The Sullivan Museum and History Center is a place to improve cultural and educational opportunities for the Norwich community. The museum contains many exhibits that are permanently on display, but also has ones that are rotated, according to the museum’s website.
Marilyn Solvay, museum director, compiled a list of currently available exhibits at the museum.
According to Solvay, there are 14 cases that contain the permanent exhibits; these are located around the perimeter inside the building.
These permanent exhibits consist of “two cases featuring football,” she said, “polo, soccer, fraternities, music, aviation, cavalry (paraphernalia), business and engineering, Partridge’s walking excursion suit, items from recent wars, swords, guns, mixed war items, and General Sullivan with President Carter.”
The current theme for the museum is “The Role of Remembrance: Norwich University and WWII.” This exhibit tells the stories of the living Norwich graduates who served in World War II. There are about 115 alive but the museum also makes mention of all the Norwich men who served, which was about 2,065.
This exhibit is available till Feb. 1, 2011. Some of the things displayed are “war bond posters, ration stamp booklets, spam, M & Ms, music, Norman Rockwell’s Four Freedom posters, newsreels, radio broadcast journalism, etc.,” Solvay said.
Among those exhibits Solvay gave a list of specific displays that are available:
An 1819 Currency Case:
This case features currency from the year Norwich was founded from the Montpelier, Barre, and Northfield banks of Vermont.
A Buffalo Soldiers Wall:
This displays information on the 9th and 10th African American units and their service at Fort Ethan Allen and also at West Point. Civil War hero Edward Hatch and John Nazzaro were two of their commanders, both were Norwich graduates.
The Class of 1960 and Quilt:
A special exhibit case saluting “the new Old Guard” features gifts their class had made including hats, banners, books, a rifle, Mountain Cold Weather equipment and the newly completed miniature lead Norwich band players, made by class member Roger Winslow.
The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company Case:
Placed on display on Nov. 11, this exhibit honors the oldest military company in the United States. Formed by Governor Winthrop in Massachusetts in 1638, it shows the connection between Norwich and the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company through photographs and a uniform with sword.
The New Gifts Case:
This case is changed every semester and features the new items recently given to the museum. Currently it has cavalry equipment, a uniform from a tour in Iraq, a Norwich stuffed Scotty dog, belt buckles and various other items.
Two exhibits feature General Sullivan and Captain Alden Partridge:
Both areas have uniforms, equipment and photos of both men as well as stories from their lives.