The Historical Society of Elizabeth seeks to preserve and research Elizabeth, New Jersey’s rich history. We document the people, places and events that shape our past, exploring the social, political
and economic life of Elizabeth through the 20th century and beyond.
Our mission is
two-fold:
1) Contribute new knowledge and ideas to Elizabeth’s
government and leadership.
2) Share that knowledge with City residents and our region.
OUR GOALS
The Society’s long-term goals are to
The Society is a 501 C-3 nonprofit organization, incorporated in 1999 to provide an institutional presence for public history. Our first priority is to bring the African American, immigrant and historical voices of "common" men and women into the history of Elizabeth and the region. Our Board membership is reflective of the City’s Latin/ Hispanic immigrant and African American populations.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY CO-PRESIDENTS NIDA THOMAS and ORLANDO EDREIRA inspect the deed for the Bonnell House on its porch, September 12, 2003.
CO-PRESIDENT, EMERITUS
ORLANDO EDREIRA
Dr. Ederira serves on the New Jersey State
Commission of Education and holds a faculty position at Kean University
in the Spanish Studies Program. He has also taught at many
universities internationally.
Nida E.
Thomas was the first state affirmative action officer in New Jersey, an
appointee of Governor Thomas Kean. She holds a MSW from New York University.
She serves on the Feminist Press Board and multiple national and state boards.
She is widely revered in Elizabeth for her long-time, citywide civic commitments.
Nida E. Thomas Remembered 1914 -2008
Paul H. Mattingly holds a doctorate from the University of Wisconsin and taught American history at New York University for nearly forty years. At NYU he directed the Program in Public History, which seeks to advance historical knowledge via engagement with institutions and groups often left out of textbook history. His published work includes Suburban Landscapes: Culture and Politics in a New York Metropolitan Community (John Hopkins University Press, 2001).
Michelle Doran-McBean, a graduate of Harvard University, has recently completed her M.Div at Princeton Theological Seminary. She is a member of the Plainfield Friends’ Meeting and a lifelong lover of History.
Ken Ward is a long time advocate and historian on regional Elizabeth. For many years, he served as Secretary for the New Jersey Historical Society and as Secretary of the Elizabethtown Historical Foundation.
Sylvia Elias, a native of Cuba, resided in Elizabeth from her early teens. She graduated from Rutgers University for both her BA, MSW and PsyD degrees. Her professional career concentrated on Special Services in the school systems of Elizabeth, Jersey City and West Orange.
TRUSTEE CEIL MANTIA
Ceil Manta, is a native of the Peterstown section, is a lifelong resident of Elizabeth. She is a graduate of Douglas College and for many years served as a professional Social Worker in the Elizabeth Public School system as well as constructive voice in the city's teacher's Union .
James Guerra a noted Elizabeth architect, heads the firm of james Guerra Associates in Elizabeth. He is the architect of many distinguished projects like the Perth Amboy Waterfront, the Elizabeth Initiative (including marina and waterfront park) and the Newport Marina in Jersey City. Also in Elizabeth he redesigned the James Kirk Center in Peterstown and Woodruff Park among other projects .
Click here to send an e-mail
 |
| L to R: (seated) Ken Ward, James Guerra, Silvia Elia and Ceil Mantie; (standing) L to R: Paul Mattingly, Michelle Doran-McBean |
Belcher Ogden Mansion
On November 15, 2005 the Historical Society;
Elizabeth NJ Inc formally accepted the deed to this historical property.
(click
here to read more)
Elizabeth
Historical Society 2005 Brochure
The Historical Society; Elizabeth NJ Inc has
received Operating Grant support from the New Jersey Historical Commission
(2003-2004 and 2004-2005), In part, this support helped produce our organizational
brochure and many features of this website.
Service
Forms
Request
for usage of parking lot at Bonnell House (click here to download)
Bonnell
House Ground Floor Meeting Suite Request for Use Form (click hereto download)