Eureka College, Peoria Riverfront Museum Announce Reagan Partnership
EUREKA — President of Peoria Riverfront Museum John Morris announced a new partnership between Eureka College and the Peoria Riverfront Museum on Friday at the 2021 Ronald W. Reagan Memorial Ceremony.
The partnership will make Reagan-related objects and other historic artifacts available to the broader public through loans to the museum.
"The Peoria Riverfront Museum has been grateful to previously borrow a section of the Berlin Wall, President Reagan's Golden Globe Award, cowboy boots, and even objects related to Woman's Suffrage from the Eureka College collection,” Morris said. “This agreement formalizes the commitment of these two institutions to making this incredible collection accessible to the most people in the public."
“At Eureka College, we are blessed and proud to be surrounded by artifacts and landmarks that tell the story of our history,” Eureka College President Dr. Jamel Wright said. “Our campus serves as an opportunity to learn about not just the history of the college and President Reagan, but of the country and the world. With this partnership, we are thrilled to be able to share with the greater Peoria area and community some of the historic items that we have collected over the years.”
Friday’s ceremony, which was hosted by the Ronald W. Reagan Society at the Ronald W. Reagan Peace Garden, commemorated the 17th anniversary of the death of Eureka College’s most famous alumnus.
It featured speeches from Morris, Illinois State Rep. Thomas Bennett and Ronald Reagan’s eldest son, Michael Reagan, among others.
Morris has been the President and CEO of the Peoria Riverfront Museum since 2017. He previously served for ten years as the founding director of the Ronald W. Reagan Society of Eureka College and ten years prior as the vice president for development for PBS-member station, WTVP. He was a twice elected as an at-large member of the Peoria City Council and served as mayor pro tem.
The Ronald W. Reagan Society of Eureka College is dedicated to helping President Reagan’s alma mater study, teach and share the same lessons and values President Reagan learned from Eureka College and used in his lifetime of leadership roles.
Located in Eureka, Illinois, and chartered in 1855, Eureka College cultivates excellence in learning, service and leadership while providing students uniquely personalized and custom educational opportunities.
Originally founded by abolitionist members of Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Eureka College holds the unique distinction of being the first college in Illinois and only the third in the nation to admit men and women on an equal basis. The College, which is located on nearly 70 wooded acres in central Illinois, is the smallest of only 24 colleges and universities to ever award a bachelor’s degree to a future President of the United States.