The secretary desk is in two parts: a lower half in the form of a desk and an upper half in the form of a bookcase with a mirrored door. The woods are walnut, with walnut burl veneer ornamentation, and unknown secondary woods. The desk has a fall front or drop lid with an inset felt writing surface. Behind the lid are seven vertical open compartments above three small drawers, approximately 6 inches wide and 2 1/2 inches high.

The desk contains four long drawers of increasing depths, each with a pair of oval cast or pressed brass pulls and a central oval keyhole escutcheon. The top drawer is narrower because it is flanked by retractable shelf supports. The desk is supported on narrow tapered bracket feet.

The upper section of the desk is tall and slender, rising to a cornice with a shallow cove moulding. The cornice may be attached. A single mirrored door, whose glass is a modern replacement of a mirror broken in the 19th century, is hinged along the viewer's right side. Centered beneath the door is a retractable candle shelf. The interior of the upper compartment has three thin shelves that run from wall to wall. Sets of slatted runners permit shelf heights to be adjusted. Below the shelf units is a pair of short drawers with flat brass ring pulls. The drawers may be alterations.
This entry was created with the generous assistance of several of Franklin's descendants, whose help is acknowledged with thanks.

Descended in Franklin's family