Arthur Wallace Peach, founder of the NU English program, figures large in the university’s new Sullivan Museum and History Center. To the left, on page four, is the panel outlining his multi-faceted tenure at Norwich. Below is a photo of the campus in 1918, the same year Peach was presented with the trophy bearing his name when the school’s football team won the state championship. Both Peach (top row) and Harold “Doc” Martin (bottom row) are circled. Martin was the first African American to enroll as a student at Norwich.
On October 20th the museum was formally dedicated and January 22nd will mark its opening. Director Karen Peterson explained the facility “seeks to be a lively, compelling and anchoring presence in our community.” The 16,000 square foot building houses offices, a multi-purpose classroom/meeting room, a conservation lab, a preparation space, exhibition space, five distinct exhibition areas, an entrance lobby with restrooms, a small theatre space, and more than 5,000 sq. ft. of storage in the basement.
Exhibits include “Scholars, Citizens, Soldiers: Norwich University 1819-2019” – a Norwich University panel exhibit highlighting the accomplishments of Norwich alumni and faculty during the institution’s 188 year history. The timeline serves as both a physical and intellectual connector between the museum and the Kreitzberg Library and introduces a range of men and women who have made contributions to the University, their communities, and the greater world.
