Claude-Anne Lopez

Claude-Anne Lopez (October 17, 1920 – December 28, 2012), born Claude-Anne Kirschen, was a Belgian-American writer and scholar who specialized in studies of Benjamin Franklin. Beginning with transcribing papers from French at Yale University, she became an associate editor of The Papers of Benjamin Franklin project and senior research scholar in history at Yale. She was a co-founder of the Friends of Franklin, an association devoted to his works.

She published many articles about Franklin, as well as three major studies of him. In her exploration of his private and family life, she was considered "one of the great Franklin scholars of our time." Her book The Private Franklin (1975) won the L.L. Winship/PEN New England Award in 1976.

Early life and education Born in Belgium about 1920, Claude-Anne Kirschen grew up with French as her native language. When she was in her late teens, she and her family immigrated as refugees to the United States in 1940 to escape Nazi occupation after the German invasion during World War II. They settled in New York City. Recognizing that she had insights to contribute, she published some articles on Franklin's personal life and was promoted to editor. It won a PEN award for history in 1976.

In addition to serving as associate editor of the Franklin Papers Project, Lopez was a senior research scholar in the Department of History.

In 2002, Lopez was the adviser to the PBS mini-series, Benjamin Franklin, directed by Ellen Hovde and Muffie Meyer. It won a Primetime Emmy Award.

Works 1966/1990: Mon Cher Papa: Franklin and the Ladies of Paris 1975/1985: The Private Franklin: The Man and His Family, in collaboration with Eugenia Herbert 1990: Le Sceptre et la Foudre: Franklin à Paris (1776-1785), in French, published by Mercure de France

Death Lopez died December 28, 2012, at the age of 92 at her New Haven, Connecticut, home of Alzheimer's disease.