County Clerk Announces Gail L. Hunton as Keynote Speaker for 2018 Archives and History Day

MANALAPAN, NJ – Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon is pleased to announce that Gail L. Hunton, Chief of the Land Acquisition and Design Department of the Monmouth County Park System, will speak at the County Clerk’s 2018 Archives and History Day, on Oct. 13 at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters in Manalapan. Hunton will present the keynote address, “Open Spaces, Historic Places: The Story of Monmouth County in our Parks,” at 1 p.m.

“Gail Hunton is the perfect speaker to complement this year’s Archives and History Day theme and exhibit, ‘Buildings in Monmouth: Stories and Styles,’” said Clerk Hanlon. “With over thirty years of dedication to the maintenance and preservation of various historic sites in Monmouth County, I am confident that Ms. Hunton will provide fascinating insight into the County’s most beloved houses and structures.

The Monmouth County Park System owns more historic properties than any other jurisdiction in the County, and Hunton will discuss the extensive work that the Park System does to take care of and to interpret these powerful and instructive historic sites. Each year, thousands of visitors cultivate a deeper appreciation of our past through their encounters with Monmouth County’s parklands. The Monmouth County Park System’s mission is interwoven with the stewardship of the historic places that it also preserves, so that visitors can enjoy scenic and recreational settings with a variety of historic structures and landscapes. Ms. Hunton’s talk will explore the meaning of these historic places while emphasizing their connections with the larger themes of our County’s history.

For over thirty years, Hunton has been responsible for numerous building restorations, archeological projects, exhibits and history publications while serving as the Chief of the Land Acquisition and Design Department of the Monmouth County Park System. Ms. Hunton has also published design guidelines and historic preservation materials for municipalities around the state. A resident of Roosevelt, she is a founding Trustee of the Fund for Roosevelt, a land trust that has preserved Roosevelt’s historic greenbelt, and is a past Board member and Vice President of Preservation New Jersey.

During the week after Archives and History Day on Oct. 13, there will be various programs, beginning on Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 2 p.m. with a screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca (1940). On Oct. 17 beginning at 10 a.m., Kimberly Avagliano, Chief Librarian & Branch Manager, Monmouth County Library—Eastern Branch, will give a lecture, “Dog-eared and Dusty?: How to Organize and Care for Your Home Library.”  At 1 p.m., Kristen Norbut, Historic Preservation Specialist, Monmouth County Park System, will address “…and all the improvements thereon”: Reading Historic Alterations in the Frame Dwellings in Monmouth County.”

The event will also include awards presentations and a tour of the Monmouth County Archives, for which a reservation is required.

“Archives and History Day is designed for the public to connect with archivists, historians, and other preservationists,” said Monmouth County Archivist Gary D. Saretzky. “This event is a great opportunity for local organizations to showcase their work and educate the people about their efforts to preserve history.”

“This year’s events will entertain anyone who is interested in history, as well as professional historians,” said Clerk Hanlon.  “Bring the family, enjoy the exhibits and learn something new about the history of Monmouth County and New Jersey!”

A complete schedule of Archives and History Week events and an exhibit catalog can be found on the Monmouth County Archives Division website at MonmouthCountyClerk.com/Archives.

For additional information on the 2018 Archives and History Day, contact the Monmouth County Archives at 732-308-3771, ext. 3772 or email CountyClerk@co.monmouth.nj.us.

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