Paul W. Bryant Museum
Encyclopedia
The Paul W. Bryant Museum is located on the campus of the University of Alabama
, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
. Founded in 1985, the museum was opened in 1988 to "house the history of Alabama football
, with special emphasis on the legendary coach," Bear Bryant
.
, a planning committee was created in 1981 to establish a museum that would honor former coaches and players who helped Bryant set the intercollegiate coaching record for the most victories. The committee considered Bryant's suggestion and established that the museum would take on two missions: "inclusion of the entire football history from the first team in 1892 and creating a collections component establishing the foundation of our current institution."
Since its inception, the museum has grown in staff, services, and exhibits. It has become a central source of information for both journalists and writers interested in the history of university athletics. In addition to building its collection, the museum has begun focusing on public programming such as informational and education services and tours for school groups. The University of Alabama
campus and the local communities' support have helped to establish the museum as one of the attractions to the region.
Originally organized under the supervision of the University of Alabama Museums system, the Bryant Museum has recently become a freestanding unit reporting directly to the Vice President/Provost of the University in response to the growth in mission and function of the museum.
On April 21, 2007, the museum posted its largest ever attendance at 4,367. This was in connection with the school's annual A-Day football game which also saw a record 92,138 fans in the seats.
The museum is part of the University of Alabama Museums, which also include the University of Alabama Arboretum
, Alabama Museum of Natural History
, Discovering Alabama, Gorgas House, Moundville Archaeological Museum
and Office of Archaeological Research.
houndstooth
hat which commemorates the Coach's head-wear and the Daniel Moore painting used to create the 32-cent U.S. postage stamp which celebrated the life of Bryant. The museum also houses a research room where all of Alabama's games, both victories, defeats and even embarrassments can be viewed and studied. Officials claim over 1,000 such videos The museum also maintains a listing of people who were named for Bryant. Bryant's former players and fans have named their children Bryant, Paul, Bear and even Paula after Coach Bryant. Every September the Paul W. Bryant Museum hosts a namesake reunion and there are over 600 namesakes that have attended this annual event. The oldest namesake (besides Coach Bryant's son Paul Bryant, Jr.) is Bryant Darrell Brown, son of Junction Survivor Darrell Brown who, due to being academically ineligible to play in 1956, surprised even Coach Bryant when he came back to play his last year of eligibility on Texas A&M's 1957 team which was ranked #1 at the time Coach Bryant accepted Alabama's offer. Darrell was the only Junction Boy to also play in Coach Bryant's last season at Texas A&M. Darrell Brown's grandson, Bryant Andrew Brown is a second generation Bryant namesake. At over 600 names it is not definitive, but the list supports the idea that many Alabamians were enamored enough of the coach to name their children in his honor.
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
. Founded in 1985, the museum was opened in 1988 to "house the history of Alabama football
Alabama Crimson Tide football
|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
, with special emphasis on the legendary coach," Bear Bryant
Bear Bryant
Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships...
.
Beginnings
On the suggestion of former head football coach Paul "Bear" BryantBear Bryant
Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships...
, a planning committee was created in 1981 to establish a museum that would honor former coaches and players who helped Bryant set the intercollegiate coaching record for the most victories. The committee considered Bryant's suggestion and established that the museum would take on two missions: "inclusion of the entire football history from the first team in 1892 and creating a collections component establishing the foundation of our current institution."
Since its inception, the museum has grown in staff, services, and exhibits. It has become a central source of information for both journalists and writers interested in the history of university athletics. In addition to building its collection, the museum has begun focusing on public programming such as informational and education services and tours for school groups. The University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
campus and the local communities' support have helped to establish the museum as one of the attractions to the region.
Originally organized under the supervision of the University of Alabama Museums system, the Bryant Museum has recently become a freestanding unit reporting directly to the Vice President/Provost of the University in response to the growth in mission and function of the museum.
On April 21, 2007, the museum posted its largest ever attendance at 4,367. This was in connection with the school's annual A-Day football game which also saw a record 92,138 fans in the seats.
The museum is part of the University of Alabama Museums, which also include the University of Alabama Arboretum
University of Alabama Arboretum
The University of Alabama Arboretum is a 60 acre arboretum located near the intersection of Veterans Memorial Parkway and Pelham Loop Road in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.The Arboretum's primary emphasis is on Alabama's native flora and fauna...
, Alabama Museum of Natural History
Alabama Museum of Natural History
The Alabama Museum of Natural History is the state's natural history museum, located in Smith Hall at the University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa. The oldest museum in the state, it was founded in 1831. The exhibits depict the natural diversity of Alabama from the Age of Dinosaurs, the Coal Age,...
, Discovering Alabama, Gorgas House, Moundville Archaeological Museum
Moundville Archaeological Museum
The Moundville Archaeological Museum is an archaeological park and museum in Moundville, AlabamaThe museum houses artifacts and displays exhibits on over 60 years of archaeological excavations and investigations in the Moundville Archaeological Park....
and Office of Archaeological Research.
Exhibits
Among the exhibits at the museum are a Waterford CrystalWaterford Crystal
Waterford Crystal is a trademark brand of crystal glassware, previously produced in Waterford, Ireland, though the factory there was shut down after the receivership of Waterford Wedgwood plc in early 2009...
houndstooth
Houndstooth
Houndstooth, houndstooth check or hound's tooth , also known as dogstooth, dogtooth or dog's tooth, is a duotone textile pattern characterized by broken checks or abstract four-pointed shapes, often in black and white, although other colours are used...
hat which commemorates the Coach's head-wear and the Daniel Moore painting used to create the 32-cent U.S. postage stamp which celebrated the life of Bryant. The museum also houses a research room where all of Alabama's games, both victories, defeats and even embarrassments can be viewed and studied. Officials claim over 1,000 such videos The museum also maintains a listing of people who were named for Bryant. Bryant's former players and fans have named their children Bryant, Paul, Bear and even Paula after Coach Bryant. Every September the Paul W. Bryant Museum hosts a namesake reunion and there are over 600 namesakes that have attended this annual event. The oldest namesake (besides Coach Bryant's son Paul Bryant, Jr.) is Bryant Darrell Brown, son of Junction Survivor Darrell Brown who, due to being academically ineligible to play in 1956, surprised even Coach Bryant when he came back to play his last year of eligibility on Texas A&M's 1957 team which was ranked #1 at the time Coach Bryant accepted Alabama's offer. Darrell was the only Junction Boy to also play in Coach Bryant's last season at Texas A&M. Darrell Brown's grandson, Bryant Andrew Brown is a second generation Bryant namesake. At over 600 names it is not definitive, but the list supports the idea that many Alabamians were enamored enough of the coach to name their children in his honor.