The Original Big Blue
The Life & Times of James Millikin
The Original Big Blue: The Life and Times of James Millikin, is a full-length documentary that talks about the life of James Millikin, Anna Millikin, and some of the early days of Decatur, Illinois. The film traces the journey of the Millikin family from their Scotch-Irish roots, to Southwestern Pennsylvania, then takes us to Decatur, Illinois, where OUR James Millikin made his life with Anna. “Millikin’s story is ultimately about character,” said director, Jim Wilkerson. “His reputation for integrity, his belief in Decatur’s future, and his commitment to education and community-building shaped this city in ways we still recognize today – especially through Millikin University and the James Millikin Homestead.”
The film has six chapters in total, covering James’ ancestors, then life in Pennsylvania, then his time as a livestock grower and drover, to real estate, banking, his marriage to Anna B. Aston, and to the founding of The James Millikin University in 1901, and a legacy that lives on to this day.
Get Your Copy of the Film!
We have Blu-Ray discs available for purchase at any of our Homestead events and open houses. We are also working on getting some DVD copies for sale as well. Copies of the film are $20 each.
If we can figure out an easy way of taking and fulfilling orders over the internet, we may make them available for purchase online, but at this point in time we will only have them available at our events.
Watch the Trailer
Souvenirs From the Film with Donna Williams
Podcast Episode
Jim Wilkerson and Ron Lybarger joined Byers & Co to talk about Lybarger’s book of poetry dedicated to the story of James and Anna Millikin and Wilkerson’s film about James Millikin’s life. Listen to the podcast now!