Monmouth County Clerk Hanlon Announces Archives Week Seminars

MANALAPAN, NJ – Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon is pleased to announce that the County Clerk’s Annual Archives Week seminars will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 16 with three presentations related to this year’s Archives and History Day theme of “New Jersey in Focus: Four Centuries of Monmouth County Women.” The presentations will take place at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters in Manalapan after Archives and History Day, which will also be held at the library on Saturday, Oct. 12.

Dr. Walter D. Greason, Chair of the Department of Educational Counseling at Monmouth University

Dr. Walter D. Greason, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Educational Counseling at Monmouth University, will lead the first public program, “From the Pines to the Waves: Wealth, Leadership, and Historic Preservation” at 9:30 a.m. Dr. Greason’s presentation will focus on the economic patterns of land-use and local governance, especially those in Monmouth County, that have historically shaped New Jersey. Dr. Greason is one of few scholars who study these patterns and will provide valuable and emerging insight into the new history of capitalism since 2015.

At 10:45 a.m., Melissa Ziobro, Specialist Professor of Public History at Monmouth University, will focus on the marriages between American women and men of European nobility during the Gilded Age in her presentation, “American Women and Royal Marriages: New Jersey’s Real-Life ‘Lady Coras.’” Professor Ziobro will highlight marriages between “new money” American families and relatively impoverished European nobles. The so-called “dollar princesses” in the presentation include multiple New Jersey women, among them Lady Monson (née Romaine Stone, daughter of General Roy Stone of Morristown) and Princess Miguel of Braganza (née Anita Stewart, born in Elberon). Professor Ziobro’s presentation is timely as it follows a year of intense media attention on the royal wedding and daily lives of Prince Harry of Great Britain and the American actress Meghan Markle.

The day’s final presenter will be actor and storyteller Carol Smith Levin. She will perform at 1 p.m. as Lillian Feickert, who served as the New Jersey Woman Suffrage Association’s President between 1912 and 1920. Levin’s presentation will cover the trajectory of New Jersey women’s involvement in the national suffrage movement and the contributions of many women with connections to the State, including Alice Paul, Lucy Stone, and the Grimké sisters.

Melissa Ziobro, Specialist Professor of Public History at Monmouth University

“New Jersey and specifically Monmouth County women made a significant impact during the suffrage movement. Levin’s presentation will focus on the suffragists’ sustained efforts to restore women’s voting rights and their involvement on the national stage,” Clerk Hanlon noted.

“These presentations will provide great background to accompany this year’s Archives and History Day catalog which profiles more than 50 notable Monmouth County women with a wide variety of achievements,” said Clerk Hanlon. “I encourage you and your families to attend our Archives Week events to learn more about the women’s suffrage movement and its connection to our local communities.”

All of the presentations are free and do not require registration. On Archives and History Day on Saturday, Oct. 12, attendees will have the opportunity to interact with more than 60 history organizations, view awards presentations, participate in a History Game, and enjoy refreshments. Those who wish to take a tour of the Monmouth County Archives must submit a reservation.

For a complete Archives Week program, please visit the Monmouth County Clerk’s Archives Division online at www.MonmouthCountyClerk.com/Archives or contact the Monmouth County Archives by phone at 732-308-3771 or email to [email protected].