New Jersey Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal

Liberty’s Chain: Slavery, Abolition, and the Jay Family of New York

2024-01-13T06:43:43-08:00

Nicole Skalenko reviewing "Liberty’s Chain: Slavery, Abolition, and the Jay Family of New York," by David N. Gellman.

The Peter Mott House

2024-01-13T06:50:32-08:00

Meg Sharp Walton reviews The Peter Mott House at 26 Kings Court, Lawnside, New Jersey.

The Ku Klux Klan in New Jersey

2024-01-13T06:23:38-08:00

An often overlooked aspect of New Jersey history is that of the Ku Klux Klan activities throughout the state during the 1920s. Driven by a resurgence of anti-immigration rhetoric, the diversity of urban centers, and the general fears of some white Protestant residents of New Jersey, the Klan targeted immigrants, participated in public demonstrations and parades, hosted social events, and attempted to intimidate Catholic politicians in particular. This paper will examine this aspect of New Jersey history by using underutilized sources like the George Moss Collection at Monmouth University’s Murry and Leonie Guggenheim Memorial Library. Hopefully, by understanding the influence the Klan had on local politics, the mistakes of the past can avoid being repeated.

Creating a Local Notable: Brigadier General Anthony Walton White of New Brunswick

2024-01-13T06:06:17-08:00

To the extent he is remembered today, Brigadier General Anthony Walton White is hailed as one of New Brunswick, New Jersey’s, most illustrious residents and a reminder of the city’s significance during the American Revolution. This account of White’s career reveals that he was far from successful in the military or in business. Born to wealth on an estate along the Raritan River, White relied on family ties and political connections to gain appointments in the military and government throughout his life. He forswore allegiance to Great Britain in 1775 and sought a position on Gen. George Washington’s staff. Washington interviewed White but was unimpressed and declined to appoint him to his staff. White became a cavalry officer and served throughout the Revolutionary War, but his military record was hardly unblemished, and he faced several inquiries into his conduct and courts-martial proceedings. In the 1790s he served in the suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion and in 1798 was promoted to the rank of brigadier general during the quasi-war against France. George Washington reckoned him one of the least capable and most insufferable officers in the US Army. White fared no better in civilian life or business. After the revolution, he lost his sizeable inheritance in a series of bad investments. He also squandered the wealth inherited by his young bride, a girl he met during his service in South Carolina. White filed for bankruptcy in 1802 and died the following year. White was not a villain, but neither was he a hero. His life, like history generally, offers a complicated and cautionary tale.

Ira G. Owen: US Civil War Era Photographer of Newton, New Jersey

2024-01-13T06:15:13-08:00

Like other studio photographers, Ira G. Owen, primarily active in Newton, New Jersey, in the 1860s, sought to profit from the strong demand for photographs so that he could have a comfortable middle-class life. Owen exemplifies the “you can make it if you try” kind of success story that came true for some able and motivated entrepreneurial Americans in a market economy in which small businesses could flourish under effective management. This article by Gary Saretzky traces the trajectory of Owen’s career, closely looking at his marketing and production methods, including posing styles employed to satisfy his many customers during the Civil War and postwar years in Newton, Hackettstown, and Scranton. For additional illustrations to this article, see the Ira G. Owen Digital Portfolio. A special addendum to this article, by Joseph G. Bilby, outlines the military career of one of Owen’s subjects, Nathaniel K. Bray.

The Real “Stolen Election”: Frank Hague and New Jersey’s 1937 Race for Governor

2024-01-13T06:36:19-08:00

“Research Notes” allows scholars to share their works in progress (or update prior works) and solicit feedback from others in the New Jersey history community. All are welcome to contribute—simply send submissions for inclusion in future issues to the editor.

Letter from the Editor

2024-01-13T05:59:51-08:00