Who was Aycock Brown?
Charles Brantley Aycock Brown (1904-1984), was a journalist, publicity director, and photographer. In 1928, he 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, who was born on the Outer Banks. Together, they had three children.
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, reporting sinking ships and submarine sightings for the U.S. Navy. In 1948, he became the publicity director for The Lost Colony outdoor drama, which was on the verge of closing due to dwindling audiences. His publicity efforts brought increased interest in the event.
In 1952, Brown became the first director of the Dare County Tourist Bureau. He held this post until 1976, when he became part-time news director for the bureau and a photographer for the Roanoke Island Historical Association.
Brown was the creator of the majority of the images in this collection. However, his children Charles Brantley Aycock Brown Jr. (1932-2019) and Esther Gale Brown Ballance (1947-1997) also contributed to the collection. His daughter began her pursuit of photography at the age of 11.
Learn more about the Aycock Brown Papers by visiting the collection's finding aid. The physical collection is available at the Outer Banks History Center.
Who was Aycock Brown?
Charles Brantley Aycock Brown (1904-1984), was a journalist, publicity director, and photographer. In 1928, he 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, who was born on the Outer Banks. Together, they had three children.
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, reporting sinking ships and submarine sightings for the U.S. Navy. In 1948, he became the publicity director for The Lost Colony outdoor drama, which was on the verge of closing due to dwindling audiences. His publicity efforts brought increased interest in the event.
In 1952, Brown became the first director of the Dare County Tourist Bureau. He held this post until 1976, when he became part-time news director for the bureau and a photographer for the Roanoke Island Historical Association.
Brown was the creator of the majority of the images in this collection. However, his children Charles Brantley Aycock Brown Jr. (1932-2019) and Esther Gale Brown Ballance (1947-1997) also contributed to the collection. His daughter began her pursuit of photography at the age of 11.
Learn more about the Aycock Brown Papers by visiting the collection's finding aid. The physical collection is available at the Outer Banks History Center.
