MONMOUTH COUNTY – Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon has announced that historian Randall Gabrielan is the winner of the 2023 M. Claire French Award for Leadership in Historic Preservation.
Gabrielan received the award at the County Clerk’s 28th Annual Archives and History Day which was held recently 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,” Hanlon said. “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.”
Currently, Gabrielan serves as Monmouth County Historian and Middletown Township Historian, as well as President-Emeritus of the Middletown Township Historical Society. He began his preservation efforts in Monmouth County in the early 1980s as an avocational interest in history. This turned into a successful second career for him.
Gabrielan was first elected president of the Middletown Township Historical Society in 1985 and held the position 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. 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.
Gabrielan started authoring a long series of publications in 1994. This included more than 40 illustrated books highlighting Monmouth County history. His recent publications are “Lost Monmouth County” in 2021, “Monmouth County Historic Landmarks” in 2011, and “Monmouth County, New Jersey” in 1998.
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,” the County Clerk’s office said.
He established the Commission’s popular self-guided tour and annual event, “A Weekend In Old Monmouth.” 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.
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.
The award is named after M. Claire French, Hanlon’s predecessor, who served as County Clerk for 18 years until her retirement in 2015.
For more information about Archives and History Day, visit MonmouthCountyClerk.com/Archives or contact the Monmouth County Archives at 732-308-3771, ext. 3772.
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