Monmouth County Historical Association
Encyclopedia
The Monmouth County Historical Association was established in 1898 by a group of county residents headed by professional educator Caroline Gallup Reed. They soon incorporated in order “to discover, procure, preserve and perpetuate whatever relates to the history of Monmouth County.” In 1931, the present Museum and Library, a brick Georgian-style building designed by architect J. Hallam Conover, was constructed in Freehold, New Jersey
, the county seat. The enthusiasm generated by the announcement of a new headquarters brought in numerous contributions of furniture, artifacts, paintings, rare documents and books.
(circa 1754) was given to the MCHA by Bell Laboratories and moved two miles to its present site in Holmdel.
During the 1960s, the MCHA acquired and restored two more of Monmouth County
's most historically significant buildings. In 1966, the Covenhoven House
(circa 1752) in Freehold, which served as British General Sir Henry Clinton's headquarters before the Battle of Monmouth
, was acquired; and in 1968, the Allen House
(circa 1705) in Shrewsbury, which is interpreted to reflect its late 18th-century use as a tavern, became an MCHA property. These four historic properties, furnished with the MCHA's decorative arts collections to reflect life in the 18th century, are open to the public seasonally as historic house museums. In 1999, the MCHA acquired an important example of the Victorian style, the Taylor-Butler House (circa 1853), built by later generations of the Taylor family of Marlpit Hall, which is on the adjoining property.
is open throughout the year and its historic sites are open seasonally from May through September. Nearly 8,000 school children participate in school programs each year presented at the museum, the historic houses and in outreach programs given in classrooms throughout the area.
The Library and Archives house over 200,000 documents pertaining to the area and its residents, in addition to comprehensive collections of genealogies, reference books, photographs, and local newspapers. Some of the more widely used collections include Coll. 1 Peter Vredenburgh (1837-1864) Papers, 1856-1868, Coll. 5 North American Phalanx
Records, 1841-1972, Coll. 42 John C. Mills Maritime Collection, 1870s-1970s, Coll. 51 A & M Karagheusian, Inc. Collection, 1940-1962, Coll. 72 Battle of Monmouth
Collection, and Coll. 466 Pach Brothers Photographers Glass Plate Negatives Collection.
Freehold Borough, New Jersey
Freehold is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 12,052. It is the county seat of Monmouth County....
, the county seat. The enthusiasm generated by the announcement of a new headquarters brought in numerous contributions of furniture, artifacts, paintings, rare documents and books.
Historic Properties
In 1936, the MCHA expanded its mission to include the preservation of historic properties. In that year, the first of five historic properties came to the MCHA when Mrs. J. Amory Haskell purchased, restored and furnished Marlpit Hall (circa 1756) in Middletown, and then presented it to the organization. In 1959, the Holmes-Hendrickson HouseHolmes-Hendrickson House
Holmes-Hendrickson House is located in Holmdel Township, New Jersey. The house was built in 1754 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 26, 1978....
(circa 1754) was given to the MCHA by Bell Laboratories and moved two miles to its present site in Holmdel.
During the 1960s, the MCHA acquired and restored two more of Monmouth County
Monmouth County, New Jersey
Monmouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 630,380, up from 615,301 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Freehold Borough. The most populous municipality is Middletown Township with...
's most historically significant buildings. In 1966, the Covenhoven House
Hankinson-Moreau-Covenhoven House
Hankinson-Moreau-Covenhoven House, also known as General Clinton's Headquarters, is located in Freehold, New Jersey. The house was built in 1706 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 1, 1974....
(circa 1752) in Freehold, which served as British General Sir Henry Clinton's headquarters before the Battle of Monmouth
Battle of Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on June 28, 1778 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The Continental Army under General George Washington attacked the rear of the British Army column commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton as they left Monmouth Court...
, was acquired; and in 1968, the Allen House
Allen House (Shrewsbury, New Jersey)
Allen House, is located in Shrewsbury, New Jersey. The house was built c. 1740 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 8, 1974....
(circa 1705) in Shrewsbury, which is interpreted to reflect its late 18th-century use as a tavern, became an MCHA property. These four historic properties, furnished with the MCHA's decorative arts collections to reflect life in the 18th century, are open to the public seasonally as historic house museums. In 1999, the MCHA acquired an important example of the Victorian style, the Taylor-Butler House (circa 1853), built by later generations of the Taylor family of Marlpit Hall, which is on the adjoining property.
Education
The Monmouth County Historical Association is recognized as one of the country's leading local history organizations and remains committed to making its museum and research collections accessible to the public through publication, educational programs, outreach activities and an annual changing and permanent exhibition program. The MCHA's main Museum and Library building in Freehold, New JerseyFreehold Borough, New Jersey
Freehold is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 12,052. It is the county seat of Monmouth County....
is open throughout the year and its historic sites are open seasonally from May through September. Nearly 8,000 school children participate in school programs each year presented at the museum, the historic houses and in outreach programs given in classrooms throughout the area.
Publications
- The Diary of Sarah Tabitha Reid, 1868-1873 (2001)
- Steamboats in Monmouth County: A Gazetteer by Megan E. Springate (2003)
- Documents in the Classroom: The World War II Home Front in New Jersey compiled by Denise Lubrano (2007)
Collections
The Museum collections are displayed in changing exhibitions at the museum and furnish the historic homes. They include furniture and other decorative arts, costumes and textiles, ceramics, portraits and paintings, folk art and military objects.The Library and Archives house over 200,000 documents pertaining to the area and its residents, in addition to comprehensive collections of genealogies, reference books, photographs, and local newspapers. Some of the more widely used collections include Coll. 1 Peter Vredenburgh (1837-1864) Papers, 1856-1868, Coll. 5 North American Phalanx
North American Phalanx
The North American Phalanx was a secular Utopian community located in Colts Neck Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The NAP was based on the ideas of Charles Fourier, and lasted from 1843 to 1855-1856.- Fourier and founding the community :...
Records, 1841-1972, Coll. 42 John C. Mills Maritime Collection, 1870s-1970s, Coll. 51 A & M Karagheusian, Inc. Collection, 1940-1962, Coll. 72 Battle of Monmouth
Battle of Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on June 28, 1778 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The Continental Army under General George Washington attacked the rear of the British Army column commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton as they left Monmouth Court...
Collection, and Coll. 466 Pach Brothers Photographers Glass Plate Negatives Collection.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Monmouth County, New Jersey
- List of the oldest buildings in New Jersey
- List of museums in New Jersey
- Freehold Public LibraryFreehold Public LibraryThe Freehold Public Library the free public library of Borough of Freehold, New Jersey located at 28 1/2 East Main Street.Serving a population of 11,000 residents and with a collection of approximately 26,000 volumes the library has a yearly circulation of circa 28,000 items...