Archives and History Day will take place on Oct. 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, 125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan.
“After many months of hard work, the planning for Archives and History Day is now completed,” Monmouth County Clerk Christine Hanlon said. “This year promises to be a great event with something for everyone to enjoy. So, bring the family, enjoy the exhibits and presentations and learn something new about New Jersey’s history.”
The county clerk’s archives staff has prepared a month-long exhibit, opening Oct. 1, entitled, “New Jersey in Focus: The World War I Era.”
“As in previous wars, New Jersey played a significant role during what was then often called the Great War or the World War,” Monmouth County Archivist Gary Saretzky said. “Almost 70,000 New Jersey men, including many African Americans, were inducted into military service. Large military camps were established, including Fort Dix and the facility, initially called Camp Little Silver, then Camp Alfred Vail, which became Fort Monmouth.”
The exhibit draws on the holdings of the archives, other repositories and personal collections, according to a press release. The exhibit features aspects of the pivotal 1910-20 decade with an emphasis on New Jersey. There are items that relate to innovations in transportation and agriculture, the attractions of the Jersey Shore and the women’s suffrage movement, along with other challenging issues such as child labor, race relations, extremes of wealth and poverty and the spiraling cost of living.
Archives and History Day will feature a history game with prizes and exhibitors from across New Jersey showcasing and promoting the history of the area.