This collection is arranged topically. It is divided into two main series: Correspondence and Business Papers.

Available for research.

Copyright is retained by the authors of these materials, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law (Title 17 US Code). Individual researchers are responsible for using these materials in conformance with copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials.

Processed by Outer Banks History Center Staff prior to 2001.

Encoded by Kelly Grimm, August, 2009

Charles Brantley Aycock Brown (1904-1984), was a journalist, publicity director, and photographer. Named after former governor Charles Brantley Aycock, he was born in Caldwell County, North Carolina in 1904 to Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Brown. Shortly after high school, Brown worked at Elizabeth City's  The Independent before taking journalism courses at Columbia University.

During the summer of 1928, Brown was hired to promote the Beaufort and Atlantic Beach area, after which he accepted a job promoting the Pamlico Inn on Ocracoke Island in exchange for room and board. He met and married Esther Styron, an island native. Together, they had three children, two boys and one girl.

Brown wrote a popular column, "Covering the Waterfront" that ran in newspapers across North Carolina. He also wrote for the  Durham Herald, edited the  Beaufort News and founded the  Ocracoke Beacon. In the 1930s, he worked for the Beaufort Chamber of Commerce.

During World War II, Brown worked as a civilian intelligence agent where he reported sinking ships and submarine sightings for the U.S. Navy. He also interviewed survivors, examined bodies that washed ashore, and arranged for proper burials.

In 1948, he came to Dare County to be the publicity director for  The Lost Colony outdoor drama, which was on the verge of closing due to dwindling audiences. He used promotional celebrity nights, news articles, and photographs to breath new life into the play. In 1952, Brown became the first director of the Dare County Tourist Bureau. He held this post until 1976, when he decided to work part-time as news director for the bureau and become a photographer for the Roanoke Island Historical Association.

Charles Brantley Aycock Brown (1904-1984), was a journalist, publicity director, and photographer. Named after former governor Charles Brantley Aycock, he was born in Caldwell County, North Carolina in 1904 to Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Brown. Shortly after high school, Brown worked at Elizabeth City's  The Independent before taking journalism courses at Columbia University.

During the summer of 1928, Brown was hired to promote the Beaufort and Atlantic Beach area, after which he accepted a job promoting the Pamlico Inn on Ocracoke Island in exchange for room and board. He met and married Esther Styron, an island native. Together, they had three children, two boys and one girl.

Brown wrote a popular column, "Covering the Waterfront" that ran in newspapers across North Carolina. He also wrote for the  Durham Herald, edited the  Beaufort News and founded the  Ocracoke Beacon. In the 1930s, he worked for the Beaufort Chamber of Commerce.

During World War II, Brown worked as a civilian intelligence agent where he reported sinking ships and submarine sightings for the U.S. Navy. He also interviewed survivors, examined bodies that washed ashore, and arranged for proper burials.

In 1948, he came to Dare County to be the publicity director for  The Lost Colony outdoor drama, which was on the verge of closing due to dwindling audiences. He used promotional celebrity nights, news articles, and photographs to breath new life into the play. In 1952, Brown became the first director of the Dare County Tourist Bureau. He held this post until 1976, when he decided to work part-time as news director for the bureau and become a photographer for the Roanoke Island Historical Association.

[Identification of item], 33MSS-36, Aycock Brown Papers, 1934-1965, Outer Banks History Center, Manteo, N.C., U.S.A.

Additional information on topics found in this collection may be found in the Manuscript and Archives Reference System (MARS)  http://mars.archives.ncdcr.gov/.

1. 33GRF-58: The "Ash Wednesday Storm" Photographic Prints 33GRF-92: Pirates Jamboree Photographs by Aycock Brown 33GRF-85-3: Rescue of Crew from the Trawler  Oriental, Nags Head, N.C., Photograph by Aycock Brown 33PER-0-29.217: Biography, Aycock Brown, various authors, various dates 33BOK-0-4438:  Aycock Brown's Outer Banks by David Stick, 1978 5AUD-15-14: Aycock Brown interviewed by David Stick, 1974

Though some of the materials in this collection reflect Brown's later work in Dare County, the majority of these papers are from the time period that Brown worked for the Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce in the 1930s.

This collection is arranged topically. It is divided into two main series: Correspondence and Business Papers.

Though some of the materials in this collection reflect Brown's later work in Dare County, the majority of these papers are from the time period that Brown worked for the Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce in the 1930s.