamin Banneker with three small scenes: building a clock, writing at a desk, and surveying. Captions credit him with the first clock made in America, a plan-for-peace almanac of 1793, and a place on the commission that laid out Washington, D.C. The tell is testimonial by exemplar: a named historical figure's achievements are offered as a model for the reader, with the claims given without sources on the sheet. ## Propaganda techniques used in this cartoon [Testimonial](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/testimonial/) ## Text on the object Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked ``` BENJAMIN BANNEKER ASTRONOMER-CITY PLANNER AT 22, USING A BORROWED WATCH AS A MODEL, A POCKET KNIFE AS HIS ONLY TOOL, HE CONSTRUCTED THE FIRST CLOCK MADE IN AMERICA.—IT KEPT ACCURATE TIME FOR OVER 20 YEARS! ON THE ADVICE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON, HE WAS PLACED ON THE COMMISSION WHICH SURVEYED AND LAID OUT THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, D.C.! PLANNING FOR PEACE IN TIME OF WAR WAS ADVOCATED BY BANNEKER IN HIS FAMOUS ALMANAC IN 1793! Alston OWI 36 1/2 Picas ``` [← Austin Curtis, Scientist, Successor to Dr. Carver](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/us-owi-alston-austin-curtis-1943/) [The Best Present for the Best Future!!! →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/us-owi-alston-best-present-best-future-1943/) ## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques - [Behistun (Bisotun) rock relief and trilingual inscription of Darius I: the king, two attendants and the bound rebel leaders beneath the winged figure of Ahuramazda](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/behistun-relief-darius-and-rebels-521bce/) (Achaemenid Empire · 0000 · Card stacking, Name-calling, Testimonial). Content note: Shows bound captives before the king, and the inscription records the mutilation and public execution of rebel leaders, as the king's own account. - [Tomb of Darius I at Naqsh-e Rustam: the king in relief beside his inscription DNa, c. 490 BCE](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/dna-inscription-darius-i-naqsh-e-rustam-490bce/) (Achaemenid Empire · 0000 · Testimonial, Card stacking) - [Seated limestone statue of Hatshepsut as king, with feminine royal titles on the throne, reassembled from fragments broken up at Deir el-Bahri](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/hatshepsut-seated-statue-limestone-met-1458bce/) (New Kingdom Egypt · 0000 · Transfer, Testimonial) - [Bronze sestertius of Gaius (Caligula), reverse S P Q R P P OB CIVES SERVATOS in an oak wreath](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sestertius-caligula-ob-cives-servatos-0037/) (Roman Empire · 0037 · Testimonial, Transfer) - [Bronze sestertius of Trajan, reverse S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, S C, the emperor on horseback riding down an enemy](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sestertius-trajan-optimo-principi-0103/) (Roman Empire · 0103 · Testimonial, Glittering generalities) - [Seljuq gold dinar of Sanjar, dated 493 AH, with the Abbasid caliph named on one face](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/seljuq-gold-dinar-sanjar-caliph-name-1099/) (Great Seljuk Empire · 1099 · Testimonial) - [Estoire d'Eracles page with Bernard of Clairvaux preaching the Second Crusade in the initial (Walters W.137, fol. 180v)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/eracles-bernard-preaching-second-crusade-w137-1275/) (France · 1275 · Testimonial) - [Opening page of the Estoire d'Eracles (William of Tyre in French), with the Crucifixion and Pope Urban II preaching the First Crusade in the initial (Walters W.137, fol. 1r)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/eracles-urban-ii-preaching-first-crusade-w137-1275/) (France · 1275 · Testimonial, Transfer)