Solon H. Bryan Collection
M78.2
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- UNC Asheville Special Collections and University Archives
- Title
- Solon H. Bryan Collection
- ID
- M78.2
- Date [inclusive]
- 1884-1952
- Extent
- 1.2 Linear feet ; 3 boxes
- Physical Description
- Contains correspondence, notes for sermons, publicity materials, and photographs
- Location
- Located in Special Collections, Row 8, Section 5
- Language
- English
Preferred Citation
Solon H. Bryan Collection, D.H. Ramsey Library, Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Asheville 28804
Biographical Note
Solon Hume Bryan was born June 13, 1868 in Tyro, Mississippi. In January 1901 Bryan married Mary Louise Conn of Milledgeville, Georgia, and they had two children, Thomas Conn Bryan and Virginia Bryan Schreiber. Bryan became a preacher in the Methodist church but, following a charge of immorality, he left the church and worked for the Alkahest Lyceum in Atlanta. In 1916, Byran moved his family to Asheville, where Bryan started, and managed, the Piedmont Lyceum Bureau which offered concerts, festivals and chautauqua programs to towns and schools throughout the South. One of his employees was the wife of Congressman William Upshaw and correspondence between Byran and Upshaw is included in the collection.
Both of his children went on to higher education. Thomas went to Duke and Chapel Hill, and Virginia to Due West, SC and Columbia, before teaching at Buncombe County Junior College (now UNC Asheville). Like many other businesses, Bryan’s suffered badly in the Great Depression and Virginia ended up supporting the family.
Bryan was also a newspaper columnist in the both the West Asheville News and the Asheville Times , writing “Highway House” under his own name and "Front Porch Philosophy” under the pseudonym “Andy Tucker.” A large number of these columns are included in the collection.
He died in Asheville on August 29, 1943 of coronary thrombosis.
Scope and Contents
The collection comprises two acquisitions. The first was miscellaneous clippings and printed material relating to Bryan's work as director of the Piedmont Bureau, plus a scrapbook of newspaper columns. The second acquisition was acquired at auction and donated by Wayne Caldwell and contained personal papers, letters to his wife and children, and assorted documents related to Bryan's work with the church and the Chautauquas. All the documents have been arranged to give a streamlined narrative within the broad categorizations of business related, church related and personal, as these correspond to the key areas of Bryan’s life covered by the materials.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
UNC Asheville Special Collections and University Archives
Ramsey Library, CPO # 1500One University Heights
Asheville, North Carolina, 28804-8504
828.251.6645
speccoll@unca.edu
Rights
No restrictions. Any display, publication, or public use must credit the D.H. Ramsey Library, Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Asheville. Copyright retained by the creators of certain items in the collection, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Creator
Solon Hume Bryan ; Virginia Bryan Schreiber ; Wayne Caldwell
Processing Note
Processed by Special Collections staff, 1978, 2001, 2004 and 2011. New finding aid by Colin Reeve, May 2016
Collection Inventory
Box 1: Business materials & journalism |
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File 1: Journalism |
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Piece commencing "I've let the cat out of the sack" ; seems to be a continuation from another (missing?) page |
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Mixed pickles ; visit of preachers to Indian Spring GA |
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Mixed pickles : history of Indian Spring GA |
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Front Porch Philosophy column published in The West Ashville News ; undated but topic suggests pre 1932 ; handwritten annotation by Virginia Bryan Schreiber |
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Front Porch Philosophy column published in The West Ashville News ; undated but handwritten annotation by Virginia Bryan Schreiber |
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Article from "The Platform World" in which Bryan recalls his first ILCA convention in 1912 |
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Article from "The Platform World" in which Bryan recalls life as field representative in Georgia |
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File 2: Business - Correspondence |
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Testimonal for Bryan from W W Brockman, YMCA, Madison Hall, University of Virginia ; 3/16/1911 |
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Letter to J S Talley, sent from Hotel Guilford, Greensboro NC in response to an apparent complaint about charges levied ; 5/2/1911 |
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Incorporates testimonial for Bryan from Edwin Kettle, YMCA general secretary, Danville VA ; 1/20/1913 |
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Letter from Parlette, sent on United States Hotel, Boston letterhead praising Bryan for circular that he produced ; refers to Chicago Orchestra and Bryan's plans for the future ; 3/29/13 |
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Letter to Parlette on the role of the chautauquas and a refute of Parlette's claim that they are doing more good than the church ; 11/13/1913 |
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Letter from Ralph, sent on letterhead form The Gresham, Spartanburg NC regarding two articles written by Bryan for publication ; 2/20/1915 |
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From (J H Garnwell) sent from Spartenburg, SC to Atlanta, GA. Handwriting is difficult to decipher but covers lyceum issues ; 3/19/1915 |
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Letter to [S R] Bridges regarding arrangements for various lectures and events ; 6/2/1915 |
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Letter from (James Wilson). Sent from Warren, AK to Asheville Lyceum Bureau redirected to Charlotte, NC. Handwriting often difficult to decipher but generally covers Chautaugua matters ; 7/13/1915 |
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Letter from S R Bridges. Covers Bridges financial situation and a conversation that Bryan had with Mr Templeton [Note: S Russell Bridges was Alkahest president and H L Bridges was secretary and treasurer - see Alkahest letterhead] ; 7/13/1915 |
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Lyceum matters described by Bridges, President Alkahest Lyceum System ; 8/181915 |
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From S R Bridges describing Alkahest bookings and instructions to Bryan on how to proceed ; 9/30/1915 |
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Letter from Will Upshaw (as editor of "The Golden Age") regarding lecture dates and percentage cut for "Mrs Gray" ; 1/13/1916 |
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Letter from "Ye Olde New England Choir" regarding the issue of circulars and booking arrangements ; 1/15/1916 |
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Letter sent of letterhead from The Monte Visa Hotel, Big Stone Gap VA praising Bryan's work ; 4/26/1916 |
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Unavailibilty of Margaret (Mrs Upshaw) to work for Will Upshaw following his election ; 10/30/1918 |
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From Upshaw, handwritten on Southern Express Company letterhead in response to 10/30 letter ; 11/2/1918 |
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Work undertaken by Margaret Upshaw for Bryan and Will Upshaw's debts ; 11/7/1918 |
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Response to letter of 11/1/1918 refuting suggestion that Upshaw made "sacrfices" for Bryan (various drafts) ; 11/11/1918 |
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Sent to W E Beverly on the "perpexities" of Beverly's sister Mrs. Upshaw regarding her husband's desire that she move to Washington or Georgia with him ; 1/24/1919 |
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Sent to Charlie in which Bryan talks about working for Bridges for past 7 years ; 8/21/?? |
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Typewritten notes regarding the role and "the organizing of the Alkahest respresentatives" ; nd |
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Testimonals for Bryan from: Southern Railway YMCA dated 12/11/1913, including cover letter ; Winthrop Normal & Industrial College, Rock Hill SC dated 12/24/1913 ; Carrollion GA chautauqua committee dated 1/17/1914 ; Norfolk & Western Railway YMCA committe |
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Blank sheets of Lyceum letterhead |
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Addresses of Miss Margaret Gray McKee of Detroit and Los Angeles |
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File 3: Business - Contracts |
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Blank Alkahest talent contract |
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List of attractions booked in NC and SC by Bryan ; includes locations, names and dollar amounts |
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Blank Piedmont Lyceum Bureau contract |
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Certificate of Health issued by the Board of Health of Dallas County. Provides details of Bryan's recent travel ; Sept. 1897 |
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Receipt for $28.64 from the Elna Life Insurance Company, Hartford CT for payment for policy on Bryan ; 11/26/1914 |
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Memorandum of agreement regarding the employment of Margaret Upshaw ; 1/7/1916 |
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File 4: Business - Publicity |
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"Greetings from Bryan the lyceum man" for 1911-1912 season. Written on behalf of the Alkahest Lyceum to potential and former patrons and includes a testimonial for Bryan for the manager of Greensboro lyceum |
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"Eugene Edwards among the schools" from "The Golden Age" ; 5/23/1907 & 5/30/1907 |
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Article (or possibly advertisement) about the Piedmont Bureau and Bryan from The Southern Tourist" ; May 1924 |
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Article (or possibly advertisement) about the Piedmont Bureau and Bryan from The Southern Tourist" |
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Booklet explaining chautauquas written by Judge Roscoe Kiper and distributed by Alkahest |
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Business card / circular of Solon H Bryan, "Premier representative of the south" |
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Flyer for James Francis O'Donnell, monologue actor |
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Description of the role and purpose of the lyceum and chautauqua movement, written by Bryan |
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Description of how Bryan successfully launched the lyceum in Greensboro, NC. Includes details of the city and photographs of Bryan and W C Jackson |
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Newspaper advertisement for book covering the history of Chautauqua |
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"The Pioneer" publicity pamphlet for The Piedmont Bureau (2 copies) |
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Photograph of group of workers in the lyceum, Solon H Bryan, front center ; no date or location information |
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Talent magazine, August 1952 |
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Review of the interpretation of "The sign of the cross" by James Francis O'Donnell published in the Marlboro Daily Enterprise, Malboro MA ; 3/23/1915 |
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Review of James Francis O'Donnell at the Catholic Club, published in the Saint Cloud Daily Times, St Cloud MN ; 4/15/1915 |
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Publicity pamphlet for James Scott company ' handwritten annotation, identifying one artist as Edna Lundberg |
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Publicity poster for "The Copley Quintet" |
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Scrapbook |
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Collection of columns written by Bryan and published in the Ashville Citizen-Times and West Asheville News. Often undated but seem to date from 1936 to 1939 |
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Box 2: Church materials |
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File: 1: "Current anecdotes and methods of church work", August 1902, filled with handwritten and typed sermons and notes |
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File 2: Typed and handwritten sermon notes and outlines. Many have note of when and where the sermon was delivered. Generally circa 1901-1903 but some undated |
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File 3: Notebooks |
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Ruled notepad containing two and a half hanwritten pages on "Our labors" |
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Hard cover notebook primarily including hand written sermons and outlines on the men Jesus met |
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File 4: Notebook of religious subject and themes (for sermons?) ; includes copy of "Twelve reasons why I stand identified with the people known as disciples of Christ" by H T Morrison and typed comments from Bryan regarding "article of Brother Myers published in" |
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File 5: Materials related to charges of immorality against Bryan ; 1906-1931 |
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File 6: Clippings |
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Clippings of religious prose and verse. A number are from "The Epworth Era" dated 1899 to 1901, but most are undated and unattributed |
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File 7: Sermons and religious writings |
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Sermons, notes and outlines, some placed in "Current anecdotes and methods of church work", March 1901. Handwritten schedule of sermons. |
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File 8: Correspondence |
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Certificate appointing Bryan as a deacon in the Methodist Episcopal Church South ; 1902 |
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Sent on Methodist Episcopal Church South letterhead in which Bryan offers to serve in the Ft Smith mission ; 9/15/1903 |
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Letter to Sister Davant regarding repairs to church in Guyton GA ; 2/15/1884 |
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Request to Harry Chew for household effects to be shipped from the parsonage in Millen GA to Bryan in Milledgeville GA ; 9/4/1907 |
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Sent from K Read in Columbus OH to "my dear brother and friend" thanking Bryan for his friendship ; 2/7/1925 |
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Personal letter to Bryan from C R Jenkins, joint pastor of St Lukes methodist church, Columbus OH ; 12/25/1925 |
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Handwritten in pencil from Lake Wales FL to "my dear old friend" (Bryan?) ; difficult to decipher or identify author ; 12/30/192(8) |
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Letter from J A Seals, May 14, 1904 |
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Letter to J H Seals, May 13, 1904 [In envelope] |
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Letter from Seals, May 16, 1904, with typed addendum (by Bryan?) [In envelope with Seals letter of May 13] |
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Box 3: Personal Materials |
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File 1: Biographic Materials |
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Biographic notes for Solon Bryan and the Jjames Scotts, written by Virginia Bryan Schreiber |
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Letter of condolence on death of Solon Bryan written by George McCoy to Mrs. Bryan, 1943 |
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File 2: Correspondence with children, 1913-1930 |
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File 3: Correspondence with Mary Bryan [wife], 1906-1907 |
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File 4: Correspondence with friends & other family, 1898-1929 |
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File 5: Miscellaneous |
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Due West Woman's College, commencement program, 1921 |
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Photograph of unidentified man and woman, nd |
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Photograph of unidentified woman, nd |
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Photograph of unidentified man, nd |
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