'Abigail Adams' to visit meeting

The Monmouth County Historical Association has invited former First Lady Abigail Adams to speak at its annual meeting to be held on Jan. 27 at the Taylor-Butler House in Middletown.

Mrs. Adams' (portrayed by Kim Hanley of The American Historical Theatre) presentation "Remember the Ladies…" will highlight her advocacy for independence and equality for all Americans. Her admonishment to her husband, President John Adams, to "…remember the ladies…" clearly voices the need for women's education and the abolition of slavery. Hanley uses the written words of Abigail and John Adams as the framework for her recounting of Abigail's extraordinary life.

The public is welcome to attend the association's annual meeting at the historic Taylor-Butler House (circa 1853) at 127 Kings Highway in Middletown. The evening will begin at 6 p.m. Parking will be available at the Middle Village School parking lot on Kings Highway. Admission is free and those planning to attend are asked to call the Monmouth County HistoricalAssociation at 732-462-1466. Light

refreshments will be served.

The Monmouth County Historical Association is a private not-for-profit organization founded in 1898 to "discover, procure, preserve and perpetuate whatever relates to the history of Monmouth County." In addition to the association's collection of more than 30,000 works of art and artifacts, five historic sites and main museum, its library holds the largest collection of Monmouth County published and unpublished materials in the state, including more than 7,000 books, nearly 1,600 linear feet of manuscripts, archival items, ephemera, and newspapers and newspaper clippings.

The association's education department provides programs to schools and other groups throughout the county and beyond. Annually, more than 6,000 school children benefit from the association's "trunk programs."

The Monmouth County Historical Association's museum and library is at 70 Court St., Freehold. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The library is open Wednesday through Saturday. For membership or admission fees and further information, call 732-462-1466 or visit www.monmouthhistory. org.

The Monmouth County Historical Association received an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.