Robert E. Bryant Papers - Accession 1745

Authors

Robert Edmiston Bryant

Files

Identifier

Accession 1745

Inclusive Dates

1919-1990

Restrictions

Open under the rules and regulations of the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections

Collection Size

2500 pieces, 1.5 linear feet

Language

English;

Historical Note

Robert “Bob” Edmiston Bryant (1903-1977) was a Rock Hill theatre-owner, photographer, and a world record holding airplane pilot. Bryant owned and operated the Pix Theatre which was built in the 1940s and was located on Oakland Avenue in Rock Hill, SC. On August 1, 1938 he set a world record for a non-stop flight in a light airplane (two-cylinder Aeronca) from Miami, FL to Camden, NJ in 13 hours, 20 minutes, using 40 gallons of fuel. He reportedly learned to fly by famed WWI Flying Ace, Col. Elliott White Springs who Bryant in turn taught to ride a motorcycle. The Rock Hill Airport was named in his honor in 1969 and Bryant was inducted into the South Carolina Aviation Hall of Fame in 1993.

Scope and Content Note

The Robert E. Bryant Papers consist of papers and memorabilia belonging to Robert “Bob” Edmiston Bryant (1903-1977) who was a Rock Hill theatre-owner, photographer, and a world record holding airplane pilot. The collection includes mostly photographs, negatives, slides, scrapbooks, pilot logs, and newspaper articles related to his flying career and to the Pix Theatre, but also includes correspondence, books, memorabilia (including a key to the City of Camden from Mayor James L. Anderson), awards, and certificates related to his life. There are materials related to the Apollo 16 mission including a scrapbook, photographs, and memorabilia. Former Astronaut and Lancaster, SC resident, Charles M. Duke (b. 1935) was a member of the Apollo 16 mission. Also included are some material related to the Carolina Aero Club and to Rock Hill’s Come-See-Me festival. The photograph collection includes photographs taken of and by both Robert Bryant and Wayne J. Gordon. These include aerial photographs of the building of Carowinds Amusement Park, Carolina Bowater Plat, the I-77 Bridge over the Catawba River, and the Highway 5 Bridge over the Catawba River, and of the Celanese Plant among many others. There is also some material related to Wayne J. Gordon that includes a York Technical College Yearbook, photographs, etc…

Provenance

This collection was donated donated to the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections in April 2021.

Copyright

For information concerning copyright please contact the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections at Winthrop University.

Finding Aid Citation

Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections, Winthrop University, "Robert E. Bryant Papers - Accession 1745". Finding Aid 1356.
https://digitalcommons.winthrop.edu/manuscriptcollection_findingaids/1356