GARY SARETZKY

Archivist • Photographer • Educator

Contact

Lectures

Lectures Available     Upcoming Lectures     Past Lectures

Lectures Available

Preserving Family Photographs

19th Century New Jersey Photographers (separate lecture available for each county)

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Newark

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Paterson

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Trenton

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Princeton

19th Century New Jersey Women Photographers

19th Century New Jersey African American Photographers

Why People Didn’t Smile in Old Photos, or Did They?

‘Ere the Shadows Fade’: New Jersey’s Civil War Era Photographers

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Gustavus Pach and the Pach Brothers

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: I.G. Owen of Newton, Sussex County 

John P. Doremus: Paterson Photographer with a Floating Gallery on the Mississippi

The Shady Side of the Lens: Six Law-Breaking Nineteenth Century New Jersey Photographers

Photographic Conservation (half or full day workshop)

Dating 19th Century Portrait Photographs (3.5 hours)

Dating Cartes-de-Visite

Dating Cabinet Cards

Dating Tintypes

British Ferrotypes of the 1880s

19th Century Photographs: Processes and Formats

Edwin and Louise Rosskam: Documentary Photographers

Edward Steichen and WWII Navy Photography

Edward Steichen and The Family of Man Exhibit

Grant Castner: Trenton Photographer: The Delaware River and Canals

Margaret Bourke-White: Eyes on Russia

Margaret Bourke-White: The Prohibition Years

Elias Goldensky: Wizard of Photography

The Howell Sisters:  Amateur Photographers in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in the Early 1900s

12 Million Black Voices: Richard Wright, Edwin Rosskam, & the Golden Age of Documentary Photo Books

The Joshua Huddy Era: Documents of the American Revolution

Selected Photographers in the History of Photojournalism (2 hours)

History of War Photography, Parts 1 and 2 (2.5 hours)

Blues Musicians: A to Z

The Blues Scene in the Delaware Valley



Upcoming Lectures 



2024


2025

February  13, 2025, 2:30pm

12 Million Black Voices

Plumstead Library

In person

Contact: Renee Martin (609) 758-7888 ext. 7225


February  20, 2025, 7pm

12 Million Black Voices

Woodbridge Library

Live stream via Zoom

Contact: Najea Grimes 732-634-4450 ext. 7117


April 5, 2025, 2pm

Preserving Family Photographs

Roebling Museum

In person

Contact: Lynne Calamia (609) 499-7200


May 14, 2025, 1pm

19th Century New Jersey Women Photographers

VFW, Route 55, Morris Plains

In person

Contact: Lenora Caamano lee60@optonline.net


Recent Past Lectures


2024


June 6, 2024, 7:30pm

Grant Castner,  Trenton Photographer: The Delaware River and Canals, 1890-1920

Delaware River Greenway Partnership

Live stream via Zoom

Contact: https://www.delawarerivergreenwaypartnership.org


July 23, 2024, Noon

Grant Castner,  Trenton Photographer: The Delaware River and Canals, 1890-1920

New Jersey State Library

Live stream via Zoom

Contact: https://www.njstatelib.org/events/month/2024-07/


July 25,  2024,  2pm

19th Century Paterson Photographers

The Paterson Museum

Live stream via Zoom

Contact: Heather Garside


August 6,  2024,  9am

The Joshua Huddy Era: Documents of the American Revolution

The Elizabeth VanCleaf Institute, Monmouth University, for Grades 6 to 12 Educators

Prerecorded via Zoom

Contact: Dana Howell, Monmouth County Historical Association


August 26,  2024, 7pm

Grant Castner,  Trenton Photographer: The Delaware River and Canals, 1890-1920

Mercer County Library

Live stream via Zoom

Contact: https://mcl.org/events/


September 5, 2024, 5pm

The Howell Sisters:  Amateur Photographers in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in the Early 1900s

Parker Life

Live stream via Zoom

Contact: Pamela Joyce, PJoyce@parkerlife.org

Register: https://parkerlife-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUscOuppz0rHdZCQMEJJtQ8NAVhTE_SbjpE



October 10, 2024, 7pm

Why Didn’t People Smile in Old Photos, or Did They?

Monmouth County Historical Association

Live stream via Zoom

Contact: https://www.monmouthhistory.org/historically-speaking


October 26,  2024, 11am

Keynote Address on 19th Century New Jersey Photographers

Archives & History Day, Brookdale Community College

In person

Contact: Julia.Telonidis@co.monmouth.nj.us


November 7, 2024, 3pm 

‘Ere the Shadows Fade: New Jersey’s Civil War Era Photographers

Hosted by John F. Peto Museum, Island Heights at Presbyterian Church of Toms River

In person

Contact: https://petomuseum.org


November 10, 2024, 2pm

19th Century Hunterdon County Photographers

Flemington Presbyterian Church, 10 E. Main Street, Flemington

In person

Contact: David Harding, Hunterdon County Historical Society, hunterdonhistoryadm@gmail.com


November 13,  2024,  7pm

19th Century Camden Photographers

Haddonfield Historical Society

Live stream via Zoom

Contact: Sarah Tambussi, info@haddonfieldhistory.org


2023


January 24, 2023, 7pm

Preserving Family Photographs

North Jersey History and Genealogy Center, Morristown and Morris Township Library

Zoom Lecture 

http://www.monmouthcountylib.org/

Registration: https://mmtlibrary.org/event/preserving-your-family-photographs/

Contact: James Lewis james.lewis@mmt.mainlib.org


March 4, 2023, 2pm

Preserving Family Photos

American Labor Museum

Zoom Lecture 

https://labormuseum.net/?p=events-calendar&event_id=384

Contact: labormuseum@gmail.com to request the ZOOM link


March 8, 2023, 7pm

19th Century New Jersey Women Photographers

Monmouth County Library System

Zoom Lecture 

http://www.monmouthcountylib.org/

Contact: Laura Migliore lmigliore@monmouthcountylib.org


May 2, 2023, 10:30am

Edward Steichen and World War II Navy Photography

Monroe Township Senior Services

Zoom Lecture for Monroe Senior Center



May 11, 2023,1pm

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Union County

Westfield Memorial Library, Westfield

Westfield Memorial Library, Westfield


June 6, 2023, 10:30am

Margaret Bourke-White: The Prohibition Years

Monroe Township Senior Services

Zoom Lecture for Monroe Senior Center


August 15, 2023, 6:30pm

Photographing People

Mercer County Library, Hickory Corner Branch, East Windsor

In Person

Contact: Mary Astarita mastarit@mcl.org


August 21, 2023, 6:30pm

Preserving Family Photographs

Mercer County Library

Live Stream

Contact: Anna Van Scoyoc avanscoy@mcl.org


August 24, 2023, 7pm

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Princeton

Somerset  County Library 

Live Stream

http://sclsnj.org/

Contact: Fiona Kennedy fkennedy@sclibnj.org


September 14, 2023, 7:00pm

Preserving Family Photographs

Indian Valley Public Library

Live Stream

https://ivpl.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/2023-september/

Contact:  Nicole Husbands nhusbands@ivpl.org


September 23, 2023, 2pm

The Howell Sisters: Photographers in New Brunswick Circa 1900

New Brunswick Public Library

In Person

Contact: Kim Adams archival2010@gmail.com


October 26, 2023, 6:00pm

Preserving Family Photographs

Free Library of Philadelphia

1901 Vine St., Philadelphia

In Person

Contact:  Suzanna Urminska, UrminskaS@freelibrary.org


November 18, 2023, 1:00pm

Preserving Family Photographs

Sussex County Library, Newton

In Person

Contact:  Tara Schaberg, tschaberg@sussexcountylibrary.org


2022


January 8, 2022, 11am

Preserving Family Photos

Hudson County Genealogical and Historical Society

Zoom Lecture 

http://www.hudsoncountynjgenealogy.org/

Contact: Patrick Cullen pcprogressive@gmail.com



January 23, 2022, 2pm

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Cumberland County

Cumberland County County Historical Society

Zoom Lecture 

https://cchistsoc.org/

Contact: Brittney Ingersoll, brittlp48@gmail.com


January 27, 2022, 6:30pm

19th Century New Jersey Women Photographers: Exceptional Artists in a Mostly Male Dominated Profession

Museum of Early Trades & Crafts Education Annex

23 Main St. at Green Village Road, Madison, NJ 07940

Zoom Lecture

https://metc.org/

Contact: Angelica Diggs operations@metc.org


March 8, 2022, 6:30pm

Preserving Family Photos

Warren County Public Library

Zoom Lecture 

https://www.warrenlib.org/

Contact: Kimberly Urban kurban@warrenlib.org


March 20, 2022, 3pm

19th Century New Jersey Women Photographers: 

Exceptional Artists in a Mostly Male Profession

Middlesex Public Library

Zoom Lecture 

http://www.middlesexpubliclibrarynj.org

Contact: Susen Edwards info@middlesexfol.org


March 22, 2022, 2pm

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Princeton

Historical Society of Princeton

Zoom Lecture 

https://princetonhistory.org/

Contact: Eve Meyer eve@princetonhistory.org


June 9, 2022, 7pm

Preserving Family Photos

Pennington Public Library, Hopewell Valley Historical Society & Hopewell Museum

Zoom Lecture: https://www.hopewellvalleyhistory.org/programs.html#FamilyPhotos

http://www.penningtonlibrary.org/

Contact: Kristyn Friedlich, 609-737-0404


June 11, 2022

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Hudson County

Hudson County Genealogical and Historical Society

Zoom Lecture 

http://www.hudsoncountynjgenealogy.org/

Contact: Patrick Cullen pcprogressive@gmail.com


September 20, 2022, 7pm

Preserving Family Photos

Hunterdon County Library System

Zoom Lecture 

http://www.hudsoncountynjgenealogy.org/

Contact: Marianne Sievers MSievers@hclibrary.us


October 11, 2022, 7pm

Preserving Family Photos

Morris Area Genealogy Group

Zoom Lecture 

https://mags-public.weebly.com/

Contact: Carole Flatley 11caf@optonline.net


October 19, 2022

Dating 19th Century Portrait Photos

Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference

In Person MARAC Workshop, College Park, MD 

https://www.marac.info/


November 17, 2022, 7pm

Preserving Family Photos

Monmouth County Library System

Zoom Lecture 

http://www.monmouthcountylib.org/

Contact: Laura Migliore lmigliore@monmouthcountylib.org


December 7, 2022, 7pm

Edward Steichen and World War II Navy Photography

Monmouth County Library System

Zoom Lecture 

http://www.monmouthcountylib.org/

Contact: Laura Migliore lmigliore@monmouthcountylib.org





2021


February 17, 2021 8pm

Preserving Family Photographs

Genealogical Society of New Jersey

Zoom Lecture 

https://www.gsnj.org/2021-webinar-series/

Contact: Christine Murphy christine.murphy6@gmail.com


February 23, 2021, 2pm 

Blues Musicians, A to Z

Morris School District Community School

Zoom Lecture (Registration fee)

https://www.msdcommunityschool.org/

Contact: Michelle Knox , 973-292-2063 ext. 8315


February 24, 2021 8pm

Through the Lens: Gary Saretzky Photographs

Princeton Photography Club

Zoom Lecture 

Contact: Dave Burwell ppcnews@icloud.com


April 11, 2021, 2pm

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Ocean County

Ocean County Historical Society

Zoom Lecture 

https://www.oceancountyhistory.org/

Contact: Barbara Reusch freusch@verizon.net


April 24, 2021, 1pm

Dating Cartes-de-Visite

The Daguerreian Society

Zoom Lecture (Registration donation)

https://www.daguerreiansociety.org/the-daguerreian-society-talk-series-2021/

Contact: talks@daguerreiansociety.org




May 20, 2021, 7pm

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Gustavus Pach

Monmouth County Historical Association

Zoom Lecture 

https://www.monmouthhistory.org/ 

Contact: Dana Howell dhowell@monmouthhistory.org


July 31, 2021, 1pm

Dating Cabinet Cards

The Daguerreian Society

Zoom Lecture (Registration donation)

https://www.daguerreiansociety.org/the-daguerreian-society-talk-series-2021/

Contact: talks@daguerreiansociety.org

October 17, 2021, 2pm

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Gustavus Pach

Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County

Zoom Lecture (Registration free)

https://www.jhmomc.org/


November 3, 2021, 3pm

Edward Steichen and WWII Navy Photography

Laurel Circle

100 Monroe Street

Bridgewater, NJ 08807

Attendance limited to residents of Laurel Circle and their guests.

Contact: Leath Jennings, Community Life Services Director


November 4, 2021, 7pm

Preserving Family Photographs

Woodbridge Public Library

Zoom Lecture (Registration Free)

Contact: Najea Grimes, Librarian, Adult Services


December 2, 2021, 7pm

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Newark

Newark Public Library

Zoom Lecture 

https://npl.org/programs-exhibits/

Contact: Tom Ankner tankner@npl.org




2020

January 16, 2020, 10-11:30am

Preserving Family Photographs

Lawrence Senior Center

Darrah Lane

Contact: Lillian,  609-844-7048


June 11, 2020, 11am

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Somerset County

Somerset County Library

Free Online Lecture, https://sclsnj.libnet.info/event/4266767

Sponsored by the Somerset County Library System

Contact: Lauren Reilly <lreilly@sclibnj.org>


May 14, 2020, 11am

‘Ere the Shadows Fade: New Jersey’s Civil War Era Photographers

Somerset County Library

Free Online Lecture, https://sclsnj.libnet.info/event/4266767

Sponsored by the Somerset County Library System

Contact: Lauren Reilly <lreilly@sclibnj.org>

August 17, 2020, 7pm -8pm ONLINE webinar

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Monmouth County

Middletown Township Historical Society

Registration: https://www.middletownnjhistory.org/events.html

Contact: Thomas Valenti.  http://middletownnjhistory.org/


September 16, 2020, 12pm -1:15pm ONLINE webinar

‘Ere the Shadows Fade’: New Jersey’s Civil War Era Photographers

NJ State Library

https://www.njstatelib.org

Contact: Cindy Warrick <cwarrick@njstatelib.org>


October 15, 2020, 7pm-8:15pm ONLINE webinar

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Hunterdon County

Prallsville Mills

33 Risler St., Stockton 08559-2136

Sponsored by Delaware River Mill Society

Contact: Therese Halscheid 609-238-2155 or thalscheid@gmail.com


December 15, 2020, 7pm

‘Ere the Shadows Fade: New Jersey’s Civil War Era Photographers

Monmouth County Genealogy Society

Free Online Go to Meeting Lecture

https://www.njmcgs.org/

Contact: Ray Veth. 732-299-4961


2019

June 29, 2019, 1pm

‘Ere the Shadows Fade’: New Jersey’s Civil War Era Photographers

Hamilton House Museum

971 Valley Road, Clifton 07013

Contact: Nicole Colosimo 973-744-2608


February 3, 2019, 3pm

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Trenton, Lambertville, Flemington

Hopewell Museum

6. W. Broad Street, Hopewell, 08525

Contact: Bonita Grant archivist@hopewellvalleyhistory.org


March 31, 2019, 2pm

‘Ere the Shadows Fade’: New Jersey’s Civil War Era Photographers

Vermeule Mansion

614 Greenbrook Road

North Plainfield, NJ 07063

Contact: Sara Parmigiani saraparm@aol.com


April 17, 2019, 12:45pm (luncheon begins at noon)

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Princeton

Nassau Club

6 Mercer Street, Princeton, NJ 08540


April 24, 2019, 7pm

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Middlesex County

South River Museum

64-66 Main Street, South River, NJ 08882

Contact: Stephanie Bartz southriverhistory@gmail.com

Video: http://southrivernj.org/SR-TV.html under South River Historical & Preservation Society


April 26, 2019, 1pm

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Bergen County

River Vale Free Public Library

412 Rivervale Road, Rivervale, NJ 07675

Contact: Ann McCarthy mccarthy@rivervale.bccls.org


May 19, 2019, 2pm

‘Ere the Shadows Fade’: New Jersey’s Civil War Era Photographers

Historical Society of Plainfield (Drake House Museum)

602 W.Front St., Plainfield

Contact: Leanne Manna leannem923@gmail.com



2018

April 4, 2018, 7pm

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Burlington County

Moorestown Historical Society

111 W. Second Street, Library Meeting Room A, Moorestown

Contact: Michael DeCamillo


April 10, 2018, 7pm

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Somerset County

Hillsborough Public Library

379 S. Branch Road, Hillsborough, NJ

Contact: Marcela Dunham


April 12, 2018, 9am-12:30pm

Dating 19th Century Portrait Photos

Workshop, Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference, Hershey, PA

Learn More


April 17, 2018, Noon - 1:30pm

Preserving Family Photographs

New Jersey State Library

State Street, Trenton, NJ



April 19, 2018, 7pm

‘Ere the Shadows Fade’: New Jersey’s Civil War Era Photographers

West Deptford Free Public Library

420 Crown Point Road, West Deptford, NJ 08086

Contact: Molly Stewart



April 21, 2018, 2pm

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Cumberland County

Vineland Historical Society

108 S. 7th Street, Vineland, NJ 08360

Contact: Patricia Martinelli



April 23, 2018, 10am

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Monmouth County

Seabrook

3000 Essex Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07753

Contact: Michelle Aguilar



April 25, 2018, 10am

Preserving Family Photographs

Monmouth County Library

125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan

Contact: Monmouth County Archives


May 11, 2018, 6:30pm

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Cumberland County

Bayshore Center at Bivalve

2800 High Street, Port Norris

Contact: Chase Jackson


June 13, 2018, 7pm

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Mercer County

Mercer Country Library

Darrah Lane & Business Route 1, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

Contact: Laura Nawrocik


June 14, 2018, 5:30pm

19th Century Photographs: Processes and Formats

Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia

Contact: Kelsey Duinkerken, hosted by Delaware Valley Archivists Group


August 13, 2018, 1:30pm

The Blues Scene in the Delaware Valley

Seabrook Retirement Community

Tinton Falls


August 20, 2018, 1:30-4:30pm

Photo Workshop for Beginning Archivists

New Jersey State Library

Contact for Registration: Debra Schiff debra.schiff@gmail.com


August 24, 2018, 12:30-3:30pm

Photo Workshop for Beginning Archivists

Plainfield Public Library

Contact for Registration: Debra Schiff debra.schiff@gmail.com


September 6, 2018, 7pm

‘Ere the Shadows Fade’: New Jersey’s Civil War Era Photographers

Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library

606 Delsea Drive, Sewell

Contact: Constance McCart, Washington Township Historic Preservation Commission


September 28, 2018, 12:30-3:30pm

Photo Workshop for Beginning Archivists

Atlantic City Public Library

Contact for Registration: Debra Schiff debra.schiff@gmail.com


September 30, 2018, 12:30pm

‘Ere the Shadows Fade’: New Jersey’s Civil War Era Photographers

Gloucester County Historical Society

17 Hunter Street, Woodbury NJ 08096

Contact: Jessica Ferguson


October 4, 2018, 7:30pm

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Morris County

All Saints Episcopal Church

15 Basking Ridge Road, Millington, NJ 07946

Hosted by Long Hill Township Historical Society

Contact: Kathy Pfeil


October 15, 2018, 12:30-3:30pm

Photo Workshop for Beginning Archivists

Chester Public Library

Contact for Registration: Debra Schiff debra.schiff@gmail.com


October 26, 2018, 6:30pm

‘Ere the Shadows Fade’: New Jersey’s Civil War Era Photographers

Monmouth Connection

3544 State Highway 66

Neptune, NJ 07753


November 2, 2018, time to be announced

The Blues Scene in the Delaware Valley

New Jersey Forum, Monmouth University (all day event)

Contact for Registration: New Jersey Historical Commission


November 9, 2018, 12:30-3:30pm

Photo Workshop for Beginning Archivists

Dana Library, Rutgers, Newark campus

Contact for Registration: Debra Schiff debra.schiff@gmail.com




2017


January 17, 2017, 8pm

'Ere the Shadows Fade': New Jersey's Civil War Era Photographers

Teaneck Camera Club, Rodda Center, 250 Colonial Ct., Room 2a/2b, Teaneck

Contact: Rachel Katic


March 9, 2017, 7pm

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Morris County

Chester Library, 250 W. Main St., Chester, NJ 07930

Contact: Mary S. Murphy


March 21, 2017, 7pm

Margaret Bourke-White: The "Eyes on Russia" Photographs

Bound Brook Library, 402 E. High St., Bound Brook, NJ 08805

Contact: Marcela Dunham


April 2, 2017, 2pm

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Burlington County

Burlington County Historical Society, 457 High Street, Burlington, NJ 08016

Contact: Leah Southerland


April 3, 2017, 7pm

'Ere the Shadows Fade: New Jersey's Civil War Era Photographers

Beechwood Public Library, New Jersey



Postponed, possibly in Fall 2017

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Bergen County

Teaneck Camera Club, Rodda Center, 250 Colonial Ct., Room 2a/2b, Teaneck

Contact: Rachel Katic


April 20, 2017, 9am

Dating 19th Century Portrait Photographs

Workshop, Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference, Newark

Registration required


April 28, 2017, 9:30am

Preserving Family Photographs

Monmouth County Library HQ, Manalapan, NJ

Contact: Monmouth County Archives, 732-308-3771


May 8, 2017, 6:00pm

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Newark, Essex County

Newark Historical Society

Contact: Tim Crist, President


October 10, 2017

'Ere the Shadows Fade: New Jersey's Civil War Era Photographers

Camden County Community College, Blackwood

Hosted by Old Baldy Civil War Roundtable


October 16, 2017, 6:45pm

19th Century New Jersey Photographers: Camden County

Haddon Heights Public Library, 608 Station Ave., Haddon Heights, NJ 08035

Contact: Doug Mitchell, Haddon Heights Historical Society


October 28, 2017 (Rescheduled date, previously October 21)

Preserving Family Photographs

Fall Conference, Ukrainian Historical and Educational Center

135 Davidson Ave., Somerset, NJ

Registration required. Contact: 732-356-0132