(MANALAPAN, NJ) -- Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon announced that Monmouth County historian Randall Gabrielan is the winner of the 2023 M. Claire French Award for Leadership in Historic Preservation. The award will be presented at the County Clerk's 28th Annual Archives and History Day on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at the Robert J. Collins Arena at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft.

“Randall Gabrielan’s tireless efforts to preserve and promote Monmouth County’s history span nearly four decades, including his innovative leadership of the Monmouth County Historical Commission, publication of more than 40 books, and his vast knowledge and research of our County and its towns,” said Clerk Hanlon. “Randall has made a significant mark on the understanding and awareness of our local history, and truly embodies the M. Claire French Award for Leadership in Historic Preservation.”

Gabrielan currently serves as Monmouth County Historian and Middletown Township Historian, as well as President-Emeritus of the Middletown Township Historical Society. His preservation efforts in Monmouth County began in the early 1980s as an avocational interest in history, which quickly turned into a successful second career.

First elected president of the Middletown Township Historical Society in 1985, a position he would go on to hold for over 30 years, Gabrielan curated museum exhibitions, wrote numerous articles, published a newsletter and gave several lectures about the history of the largest municipality in the County. During that period, he also wrote two newspaper columns, a commemoration of the bicentennial of the Constitution in 1987 and a series on historic houses in the 1990s.

In 1994, he began authoring a long series of publications, which has included more than 40 illustrated books highlighting Monmouth County history. His writing has continued through today, with recent publications of Lost Monmouth County in 2021, Monmouth County Historic Landmarks in 2011, and Monmouth County, New Jersey in 1998.

Gabrielan’s writings have also focused on the history of municipalities across the County with the authoring of several Images of America books, including on Middletown Township, Colts Neck, Marlboro, Fair Haven, Red Bank, Rumson, Sandy Hook, Monmouth Beach & Sea Bright, Keansburg, Shrewsbury, Long Branch, Atlantic Highlands, and Allentown & Upper Freehold Township.

In 1990, Gabrielan was appointed Executive Director of the Monmouth County Historical Commission and served in the position until 2013, when he was appointed to the Commissioner board of the Historical Commission. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the organization, after serving as President.

Gabrielan has been an innovative leader with the County Historical Commission, working to promote and tell the story of our County’s rich history, as well as fund its programs through the securing of grants. He established the Commission’s popular self-guided tour and annual event, “A Weekend In Old Monmouth,” when 50 of the County history sites open their doors to visitors and waive their admission fees. He has also narrated several videos at the County’s historic sites and contributed to the Historic Sites Inventory, the first of three research assignments with the Monmouth County Park System.

Gabrielan has been a regular co-curator of the County Clerk’s Archives exhibit catalogs produced annually by the Monmouth County Clerk’s Archives Division. He also delivers several presentations to the public each year and is a close friend of the County historians network, often offering assistance to fellow historians and archivists for resources and research.

The M. Claire French Award for Leadership in Historic Preservation recognizes outstanding achievements of an elected official, government employee, public servant or civic organization in supporting historic preservation in Monmouth County through education, development, planning, rehabilitation, advocacy, community leadership or other means. Created in 2015, the award is named after M. Claire French, Hanlon’s predecessor, who served as County Clerk for 18 years until her retirement in 2015.

The County Clerk’s 2023 Archives and History Day will be held on Saturday, October 28 from 9:00am to 1:00pm at Brookdale Community College with the awards presentations beginning at 12:15pm. This year’s Archives exhibit, which will be on display at Archives and History Day, is titled “Business and Industry in Monmouth County.”

For more information about Archives and History Day, visit MonmouthCountyClerk.com/Archives or contact the Monmouth County Archives at 732-308-3771, ext. 3772.