Press Releases Index

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2007
CONTACT: Faith Jackson
Office of University Relations
908-737-NEWS (6397)
E-mail: fjackson@kean.edu

Kean University and Liberty Hall - Perfect Together

UNION, N.J. – Kean University and Liberty Hall have long been neighbors, as the two institutions face each other on opposite sides of Morris Avenue in Union, N.J. Now, they have become partners. Through the generosity of John Kean, the patriarch of the family that has owned Liberty Hall and kept in it pristine condition since the late 1700s, Kean University has been entrusted with all that Liberty Hall represents and nearly everything it contains. Under the agreement, Kean University will protect and preserve Liberty Hall's lands, buildings, memorabilia, furnishings and papers, including never-before-seen letters written by George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson and John Jay.

The landmark moment was honored with a signing ceremony on May 9. More than 200 guests attended, including dignitaries from across the state, historians, Kean family members, as well as many Kean University faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends.

Presiding as Master of Ceremonies was Sen. Raymond J. Lesniak, who said, "This is an historic day for the state of New Jersey. The generosity of the Kean family and the vision of Kean University will introduce a new generation to our proud history." He then introduced Kean President Dawood Farahi. After outlining the goals of the partnership to catalogue, protect, preserve and study what may be the last major collection of its kind, Farahi said, "We are so thrilled to have the opportunity to preserve the legacy of a great American family for future generations. We are honored by the generosity of the Kean family."

John Kean then spoke on behalf of his family. "Today, we celebrate the birth of a new era based on a relationship between Kean University and Liberty Hall," he said. He told a story about his great-great aunt, Julia Kean, who loved to sit on the front porch of the Liberty Hall mansion working on family scrapbooks. At the age of 10, she made history when she pasted a letter from George Washington in one such book. The previously undiscovered item now has scholars abuzz with excitement, and was featured on the front page of Metro Section in the New York Times on Friday, April 27. "That tradition has continued to this day. My family saved everything," Kean said. "We have saved them in boxes, suitcases and trunks. With this agreement, we have begun to catalogue what has remained hidden for years, and it will soon become available to students and scholars."

Also taking part in the signing ceremony were Chairman of the Kean University Board of Trustees Robert W. Cockren, Sen. Thomas H. Kean Jr., Senate President Richard Codey, Chairman of the Kean University Department of History Dr. Mark Lender, and Dr. Theodore J. Crackle, editor-in-chief of The Papers of George Washington, a grant-funded project housed at the University of Virginia.

Highlights of the transaction include:

- The entire 26-acre The Liberty Hall estate, containing Ursino Hall (the mansion), carriage house, other historic structures, the fire museum, the orchards and all the historical   papers and documents (except 100 specific items) have been deeded to Kean University.

- The estate is subdivided into two parts: the Historic District of about 12 acres, and the surrounding land of about 14 acres.

- Kean University provided $5.1 million to the Liberty Hall Foundation to serve as an endowment supporting the preservation and maintenance of the 250-year old mansion. John Kean and other Foundation trustees have also given $3 million to the Foundation. Proceeds from the sale of about three acres on North Avenue (estimated at about $1.8

million) will also be added to the endowment.

- The Historic District is leased back to the Liberty Hall Foundation for $1 a year for 98 years, renewable in perpetuity. The Foundation is responsible for managing an endowment that will provide some of the funding to maintain the Historic District. A separate entity called The liberty Hall Museum is responsible for managing and maintaining the Historical District. Liberty Hall and Kean University jointly supervise the Liberty Hall Museum. The contents of Ursino Hall and other structures are owned by John Kean and other members of his family. Some are donated to the museum, but most are on extended loan.

- The University plans to construct the John Kean Museum of American History within three years to exhibit Liberty Hall documents and artifacts to the public and make available for scholarly study. It will also digitize the collection so that schools across the nation may have access. It is Kean University's responsibility to seek donations and grants from individuals, foundations and public entities to realize this goal.