(FREEHOLD, NJ) -- Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon is inviting all Monmouth County high school students to enter the County Clerk’s annual Archives & History Day Photography Contest. The contest theme, "Revolutionary Monmouth County," complements the featured exhibit chosen for this year's event in honor of America's 250th birthday that focuses on life in Monmouth County during the Revolutionary War period. The deadline is October 3, 2025.

“This year’s contest not only pays homage to Monmouth County’s rich history during the American Revolution, but it also coincides with our commemoration of America’s upcoming 250th birthday in 2026,” said Clerk Hanlon. “This contest is a great way for our County’s talented high school students to join in the celebration of our nation’s Semiquincentennial.”

High school students residing in Monmouth County and/or attending a school in Monmouth County are challenged to submit an original color or black-and-white photograph capturing one of the many locations throughout Monmouth County significant to the time period of the American Revolution. Click here to view or download complete contest rules and eligibility information.

The top three winners will be awarded gift card prizes by Clerk Hanlon and recognized at Archives & History Day on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at the Robert J. Collins Arena at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft.

Contest entries will be accepted through Friday, October 3, 2025, via email to [email protected] with the subject “2025 High School Photography Contest” and the image attached.

Photo entries should be in JPG format with a resolution of 300 dpi and a maximum file size of 20MB. All entries must include the student’s name, grade, high school, home address, phone number and email address. Additionally, the student must include a brief description of what is captured in the photo and its significance to the Revolutionary War period in Monmouth County.

Questions may be directed via email to [email protected]. Resources about Monmouth County during the Revolutionary War period are available at MonmouthNJ250.org.

The Monmouth County Archives, which operates under the direction of the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office, preserves, organizes and provides access to Monmouth County government records of enduring historic value that are retained on a permanent basis. Located in the lower level of the Monmouth County Library’s headquarters in Manalapan, the Monmouth County Archives is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm.

The Office of the Monmouth County Clerk is comprised of five divisions handling property recordings, elections, archives, passports and records management.  The County Clerk’s Office also provides resident, veteran and Gold Star Family identification cards to eligible county residents, administers oaths to notaries and public officials and performs wedding ceremonies. The Monmouth County Clerk is a constitutional and administrative officer elected to a five-year term by the voters of Monmouth County. Christine Giordano Hanlon, Esq. was elected Monmouth County Clerk in November 2015 and was re-elected to a second term in November 2020.