Liberty Hall Museum Celebrates the Women of the Early 20th Century. Generators of Change Lecture with Dr. C. Brid Nicholson Union, NJ – Liberty Hall Museum at Kean University will host a lecture, The Makings of Political Power: Lucy Kean and the Women of Early 20th Century America, by Dr. C. Brid Nicholson, assistant professor of history at Kean University, on Sunday, October 5 at 1 p.m. in the Carriage House. The lecture is free and open to the public. A light reception follows. Reservations are required. A native of Ireland, Dr. Nicholson earned a Ph.D. from Drew University. She is an expert in women’s history and author of the soon to be released Emma Goldman: Still Dangerous. Goldman was an anarchist and early advocate of free speech, birth control, women's equality and independence. Dr. Nicholson will discuss the political role of women in the early 1900s, including Lucinetta (Lucy) Halsted Kean, the longest reigning matriarch of Liberty Hall. Guests will also view a special exhibit, The Pleasure of Your Company: The Power and Politics of Victorian Dining. The exhibit explores the life of Lucy Kean who, from 1900 to 1912, entertained a glittering mix of politicians, captains of industry, military leaders, and diplomats in the home she shared with her son, New Jersey Senator John Kean. The exhibit features period silverware, glassware and fashions, along with artifacts such as the family guestbook and the calling cards of famous visitors. Liberty Hall Museum at Kean University chronicles more than 200 years of American history. Built in 1772 by William Livingston, New Jersey’s first elected governor, the Victorian-style mansion is a treasure trove of historic riches. With forgotten letters from Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, Liberty Hall also houses extensive collections of antique furniture, ceramics, textiles, toys and tools owned by seven generations of the Livingston and Kean families. The Firehouse is the latest addition to the Museum’s complex housing two antique fire engines and a collection of fire memorabilia.