Welcome to Ben Franklin’s Paris Blog!

Benjamin Franklin - Bronze Statue by Paul W. Bartlett (1929) standing in the Embassy Courtyard. DOS photo

This blog is done by the Information Resource Center (IRC) of the Embassy of the United States of America in France. 

For years, the IRC was known as the Benjamin Franklin Documentation Center, in honor of the first U.S. Envoy to France. It only seemed natural to continue this recognition by dedicating our blog to Franklin, who symbolizes Franco-American friendship and understanding so well.

This blog presents annotated lists of U.S. government documents, congressional hearings and think tank reports, selected by the IRC team, on foreign policy and defense, political and social issues, economy, environment and global issues. We hope you enjoy reading it!

The IRC aims to serve those who need research, reference and documentation services on U.S. foreign and domestic policies.  To learn more about the IRC, please visit our page.

Additionally, the public is welcome to send us reference questions by e-mail (NOT for Consular Services, Visas, or U.S. Citizen Services), at ircfrance@state.gov.  (Please note: The IRC does not provide information about France.  Such information is available on the website of the French Embassy in Washington.)