Drop in for coffee and conversation with Eric Pry, director of the Grand Army of the Republic Military Museum, a local military history museum in Aurora, Illinois. Bagels and coffee will be provided.

Eric graduated from Aurora University with a degree in History and a minor in Museum Studies and received his MA in American History from Pace University through the Gilder-Lehrman Institute of American History. At the G.A.R. Military Museum, he oversees the creation and installation of exhibits, manages the collection, provides research support to the public, leads tour groups through the museum, and oversees all administrative tasks required. In addition, he aids in the organization and cataloguing of the City Clerk Archives, a new initiative to further enhance understanding of the city’s rich history. Eric has also been employed by the Elk Grove Park District, Buffalo Grove Park District, the Midwest Museum of Natural History, and served as a board member of the Darien Historical Society. According to Eric, “Museums reflect the community in which they are located and provide a greater understanding of the world around us. It is my belief that museums should be accessible to all, which is why the G.A.R. Museum does not charge an admission fee to any visitor.”