Archives and History Day is a success story of old

MANALAPAN - Through the years, a dedicated group of men and women has meticulously preserved many of the historical records of Monmouth County dating back to 1665.

The county's archived past was celebrated once again during Archives and History Day on Oct. 14 at Monmouth County Library Headquarters in Manalapan, according to William Heine, the county's director of public information.

Since 1996, Archives and History Day has been celebrated annually in recognition of Archives Week. Its purpose is to bring together archivists, historians and other people and organizations that preserve New Jersey history and make it available to the public, particularly as it relates to Monmouth County, according to information provided by Heine.

Visitors were treated to almost 70 displays prepared by various historical organizations in the county and from around the state, according to Heine.

"On hand to educate the public were archivists, historians, curators, genealogists and others in the field of history and preservation," said Monmouth County Clerk M. Claire French. "It was an opportunity to learn about the history of Monmouth County and hear rich stories from people who have studied it."

The county's archives reveal the histories of families through marriage, birth and naturalization records. The archives also contain information about the lives of freed slaves of the post-Civil War years, and records of diverse matters such as lawsuits, executions and tavern licenses, according to Heine.

Monmouth County Freeholder Ted Narozanick said, "Archives and History Day is a wonderful opportunity for young and old to learn about the rich traditions, beliefs and values that make up our diverse county, and [it] allows us each to explore our cultural identity as citizens of Monmouth County."

The day's featured speaker was Charles McSorley, an independent historian who spoke about famed Civil War photographer Mathew Brady. Planning to document the war on a grand scale, Brady organized a corps of photographers to follow the troops in the field, according to Heine.

During the event, McSorley said the images Brady collected depicted the horrors of the war, which included scenes of dead soldiers and horses, and that the resulting display of photographs shocked America.

Gary D. Saretzky, archivist for the Monmouth County Clerk's Office, said the overall event promoted the value of archives to society, publicized collections and programs, supported professional archival practices and provided an opportunity for networking among history-related organizations in the state.

"It was also a great way for the public to learn about their history directly from a variety of experts," he said.