New Jersey Historical Society
Encyclopedia
The New Jersey Historical Society is a historical society
and museum
located in Newark
, New Jersey
, United States
. The Historical Society is housed in the former headquarters of the Essex Club. It has two floors of exhibition space, a gift shop, and a hall for lectures. The NJHS offers occasional Newark walking tours. The Society publishes the academic journal
, New Jersey History.
Exhibitions can be found on the second and third floor while the library reading room is housed on the fifth floor, formerly the Essex Club squash
courts
The Society is open to the public. Members are free, while non-members pay an admission fee. Patrons visiting the library are encouraged to make an appointment. The current Acting Executive Director is Steven Tettamanti.
by intellectual and business leaders of New Jersey, most prominently Joseph C. Hornblower, Peter D. Vroom and William Whitehead.
It's original headquarters in Newark were located on Market Street, In 1931 it left Downtown Newark
for a large colonial-style building partially paid for by Louis Bamberger
in Broadway
, east of Branch Brook Park
.
In 1997 the Historical Society returned downtown, to 52 Park Place, on Military Park
. The new home is a Georgian style building vacated by the Essex Club that was designed by Guilbert & Betelle. The building was built in 1926 and had been added to the National Register of Historic Places
on February 22, 1991. In its first year in the downtown location visits increased almost fivefold.
Historical society
A historical society is an organization that collects, researches, interprets and preserves information or items of historical interest. Generally, a historical society focuses on a specific geographical area, such as a county or town or subject, such as aviation or rail. Many historical...
and museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
located in Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Historical Society is housed in the former headquarters of the Essex Club. It has two floors of exhibition space, a gift shop, and a hall for lectures. The NJHS offers occasional Newark walking tours. The Society publishes the academic journal
Academic journal
An academic journal is a peer-reviewed periodical in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as forums for the introduction and presentation for scrutiny of new research, and the critique of existing research...
, New Jersey History.
Exhibitions can be found on the second and third floor while the library reading room is housed on the fifth floor, formerly the Essex Club squash
Squash (sport)
Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
courts
The Society is open to the public. Members are free, while non-members pay an admission fee. Patrons visiting the library are encouraged to make an appointment. The current Acting Executive Director is Steven Tettamanti.
History
The society was founded in 1845 at TrentonTrenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
by intellectual and business leaders of New Jersey, most prominently Joseph C. Hornblower, Peter D. Vroom and William Whitehead.
It's original headquarters in Newark were located on Market Street, In 1931 it left Downtown Newark
Downtown Newark
Downtown Newark is Newark, New Jersey's major central business, retail, and cultural district. It is located at a bend in the Passaic River.Downtown is the site of the original Puritan settlement of Newark. The first settlers, led by Robert Treat, landed not far from the present site of the New...
for a large colonial-style building partially paid for by Louis Bamberger
Louis Bamberger
Louis Bamberger was Newark, New Jersey's leading citizen from the early 1900s until his death in 1944. He was a businessman and philanthropist and at his death all flags in Newark were flown at half-staff for three days, and his large department store closed for a day.Louis Bamberger was born in...
in Broadway
Broadway, Newark, New Jersey
Broadway is a neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey. It is located on the west bank of the Passaic River, in Newark's North Ward, east of Forest Hill and north of Seventh Avenue. The neighborhood extends from Interstate 280 to Belleville. The term "Broadway" has only come into use recently, most...
, east of Branch Brook Park
Branch Brook Park
Branch Brook Park is a county park of Essex County, New Jersey in the United States, located in the North Ward of Newark, between the neighborhoods of Forest Hill and Roseville. At 360 acres , Branch Brook Park is the largest public park in the city of Newark...
.
In 1997 the Historical Society returned downtown, to 52 Park Place, on Military Park
Military Park (Newark)
Military Park is a city park in downtown Newark, New Jersey. It is a nearly triangular park located between Park Place, Rector Street and Broad Street. From 1667, when the city was planned, until 1869 it was a training ground for soldiers...
. The new home is a Georgian style building vacated by the Essex Club that was designed by Guilbert & Betelle. The building was built in 1926 and had been added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on February 22, 1991. In its first year in the downtown location visits increased almost fivefold.
See also
- Newark MuseumNewark MuseumThe Newark Museum is the largest museum in New Jersey, USA. It holds fine collections of American art, decorative arts, contemporary art, and arts of Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the ancient world...
- Newark Public LibraryNewark Public LibraryThe Newark Public Library is the public library system for the city of Newark, New Jersey.-History:In 1902 John Cotton Dana became employed at the Newark Public Library in Newark, New Jersey from until his death in 1929. He established foreign language collections for immigrants and also developed...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Essex County, New Jersey
- New Jersey Historical TrustNew Jersey Historical TrustThe New Jersey Historic Trust was created by the State of New Jersey in 1967 to preserve New Jersey's historic resources. The Historic Trust's executive director is Barbara Haney Irvine.Funding programs available through the New Jersey Historic Trust are...
- Jewish Museum of New JerseyJewish Museum of New JerseyThe Jewish Museum of New Jersey, atAhavas Sholom, is located at 145 Broadway in Newark, New Jersey.The museum opened in 2007. The historic building in the Broadway neighborhood is housed is the longest continually operating synagogue in the city. It was built in 1923 and added to the National...
- John T. CunninghamJohn T. CunninghamJohn T. Cunningham is a journalist, writer, and historian who has published numerous works related to the history of his native state, New Jersey....