"Cecilhurst" Adolphe DeBary residence
Programs and Events
All programs are held in the Chase Room of the Madison Public Library. Refreshments are available at 7:00 p.m. and the program at 7:15 p.m. unless specifically mentioned the program will occur elsewhere or at a different time. Due to the renovation of the Madison Public Library, the 2024 Fall Programs are being held at Madison Community Arts Center, 10 Kings Rd., Madison.
Please take a look at our overall calendar here, and view the individual event listings below. Follow the “View Event” link for an event you are interested in, to learn more, or to register. We are so excited for you to get involved with the Madison Historical Society and hope to see you soon!
Evening of Roses
The Madison Historical Society is hosting a fundraising gala to honor Cathie Coultas, our Past President and Trustee Emerita. Cathie, born and raised in Madison, has spent much of her life dedicated to serving Madison through her work with town committees, other non-profit service organizations and informal clubs and interest groups, Cathie’s contributions as a volunteer have benefited our town over many decades.
The Historical Society is currently fundraising to build a Madison history museum in the East Wing of the Hartley Dodge Memorial Building. The Historical Society has been serving Madison for over 100 years and the museum will allow the society to showcase material it has collected from Madison’s past.
The gala will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at Grace Episcopal Church Hall from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $100 per person. Tickets can be purchased by printing the Response Form and mailing it with payment to the Historical Society.
Portrait of the Rose City: A History of Madison, New Jersey
The Madison Historical Society and the Madison Public Library have updated The Madison Heritage Trail: An Intimate History of a Community in Transition written in 1985 as part of the 1776 Bicentennial Celebration. The new book, Portrait of the Rose City: A History of Madison, New Jersey will be available in March of 2025 in time for the 250th Celebration of the Revolution.
Brian Armstrong on the “History of US Presidential Elections”
We are all quite aware of the upcoming, and hotly debated presidential election in November. What has happened in New Jersey in prior elections? How does New Jersey handle them? What can we learn from them? Join us Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 7 pm, when Brian Armstrong tells us all we ever wanted to know about New Jersey's fascinating and unique Federal election history.
Brian Armstong is an independent historian, researcher, and author. Born in Flemington, he received his bachelor's degree in history and political science from American University in Washington, D.C. He served as the president of the South River Historical & Preservation Society and is the current president of the League of Historical Societies of New Jersey. He is the author of several books, including The Franklin Park Tragedy: A Forgotten Story of Racial Injustice in New Jersey. It won the 2020 New Jersey Studies Academic Alliance Author award.
This is an in person meeting and will be held at the Madison Community Arts Center, 10 Kings Rd., Madison
William Kidder will speak on Washington Crossing the Delaware -- the Story that inspired the Painting
Emanuel Leutze’s C. 1850 painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware, created to arouse feelings of patriotism and dedication to a cause, is perhaps the most iconic image of the American Revolution. Three days before the crossing, Washington was told that New Jersey was totally deranged, without government, or officers civil or military in it that ill act with any spirit.” Learn all about the crossing, the painting, the painter, and what it all meant for the Revolutionary War.
William (Larry) Kidder has been president of historical societies in Ewing and Hopewell. He received his master’s degree from Allegheny College and taught history for forty years in both public and private schools. Larry has been a volunteer at the Howell Living History Farm and is also a consultant and battlefield tour guide for the Princeton Battlefield Society. He is the author of five books focusing on the American Revolution. He has worked on several projects for Crossroads of the American Revolution, including as editor for its Meet Your Revolutionarry Neighbors project and consultant for the creation ofthe Ten Crucial Days Audio Tour.
This is an in-person meeting and will be held at the Madison Community Arts Center, 10 Kings Rd., Madison
Annual Membership Meeting
The historical society will hold its Annual Membership Meeting on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at 6:45 PM at Madison Community House, 25 Cook Avenue. The meeting will be a way to update members on the society’s activities and vote on a slate of officers and trustees for 2024- 25. All members are invited to attend. There will be a guest speaker, Janet Foster, whose topic will be: “Black, White, and Yellow Taxis: Madison and the Green Book”.
Madison's Lincoln Portrait - by Mallory Mortillaro
Although Abraham Lincoln was not 9 feet tall, his portrait in Madison’s council chamber was. Join us when Mallory Mortillaro, art historian and curator of collections for the Hartley Dodge Foundation, tells us about this famed and unique portrait, its history, how it got to Madison and where it is now.
The History of New Jersey’s Movie Industry - by Stephen Whitty
There is a rich history of movie making in New Jersey and who better to tell it than Stephen Whitty, former movie critic of the Star Ledger for many years and well-known lecturer. Join us for this look back at our state’s major role in the movie industry and some of the New Jerseyans who helped shape it.