This exhibition was initially designed as a physical exhibit. Two years of research and preparation were meant to culminate in a major exhibit in Gallery ’50 and the Special Collections and University Archives Gallery in September 2020. With the advent of the coronavirus pandemic in March, it soon be clear that the physical exhibit could not happen. Efforts refocused on creating a digital version of the exhibition. The exhibition features documents, photographs, and artifacts from Special Collections and University Archives’ collections. It also includes photographs from the Library of Congress, and images generously provided by the South River Historical and Preservation Society, the Metuchen-Edison Historical Society, the New Brunswick Free Public Library, Stephanie Bartz and Kim Adams. For the first time, Special Collections and University Archives used the Omeka platform to mount a digital exhibit. I would like to thank Rhonda Marker and Isaiah Beard for their support in using Omeka. Special thanks go to Tara Maharjan who wrangled the software and designed the exhibit. Finally, I would like to thank my public history interns Nicole Bellmay, Alexander Burns, Eddie Arriba, and especially Anya Bolden, who all did research and writing that made its way into the exhibit.

Fernanda Perrone
Exhibition Curator

This exhibition is co-sponsored by the Middlesex County Office of Arts and History.