MANALAPAN, NJ – The excitement is building for the County Clerk’s 2015 Archives and History Day. Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon invites everyone to start the celebration early, beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters.

“Archives Week is designed for history buffs and preservation enthusiasts who want to get the celebration started before the main event on Saturday, Oct. 3,” said Hanlon.  “This year’s theme is the World War I era from approximately 1910 to 1920. Archives Week will feature special movie screenings and seminars for young and old to have a more in depth look at our history directly from the experts.”

Two fascinating seminars will be offered on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at the Library Headquarters: 

From 9:30 to 11:45 a.m., join three custodians of newspaper photo archives, Monmouth County Archivist Gary D. Saretzky (Red Bank Register); Archivist and Head of Local History, Special Collections & Genealogy at Plainfield Public Library Sarah Hull (The Courier News); and Boris Von Faust,  archival intern in charge of the Paterson Evening News Photographic Collection digitization project for the Passaic Historical Society, for a seminar on “Newspaper Photo Archives at Archival repositories in New Jersey.” The seminar will address the unique characteristics of their collections and steps taken for preservation and access. 

From 1 to 2:30 p.m., Monmouth County Historical Commissioner and noted Land Title Historian Joe Grabas will give a seminar entitled “Monmouth Land Holdings at the Turn of the 20th Century.”  This seminar will explore the deeds, maps and documents that reveal the birth of the 20th century in New Jersey, which witnessed the gradual waning of the Agrarian Society and the explosion of industry and immigration.

If you enjoy historical movies, the Library will screen two films about the World War I era, the topic of the annual Monmouth County Archives exhibit that opens October 1. “The Water Diviner,” about a father searching for his three missing sons after World War I (WWI), will be seen on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 2 p.m. and on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 2 p.m., “Lawrence of Arabia: The Battle for the Arab World,” a story about a 24-year-old British spy, will be shown.

“Archives Week gives people an opportunity to learn about our history and how to properly preserve it” said Gary D. Saretzky, Monmouth County Archivist. “It is also a great lead up to our main event on
Saturday, Oct. 3, Archives and History Day, our 21st annual celebration of local history and its documents, organized by the Monmouth County Archives, a division of the County Clerk’s Office.” 

More than 60 local and state history organizations will set-up displays about topics related to New Jersey history and their organization. Attendees are encouraged to dress in period costume from any era and to donate a history-related prize for the annual History Game. 

The complete event also includes a History Forum, awards presentations, and a tour of the Monmouth County Archives, for which reservation is required.
 
For more information on Archives and History Day and Archives Week visit the Monmouth County website at www.visitmonmouth.com. 
 
For additional information, contact the Monmouth County Archives at 732-308-3771 or email gary.saretzky@co.monmouth.nj.us.

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