Liberty Hall Museum to Welcome Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society for CelebrateHAMILTON 2014, 7/11-14

Liberty Hall Museum at Kean University will welcome the Alexander Hamilton Awareness (AHA) Society this weekend as part of the Society's third annual CelebrateHAMILTON festival.

The multi-day event, commemorating the nation's first Secretary of the Treasury and so-called father of American finance, is open to the public, and features a number of free and low-cost history walks, tours and lectures in conjunction with NJ350, the statewide celebration of New Jersey's 350th Anniversary.

"We are thrilled the AHA Society is returning to Liberty Hall," stated William Schroh, Liberty Hall's Director of Museum Operations. "We had a blast when a few of their members visited earlier this spring, and can't wait to welcome them back this weekend."

CelebrateHAMILTON's extensive itinerary, which includes stops throughout northern New Jersey and Manhattan, begins in Union County on Friday, July 11th - the anniversary of Hamilton's infamous duel with Aaron Burr - and concludes on the anniversary of his funeral, July 14th.

"We are excited to include Boxwood Hall, Liberty Hall, and the First Presbyterian Church in the CelebrateHAMILTON program this year," remarked Nicole Scholet, Vice-President of the AHA Society. "By visiting these three historic sites, we get a tangible feel of what life was like for Alexander Hamilton as a young Caribbean immigrant to the thirteen colonies just on the brink of the Revolutionary War."

"Both men that housed Alexander Hamilton while he was in New Jersey became important political leaders," Ms. Scholet continued. "Elias Boudinot served as President of the Confederation Congress and William Livingston became the first New Jersey governor and signed the Constitution alongside Alexander Hamilton."

"These early relationships with Boudinot and Livingston had a profound effect on the course of Alexander Hamilton's life in the United States," concurred Rand Scholet, the AHA Society's President. "His time at these sites became a catalyst for Hamilton's political thought, so I'm looking forward to seeing where that all started."

A native of the West Indies, Alexander Hamilton came to the colonies in 1772 at the age of 15. "He was recommended by his pastor, a Reverend Knox, and sponsored by the business community there to come and attend Secondary School in Elizabethtown," stated Reverend Robert Higgs, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Elizabeth. "Knox was a classmate of Reverend James Caldwell, pastor of First Presbyterian Church. They both attended The College of New Jersey, now called Princeton University. When Knox wrote Caldwell searching for a place for young Hamilton to attend school, Caldwell invited him here."

While attending the Academy of Elizabethtown at the First Presbyterian Church, Hamilton lived at Boxwood Hall, the home of Elias Boudinot. Boudinot eventually served as a New Jersey Congressman after the war, and successfully campaigned for the establishment of a Department of the Treasury. Upon graduation, Hamilton took up residence with the family of William Livingston, New Jersey's first elected governor, at what is now known as Liberty Hall in Union.

"Hamilton was known by Elias Boudinot, James Caldwell, and William Livingston, all of whom worked closely with General Washington," Rev. Higgs continued. "They were impressed with his ability during his time in Elizabeth and obviously recommended him to Washington as a top aide. Therefore, I'd say Hamilton's stay in Elizabeth launched his career and introduced him to the key people who would help him along the way."

"Alexander Hamilton seems to epitomize the American dream," agreed Katherine Craig of Boxwood Hall. "He started as a penniless immigrant and went on to help forge this country, working with, and arguing with, men whose families had been here for generations."

CelebrateHAMILTON runs July 11 - July 14 at various locales throughout New York and New Jersey. For a full itinerary, visit www.smore.com/apryr-celebratehamilton, or the AHA Society's website: www.the-aha-society.com.

Liberty Hall Museum at Kean University chronicles more than 240 years of American history. The museum also houses extensive collections of furniture, ceramics, textiles, toys and tools owned by seven generations of the Livingston and Kean families. The Firehouse Museum, built in 2004, houses three antique fire engines, including a rare 1911 American LaFrance Metropolitan Steam Engine. Tours of Liberty Hall run Monday - Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the hour; the last tour departs at 3 p.m. General admission is $10 for adults, $8 for Kean alumni, and $6 for children and seniors. Kean students and faculty are free.

For reservations and further information, call 908-527-0400, e-mail libertyhall@kean.edu or visit www.kean.edu/libertyhall. Please follow Liberty Hall Museum on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/libertyhallmuseum, or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/LibertyHallKean.

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