As many people have already heard Kean University has recently made a real estate purchase across the street. The University is now the proud owner of the 26-acre property known as Liberty Hall Museum. The 250 year old mansion, first built by William Livingston who became New Jersey's first elected Governor, houses priceless content. The mansion has been in the Kean family for generations, since it was purchased in the 1790's. The house has survived attacks brought on during the struggle for Independence and survived beautifully. The contents of the house are making historians all over the country buzz about what these findings could mean for American history. Historically rich artifacts and important letters have been found inside the house which makes people excited about what has yet to be found. One of the said letters was written by George Washington and there are also letters written by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson.
This historic event's pinnacle came on May 9th, when a signing ceremony was held in the gardens of the Liberty Hall Museum. The ceremony was overseen by about 200 public figures from the across the state, the Kean family, and Kean University faculty, staff, and students. The Master of Ceremonies was Senator Raymond J. Lesniak who was very proud to be overseeing this enormously important occasion. During the ceremony, John Kean gave a history of the house and its contents. He continued on to say how this was a bittersweet occasion, because he grew up in the house and, "it was like giving away your daughter at the wedding, you can still see her but she belongs to someone else now." Also taking part in this day were several people who have helped make this day possible, such as Chairman of the Kean University Board of Trustees Robert W. Cockren; Sen. Thomas H. Kean Jr.; Senate President Richard Codey; Chairman of Kean University Department of History Dr. Mark Lender and Dr. Theodore J. Crackle, editor-in-chief of The Papers of George Washington. After all of the speaking was complete, the signing ceremony took place. President Dawood Farahi and John Kean both stepped forward and sat a large wooden desk from inside the house and signed the contract. The contract stipulated several things Kean University promises to do. The University purchased the property and all of its contents for 5.1 million dollars which will be used to maintain the 250-year old mansion. The University plans on building the John Kean Museum of American History in three years for all of the historical papers and artifacts to be put on display for students and visitors to see. All of the items found in the house will be digitized and put on the web so that students and historians all over the country can benefit from these findings.
Several weeks after the acquisition, another important thing happened at the Liberty Hall Museum; the moving Vietnam Wall was displayed in the gardens from May 17-21. The Wall listed 58,228 names of those who lost their lives during the Vietnam War. The Wall, itself, is a symbol of courage and sacrifice. The opening ceremony which took place on May 17th was opened with a rendition of The Star Spangled Banner and a Presentation of Colors led by veteran Sgt. Robert Maslow, retired Director of Recreation. During the ceremony guest speakers including John Kean, President of the Liberty Hall Museum; Phil Connelly, Vice President for Administration and Finance and a veteran of the U.S. Navy, all spoke about how the Wall has helped them heal after losing friends and family members during the war. The ceremony concluded with the lowering of the flag and a rendition of Amazing Grace. The Moving Wall has been on tour for nearly 23 years. It tours the country between the months of April and November.
Now that Kean University has purchased the property across the street it not only gives KU a rich history, but it allows Kean students the opportunity to not only study history from a book but to actually hear first hand accounts through hand written letters. This shows Kean University is not only here to teach students but to also preserve American history for generations to come.
2008 Woodie Awards
