Conducting Family Research at the Monmouth County Archives
 Did you know that the Monmouth County Archives contains a wealth of information for both professional and amateur genealogists? Officially opened to the public in 1994, the Archives is one of the divisions directed by Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon. More than 1,000 patrons use the Archives annually for historical, genealogical, and other research.
The Archives acquires, indexes, preserves, and makes available historical records (1600s to present) that are kept indefinitely. The Archives staff preserve and maintain over 3,000 storage boxes and 5,000 ledgers, almost all of which are made available for public research.
The office is located on the lower level of the Monmouth County Library Headquarters at 125 Symmes Drive in Manalapan, and is currently open to the public by appointment only, which can be made by calling the office at 732-308-3771.
Julia Telonidis Joins the Clerk's Office as Monmouth County's New County Archivist
The Monmouth County Clerk’s Office is pleased to announce that Julia Telonidis of Ocean Township has joined the County Clerk’s Office as the County’s new Archivist. Ms. Telonidis replaces long-time County Archivist Gary D. Saretzky who retired in October of 2019.
Telonidis has more than 20 years of archival and management experience, most recently at the Moore and Talbott Libraries of Rider University in Lawrenceville, where she served as Archives Specialist. Prior to that, Telonidis was Acting Library Director and Curator of Manuscripts at The New Jersey Historical Society and also worked at the United Nations Archives, Newark Public Library, and The New York Public Library.
"Julia brings a wealth of knowledge and two-decades of experience in archival science to the Monmouth County Archives Division,” said Clerk Hanlon. “Julia is well-prepared to serve as County Archivist and I am thrilled to welcome her to the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office."
Telonidis received her BA Degree in English and History from Rutgers University, an MA in History from the University at Albany, and an MLS in Information and Library Science from Rutgers University. For further information, please view our press release.
What is Housed at the Archives?
- Primarily, county government documents such as County Clerk books and documents. Included are deeds and other property records; marriage returns (1790s to 1878), naturalizations, and other County Clerk records; old (mostly pre-1950 court documents; and records from numerous other county departments).
- Special Collections such as newspaper clippings and photos from the Red Bank Register and local news videotapes from Monmouth Cablevision (TV 34).
- Records from nineteen municipalities in Monmouth County
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What is Not Housed at the Archives?
- Birth records, except for slaves born after the gradual Emancipation Act of 1804.
- Deaths, except for Coroner Inquests, 1786-1915.
- Divorces.
- Wills and probate records. Contact the Monmouth County Surrogate for these records.
- Records from other counties, except some for towns now in Ocean County when it was part of Monmouth County before 1850.
View the Archives Records Online
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The Archives Website: The Archives website, MonmouthCountyClerk.com/Archives, is the gateway to knowledge about records in the Archives. On the right side of the Archives home page are useful links to Finding Aids, Searchable Databases, and the Open Public Records Search system (OPRS).
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Finding Aids: “Finding Aid” is the term archivists use to denote a guide to a specific batch of records. Click on the “Finding Aid” tab on the right side of the home page to choose a record group from the list provided.
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Searchable Databases: The Archives has more than a dozen searchable databases online that can be searched by name, including Marriages, Naturalizations, Coroners Inquests, Name Changes, and Illegitimate Children. To access these records, you can click and send an email request to the Archives for the record, which will be sent back to you as a digital file in an email attachment, at no charge.
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Open Public Records Search System (OPRS): Thousands of digitized documents are also available for viewing through Monmouth County’s Open Public Records Search (OPRS) website, which can be accessed by clicking here.
For questions about the Archives or to make an appointment, please call 732-308-3771 or visit MonmouthCountyClerk.com/Archives.
Very truly yours,
Christine Giordano Hanlon, Esq.
Monmouth County Clerk
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