Updated: 9/28/2012 
Jefferson Township Historical Society
Jefferson Township, New Jersey
Description
On the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

The Jefferson Township Museum is a representation of life in Jefferson Township in the last quarter of the 19th century. Furnishings, artifacts, garments and interior decor reflect the style of the times.

Mission

To preserve and promote the history of Jefferson Township and to maintain the George Chamberlain House, known as the Jefferson Township Museum, for this and future generations.

History

In the 1870's, Amos Chamberlain, a resident of Milton Village, built another home on his property for his son George and his bride-to-be, Ruth Elizabeth Speaker. After their marriage in 1874, they moved into the new house on Dover-Milton Road and soon purchased it from Amos. Two children, Raymond and Archie, were raised in the home and attended school locally. The family remained in residence into the early 1900's. In later decades, the house was rented to various families in the extended Chamberlain family.

For more history, please see our website.

The History of the Museum Garden Club of Jefferson

The Museum Garden Club was founded in the fall of 2004 by Roberta Shaw and Christine Williams. Both women were part of the landscaping committee for the Moving Viet Nam Wall in which the township hosted as part of its bicentennial celebration. When the Wall was dismantled and moved onto its next location, the flowers and trees that had been donated were left behind as were benches. Some were sold; but many of the perennials were not suitable for sale. Shaw and Williams decided to take those half dead flowers and plant them at the township Museum and hope for the best in the next spring.

The idea to begin a garden club whose sole purpose was to develop and maintain the Museum gardens. The Museum Garden Club of Jefferson was born.

Services
Genealogy Research: Add to your family tree . . .

Jefferson Township Historical Society does research in regards to specific requests for genealogy information. This is a volunteer service and at times there may be a back log. We follow a first come, first serve basis policy. Please provide as much information as known about each person you wish to be researched. Be specific as to what information you want. Our records are limited to The Township of Jefferson, Morris County, New Jersey. The fee is $10.00 per person researched. The fee is non-refundable even if no information is available.

Tours of the Museum

Please call 973-697-0258 to inquire about tours of the museum. For additional information, please contact the Museum Director, Carol Keppel, at museumdirector@jthistoricalsociety.org

Miss Elizabeth's Shoppe

Miss Elizabeth's Shoppe, affectionately named after the first bride of the building, is located in the restored kitchen of the Jefferson Township Museum, 315 Dover-Milton Road. The Shoppe is open to the public during Museum hours. The gift shoppe features small antiques, garden items, candles and unique gifts perfect for any occasion. There are many handcrafted items from local artists, including photography, jewelry and artwork. Special food items include local jams and honey, specialty teas, organic maple syrup and organic buttermilk pancake mix from Vermont, and wild blueberries from Maine. For additional information on shoppe hours and to contact the Shoppe Manager, please email Pat Cincotta at shoppemanager@jthistoricalsociety.org

Gift Shop
Group Tours
DISCLAIMER
This information, including business hours, addresses and contact information is provided for general reference purposes only. No representation is made or warranty is given as to its content or the reliability thereof. User assumes all risk of use. Stories USA, Inc. and its content suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such use. Please call ahead to verify the dates, the location and directions.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

April 27 - April 29, 2025

Oregon Museum Association 2025 Conference

TBA

Independence, Oregon

Beginning in 2025, the OMA annual conference will be held in Spring rather than Fall

The conference this year is all about trying new things. We are hoping to organize the conference into the following four tracks: Collections Care, Leadership, Emergency Preparedness, and Tourism

Check our website for more details in early 2025

The OMA newsletter is emailed every month with updates on OMA events, museum news, other events, trainings, jobs, grants and more for the museum community in Oregon.

For more information, please email connect@oregonmuseums.org.

October 1 - October 4, 2025

Western Museums Association’s (WMA) 2025 Annual Meeting

TBA

Reno, Nevada

Save the Date for WMA 202

As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, join us to build relationships and soar higher than ever before. With the theme of ELEVATE, WMA 2025 will explore ways to lift up the experiences of cultural professionals and the communities they serve.

In Reno, Nevada, 4,400 feet above sea level, we will forward the progress of museums by looking to the future.

May 6 - May 9, 2025

2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) ANNUAL MEETING & MUSEUMEXPO

Los Angeles Convention Center

Los Angeles, California

AAM 2025 will focus on the theme, Museums & Trust.

Museums have long inspired high levels of public trust, surpassing news outlets, government organizations, researchers and scientists, corporations, and social media platforms. This consistent finding underscores our institutions’ unique position in society as stewards of knowledge, culture, science, and history—areas where credibility and reliability are paramount

In an era marked by mistrust and misinformation, museums have a rare ability to counterbalance the proliferation of false narratives and polarized perspectives. Using our trusted position, we can cultivate a more healthy, empathetic, and informed society.

But to do so, we must maintain our credibility proactively, embracing thoughtful, transparent, and collaborative practices that will defend against influences like bias, resource challenges, abuse of power, and social injustice

An Incredible MuseumExpo

AAM is again partnering this year with the Museum Store Association to host an incredible combined expo hall. Find the most innovative services, products, and solutions in the museum field. With 350 exhibitors, you are bound to find the right partner for your museum’s current challenges and opportunities.

May 5 - May 9, 2025

Museum Store Association FORWARD 2025 in LA

The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California

Join MSA in LA

We’re excited about our next MSA FORWARD Conference & Expo in “The City of Angels” – Los Angeles, California in conjunction with the American Alliance of Museums

Join the Museum Store Association (MSA) and hundreds of nonprofit retail professionals for the 70th Annual MSA FORWARD Retail Conference & Expo, taking place May 5-9, 2025 at The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Once again, MSA FORWARD will be held in conjunction with the 2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting & Expo

Learn best practices and new ideas for store merchandising, operations, marketing, and sale

Participate in dedicated networking events and create connections that will inspire new ideas

Meet with over 200 MSA vendors about your product needs

Hear from knowledgeable industry experts during session breakouts and keynote presentations

Network with AAM attendees and exhibitor

September 10 - September 13, 2025

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

TBD

Cincinnati, Ohio

The 2025 AASLH Annual Conference, in partnership with Ohio Local History Alliance, will take place as the history field makes the final preparations to kickoff off the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States.

The 2025 conference theme, inspired by AASLH’s Making History at 250: The Field Guide for Semiquincentennial, is an opportunity to broadly explore one of the guide’s themes, The American Experiment. For many in the American colonies in 1776, independence from Britain represented a “leap into the dark” into an unknown future

We are excited for you to join us in Cincinnati as we encourage discussion about our democracy and civic institutions and how they can help strengthen understanding, inspire action, and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment.

For more information, please call 615-320-3203 or email info@aaslh.org.

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