An Interest-ing Spooky Montclair Story

A historic house museum that explores the history of our country from its early years as an independent nation to a country embroiled in the civil rights struggle.

The next round of oral histories from the 2018 oral history project are now available. Photo credit Kate Albright Photography.

Interns: They Get the Job Done!

The next round of oral histories from the 2018 oral history project are now available. Photo credit Kate Albright Photography.

 This past academic year proved to be one of the most successful yet as school districts throughout Essex County and the state were ready to re-engage with in-person field trips and outreach educational programs.

On behalf of the Montclair History Center, Trustee April DiComo presents the 2023 Hortense Tate Scholarship to Desiree Lawrence at the Montclair High School Awards Night in June.

The second round of oral histories from the 2018 oral history project are now available.

Calendula? Yeah, we got that. Lovage? Yup, that too.. Basil? Tons of varieties! Pre-sale orders are due April 11! This year we’ll also have in-person shopping!

If you’ve visited the Montclair Art Museum or attended a graduation in the Montclair High School amphitheater, you have already connected with Florence Rand Lang. As the sole surviving child of an extremely wealthy Montclair family, she became a philanthropic force, shaping the town in enduring ways, among them funding those two local landmarks.

The Montclair History Center celebrates Black History this month, and every month. Explore the below programs, virtual histories, and resources available to learn about the stories and contributions of the African American community to Montclair and New Jersey.

If you've missed any of our History at Home programs, Montclair history articles, blogs we've posted, or additions to our digital collections this past year, check out the complete list below.

In 2018/2019, as part of Montclair’s 150th Anniversary, the Montclair History Center invited long-time Montclair residents to share their recollections of earlier times in Montclair. We hoped to interview 20-30 individuals. By the time we wrapped up, we had over 60.

People often wonder what mark they will leave on society. Most of us are not famous, and we’re likely not significant enough to be the topic of a book. It’s reasonable to assume previous generations felt similar. This story is about a few of those people. The protagonists are ordinary middle-class suburbanites with everyday lives, working a job we assume meant something to them. Unbeknownst to this story’s subjects, and probably surprisingly, they did leave a mark on society. Only it wasn’t as legible as some histories are.

Angelica was has returned to lead the organization as our new Executive Director.

It’s been 226 years since Israel Crane built the home we now know as the Crane House & Historic YWCA museum. Let’s dive into a theory about the building’s design, using historic photographs from our collection, the Montclair Public Library, the Library of Congress, and more!

A collection of Montclair Pride’s firsts, but certainly not the last.

Executive Director Jane Eliasof Steps Down

It’s that sweet-smelling thyme of the year again!