New Jersey Historical Commission Recognizes Statewide Efforts to
Preserve and Promote State Historical Heritage
Statewide - The New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State, will recognize eight organizations and individuals at a special awards ceremony for their contributions to the public appreciation for and understanding of the history of the Garden State. The awards were approved at the September meeting of the Commission and will be presented at the Annual Conference on November 19th in Trenton. This is the 28th year of the Commission's award program.
Michael Fernandez, Acting Chair of the New Jersey Historical Commission stated, "Our 2005 award recipients truly help to make citizens of New Jersey proud of our great state. Through these awards we salute their hard work and dedication."
The Commission's highest award, the Richard J. Hughes Pitcher, will be presented to Dr. Mark Lender of Metuchen. Mr. Lender is a professor of history at Kean University and the author of many scholarly works in the field of New Jersey history, including One State in Arms: A Short Military History of New Jersey and Citizen Soldier: the Revolutionary War Journal of Joseph Bloomfield. He is now at work on books about the Battle of Monmouth and the United States District Court in New Jersey. He is also active in state history organizations, and has been the curator of exhibitions on such disparate topics as the Revolutionary War, alcoholism, and World War II.
Awards of Recognition will be presented to the following organizations and individuals:
The Canal Society of New Jersey, Morristown, for its work to preserve the heritage of New Jersey's transportation canals.
Margueritte Chandler, Cape May, for leadership of the Crossroads of the American Revolution Association and for bringing together a coalition of organizations to establish "Celebrate New Jersey," an annual, month-long event to promote the Garden State's art, history, culture, and environment.
Bonita Craft Grant, Hopewell, for distinguished service to the history and archival community as the head of reference and New Jersey bibliographer at the Special Collections and Archives division of the Rutgers University Libraries.
Hunter Research, Inc., Trenton, a historical and archaeological consulting firm, for excellence in its research and reportage and its public outreach in history, archaeology, architectural history, and preservation planning.
Alexander Magoun, Princeton, for his work as director of the David Sarnoff Library to establish the library as a professionally run archive that documents innovation in science and engineering and that reaches out to the public through events, presentations, exhibits, and tours.
New Jersey Lighthouse Society, for its successful work to preserve and interpret our state's lighthouses through restoration work, research, and public programs such as the popular New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge.
Preservation Partners, Crosswicks, for its work on the Women's Heritage Trail Project, which identified and researched historic sites across the state associated with New Jersey women.
For more information, please feel free to contact the New Jersey Historical Commission by email at njhc@sos.state.nj.us or by phone at 292-6062.
The New Jersey Historical Commission is a division of the NJ Department of State. The Commission's purpose is to improve the quality of life in the state by preserving the historical record and advancing public knowledge and awareness of the Garden State's rich heritage.
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