# Franklin Humanities Institute

> interdisciplinary humanities center at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States

**Wikidata**: [Q5491591](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5491591)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Humanities_Institute)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/franklin-humanities-institute

## Summary
The Franklin Humanities Institute is an interdisciplinary humanities center at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, founded in 1999. It serves as a collaborative hub for humanities research and scholarship, bringing together scholars from various disciplines to explore complex human questions.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1999 by Cathy Davidson and Karla F.C. Holloway
- Located at Smith Warehouse, 114 S Buchanan Blvd, Durham, NC 27701 (since 2010)
- Previously located at John Hope Franklin Center for Interdisciplinary and International Studies (1999-2010)
- Named after John Hope Franklin, the distinguished African American historian
- Current director is Ranjana Khanna (since 2018)
- Coordinates: 36.0021°N, 78.9149°W
- Member of the Consortium of Humanities Centers and Institutes (as of 2022)
- ISNI: 0000000404954442 and VIAF ID: 186759904

## FAQs
### Q: When was the Franklin Humanities Institute founded?
A: The Franklin Humanities Institute was founded in 1999 at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

### Q: Who founded the Franklin Humanities Institute?
A: The institute was founded by Cathy Davidson and Karla F.C. Holloway, both prominent scholars at Duke University.

### Q: Who is the Franklin Humanities Institute named after?
A: The institute is named after John Hope Franklin, a pioneering African American historian and scholar whose work significantly advanced the understanding of American history.

### Q: Where is the Franklin Humanities Institute located?
A: The institute is located at Smith Warehouse, 114 S Buchanan Blvd, Durham, NC 27701, having moved there in 2010 from its previous location at the John Hope Franklin Center.

### Q: Who directs the Franklin Humanities Institute?
A: Ranjana Khanna has been the director of the Franklin Humanities Institute since 2018.

## Why It Matters
The Franklin Humanities Institute represents a significant interdisciplinary hub for humanities research and collaboration at Duke University. By bringing together scholars from various disciplines, it fosters innovative approaches to complex human questions and challenges traditional academic boundaries. The institute's commitment to interdisciplinary work addresses the need for collaborative solutions to contemporary issues that transcend single disciplines. Its location within a major research university and its participation in the Consortium of Humanities Centers and Institutes further amplify its impact, connecting Duke's humanities scholars with a broader academic community and contributing to the advancement of humanities research both locally and globally.

## Notable For
- Being named after John Hope Franklin, a pioneering African American historian whose work transformed the understanding of American history
- Its interdisciplinary approach that bridges traditional humanities disciplines and encourages collaborative research
- Its founding by prominent scholars Cathy Davidson and Karla F.C. Holloway, who established it as a model for humanities centers
- Its transition from the John Hope Franklin Center to Smith Warehouse in 2010, reflecting its evolution and growth
- Its active presence across multiple social media platforms with substantial follower counts, including 23,500 YouTube subscribers as of 2025

## Body
### Overview
The Franklin Humanities Institute (FHI) is a research institute at Duke University that serves as an interdisciplinary center for humanities scholarship. It operates under the classification of a research institute, with its primary purpose being research activities that bridge traditional academic boundaries.

### History and Founding
The institute was established in 1999 and was initially located at the John Hope Franklin Center for Interdisciplinary and International Studies. In 2010, it relocated to its current location at Smith Warehouse. The institute was founded by Cathy Davidson and Karla F.C. Holloway, both distinguished faculty members at Duke University.

### Namesake
The institute is named after John Hope Franklin, a renowned African American historian whose scholarship significantly advanced the understanding of American history, particularly the African American experience. The full name of the institute is the John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute at Duke University, though it is commonly referred to by shorter forms including FHI.

### Leadership
The current director is Ranjana Khanna, who has held this position since 2018. Previous leadership information is not provided in the source material.

### Location and Facilities
The institute is physically located at Smith Warehouse, 114 S Buchanan Blvd, Durham, NC 27701. Its geographical coordinates are 36.0021°N, 78.9149°W. Prior to 2010, it was situated at the John Hope Franklin Center for Interdisciplinary and International Studies.

### Affiliations and Memberships
The Franklin Humanities Institute is a member of the Consortium of Humanities Centers and Institutes, having joined this network as of December 17, 2022. This affiliation connects the institute with a broader community of humanities scholars and centers worldwide.

### Digital Presence and Social Media
The institute maintains an active online presence through multiple platforms:
- Website: http://fhi.duke.edu (in English)
- Twitter: @fhi_duke (established January 12, 2009)
- Facebook: fhi.duke
- Instagram: fhi_duke
- YouTube channel: UCcTuyAPBvtRupvsTLOEQT0A (established December 6, 2010)

The YouTube channel has shown significant growth, with subscriber counts increasing from 15,000 in October 2022 to 23,500 by June 2025. Twitter followers numbered 4,539 as of January 2021, having grown from 3,772 in May 2018.

### Identifiers and Cataloging
The institute has several standardized identifiers used in library and academic systems:
- ISNI: 0000000404954442
- VIAF ID: 186759904
- Library of Congress Authority ID: no2011151914
- Freebase ID: /m/02vntsg
- Google Maps Customer ID: 18329247700110882003
- Yale LUX ID: group/b390ee08-6691-4297-9cff-8c102d61ca7d

### Academic Classification
The institute is classified as a research institute, which aligns with its primary purpose of conducting and facilitating humanities research. It is also recognized as an interdisciplinary humanities center, emphasizing its commitment to bridging traditional academic disciplines.

## References

1. [Source](https://fhi.duke.edu/about)
2. [Source](https://fhi.duke.edu/john-hope-franklin)
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. [Source](https://chcinetwork.org/members/)
5. [Source](https://fhi.duke.edu/people/ranjana-khanna)
6. YouTube API