Vineland Historical and Antiquarian Society
The Vineland Historical and Antiquarian Society is the oldest, local historical society in New Jersey. Its goal is to collect and preserve historical and current accounts of events, persons and inventions, scientific investigations and photographs, drawings, models, and specimens and all other matters of similar character connected with the interests of Vineland, New Jersey.
History
Founded in 1864, three years after the creation of the town of Vineland, the society consisted of a few dedicated settlers passing around a box of curiosities. Since 1910, the society has been housed at the corner of South Seventh Street and Elmer Street in Downtown Vineland. It features permanent displays of antique furnishings, paintings, military artifacts, broadsides, and musical instruments. There are rooms dedicated to the Civil War, the history of local native cultures, and local glass making. The Charles K. Landis room features many furnishings that once belonged to the town founder. Other collections include an extensive collection of local newspapers and South Jersey census records on microfilm/microfiche, as well as a library of general history and biographical works in excess of 6000 books and magazines.
The Vineland Historical and Antiquarian Society will be celebrating its 150th Anniversary in 2014.
Collections
- The Civil War Room
- The Glass Room
- Native American Collection
- Charles K. Landis Room, Founder of Vineland, N.J.
- The Frank D. Andrews Room, Early Collection Developer
- Genealogy Research Room
- The Great Hall, exhibits
- Art, Portraits, Glass, artifacts
Persons of note
- Charles K. Landis
- Frank D. Andrews
- Victor Durand Jr.
- Mary Treat
- Mary Tillotson
- Thomas Bramwell Welch, Creator of Welch's Grape Juice
- Walter Lewis Shaw, telecommunications inventor