Benjamin Banneker’s Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia Almanac, 1795 Benjamin Banneker (here spelled Bannaker) was a free black from Baltimore County, Maryland. Largely self-educated, he was a talented astronomer who compiled almanacs that included annual calendars, tide charts, lunar and solar observations, and statistical charts. Almanacs were widely used by farmers, sailors, and the general public. Banneker’s almanac included his portrait to highlight his achievements as a black man.
Granger, NYC