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Community Corner

350th New Jersey Anniversary Spring Speaker Series in conjunction with the exhibit "Made in New Jersey: A Celebration of Decorative and Fine Arts"

On Sunday March 9th Macculloch Hall Historical Museum welcomes Michael Aaron Rockland to discuss "350 Years of New Jersey History".  His program will be presented in the main gallery at 4:30pm and is the first in a series of programs celebrating the 350th New Jersey Anniversary taking place on the second Sunday of the month through June.  Michael’s presentation will focus on the baker’s dozen of 13 events he considers most significant during these many years. He admits that his choices may be somewhat arbitrary and is eager to engage with his audience in discussion, following his presentation, on items he might have included and others that he might have disregarded. Michael also admits that speaking about New Jersey in New Jersey can be risky—everyone in his audience is likely to know as much about the subject as he does—which is why he welcomes a lively debate and controversy. Prior to the program visitors may also visit the second floor gallery exhibit “Made in New Jersey: A Celebration of Decorative and Fine Arts” which stars the Museum’s collection of New Jersey stoneware, silver, and artists such as Thomas Nast, A.B. Frost and Edward Kranich. The program will begin at 4:30pm in the main gallery.  Michael will be bringing along the three of his four books with a New Jersey focus that are still in print, and will sign copies following his talk and discussion.

Michael Aaron Rockland began his career as a diplomat, serving with our embassies as cultural attaché in both Argentina and Spain. He has for many years been Professor of American Studies at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, and he is the author of fourteen books, four of which focus on New Jersey.  Five of Michael’s books have won major recognition, including New York Times “Notable Book of the Year,” Washington Post’s “Fifty Best Books of the Year”, with one appearing on the State Library’s list of the “Ten Best Books Ever Written About New Jersey.” He has been awarded the national prize in American Studies, the Scholar - teacher Award of Rutgers, and, was recently awarded the New Jersey Historical Commission’s Governor Richard J. Hughes Award for “A Lifetime of Contributions to New Jersey History and Culture.”  

Tickets for Sunday programs go on sale from 1pm on the day of the program, no advance sales, and remain on sale until the presentation begins at 4:30pm.  House tours (regular admission applies) take place throughout the afternoon, the last tour ticket is sold at 3pm. The upstairs galleries will remain open until 4:30pm, with the “Controversies: The More Things Change…” main gallery exhibit closing at 3:30 pm in preparation for the program. Tickets to hear speakers are Adults $8; Seniors & Students $6; Children 6 – 12 $4. Members and children under 5 are admitted free. Speaker tickets include admission to docent-led period room tours for visitors who sign up during the afternoon. Visitors can also enjoy the upstairs gallery exhibit “Thomas Nast Brings Down Boss Tweed,” featuring the political cartoons Thomas Nast created attacking Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall, prior to the program. Also on display, “Controversies” presents challenging subject matter on New Jersey history topics and events which had national significance: medical experimentation, immigration, and the right to die. The programs celebrating the 350th New Jersey Anniversary take place on the second Sunday of the month through June. A second series of programs, related to the “Controversies” exhibit takes place on the first Sunday of the month through June. Visit maccullochhall.org for more details.

Macculloch Hall Historical Museum preserves the history of the Macculloch-Miller families, the Morris area community, and the legacy of its founder W. Parsons Todd through its historic site, collections, exhibits, and educational and cultural programs. The Museum is open for house and exhibit tours on Wednesdays, Thursdays & Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. The last tour ticket is sold at 3pm. Adults $8; Seniors & Students $6; Children 6 – 12 $4. Members and children under 5 are free. The gardens at Macculloch Hall Historical Museum are open Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm and Sundays 1pm - 4pm unless posted otherwise. The gates are secured at all other times. Please check our website for any holiday closings. Call (973) 538-2404 ext. 10, visit our website www.maccullochhall.org find us on Facebook. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, 45 Macculloch Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960. Macculloch Hall Historical Museum received an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.  Macculloch Hall Historical Museum is a nonprofit educational affiliate of the W. Parsons Todd Foundation.  

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