Don and Catharine Bryan Cultural Series Records, ORG.5322
Abstract
The Don and Catharine Bryan Cultural Series is a charitable organization that funds cultural enrichment activities on the Outer Banks, such as musical performances, plays, poetry readings, educational speakers, art exhibitions, and lectures. This collection consists of records of the organization's board of directors, primarily created or collected by its president, John Tucker, Jr. Materials include meeting minutes, event programs and flyers, contracts and correspondence with artists and their agents, program planning documents, and other records.
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Don and Catharine Bryan Cultural Series Records
- Call Number
- ORG.5322
- Creator
- Don and Catharine Bryan Cultural Series
- Date
- 2003-2021
- Extent
- 0.800 cubic feet
- Language
- English
- Repository
- Outer Banks History Center
Restrictions on Access & Use
Access Restrictions
Available for research.
Use Restrictions
Copyright is retained by the authors of these materials, or their descendants, as stipulated by the 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 these materials.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], ORG.5322, Don and Catharine Bryan Cultural Series Records, Outer Banks History Center, Manteo, NC, U.S.A.
Collection Overview
The Don and Catharine Bryan Cultural Series Records, 2003-2021, documents the organization from its inception to the present day. The collection includes records created by its board of directors, most of which were created or preserved by the organization's president, John H. Tucker, Jr. These records include meeting minutes, correspondence, foundational documents, financial records, and program planning documents. Also included in the collection are numerous files on individual artists, speakers, and performances sponsored by the Bryan Cultural Series during its existence. These materials primarily consist of event flyers and programs, contracts and correspondence with artists and their agents, invoices, and schedules.
Arrangement Note
This collection is arranged into two series: Board of Directors Records, 2003-2021, and Artists, Speakers, and Performances, 2013-2021. Files are arranged alphabetically within each series.
Biographical/Historical
The Don and Catharine Bryan Cultural Series traces its inception to 2007, when an
effort was made to purchase the Ghost Fleet Gallery, then owned by local artist Glenn
Eure, to create a public arts center. Donald and Catharine Bryan, local residents
and arts afficionados, willed their entire estate to establish an endowment for the
arts center with the help of the Outer Banks Community Foundation. After several years,
no developments had been made to establish the arts center, and in 2012 Donald Bryan
convened a meeting to discuss the project with several other interested parties. This
would come to be known as the first meeting of the Don and Catharine Bryan Cultural
Series board of directors.
The Bryan Cultural Series became a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in late 2012.
Bryan agreed to contribute $50,000 per year for five years to support the organization's
work. When plans to purchase a physical space didn't materialize, Bryan Cultural Series
soon changed its mission to focus on a series of annual events hosted by existing
Outer Banks facilities. The first performer, Chris Kypros, was hired in March 2013
to give a piano recital at All Saints Episcopal Church in Southern Shores. As of 2021,
the organization still exists and continues to fund cultural enrichment performances
and events for the Outer Banks community, such as musical performances, plays, poetry
readings, educational speakers, art exhibitions, and lectures.
Contents of the Collection
Subject Headings
Acquisitions Information
Donated by John Tucker, August 2021.