Charles Kirkpatrick Bryant

(“CKB” or “Bryant” 2/1917 to 4/1917)

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Charles K. Bryant (July 1869 to 12/22/1933) was born next-to-last of seven children to Dr. James Wilson & Elizabeth “Betsy” Truehart Tinsley Bryant at “Kelso” in Powhatan County.  He attended the Richmond Public Schools and later studied architecture under Captain Marion Dimmock in the 1880s.  He practiced in Richmond under his own name in Richmond as early as the 1890s.  The following is an admittedly-incomplete summary of his Richmond, Virginia work, based upon an exhaustive search of Newspapers.com to only 1915:

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• April 23, 1905 – Selected as the architect (out of 16 that submitted plans) to build Richmond’s $300,000 John Marshall High Schools.  Newspapers criticize the 5% Architect’s Fee as excessive.  Newpapers in September 1908 would criticize the quality of the concrete Newspapers in April 1909 would criticize the building quality for use of “hollow tile.”

• April 29, 1906 – Selected as the architect for a new 5-story YMCA building at 7th and Grace Streets

• July 12, 1906 – Selected as the architect for the new Henrico County Jail

• July 21, 1906 – Selected as the architect to remodel the Market Building on 6th Streets between Clay and Broad and add a second floor event hall that will seat hundreds

• August 24, 1908 -- Selected as the associated architect (with Wyatt & Nolty of Baltimore) for the American National Bank Building at 10th & Main – one of the City’s first skyscrapers

• October 14, 1908 -- Selected as the architect for the $62,000 Richmond City Almshouse for African-Americans

• August 31, 1909 --He advertises for estimates from builders for the Blues Armory Building

• September 9, 1909 -- chosen as the architect for the John H. Reid Residence in Ginter Park.

• September 11, 1909 – chosen as the architect for the M. B. Florsheim Laundry Building

• May 15, 1910 – chosen by Thalhimers Department store for their $120,000 massive original building at 7th & Grace Street

• March 26, 1913 – chosen by the Italian Beneficial & Social Society for their large, ornate 3-story headquarters and event center at Broad & Allison.

• February 20, 1914 – chosen by the State of Virginia for their 12th & Bank Street Office Building.

• May 14, 1914 – Selected as the architect for the Virginia Building – a replica of Mount Vernon -- at the San Francisco Pan-Pacific Exhibition – at a cost of $4,674.​

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On May 25, 1909 he was elected as Vice-President of the newly formed Builder’s Exchange that would promote design and building occupations in Richmond.  

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Charles M. Robinson and Charles K. Bryant collaborated and competed as early as September 1909. 

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On September 3, 1909, the Richmond Times-Dispatch stated

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“…the Board of Visitors of the new State Female Normal School to be located at Fredericksburg selected three architects to supervise the construction of the proposed buildings, one, two or all of whom may act as they may later determine among themselves.  Those chosen were C. M. Robinson, P. H. Stern and Charles K. Bryant, though a number of others were competing for its work.”

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An advertisement for “sealed proposals” in the November 20, 1909 Richmond Times-Dispatch stated

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“will receive bids [for] three buildings for the use of the said school at Fredericksburg, Va. to wit: a dormitory, and academic building and a president’s house…plans and specifications can be seen at the offices of the architects.  Messers Charles M. Robinson and Charles K. Bryant of Richmond, Va. and Mr. P. N. Stern, of Fredericsburg, Va.  Plans may be secured form the office of Charles M. Robinson, Architect, Tenth and Main Streets, Richmond, VA after November 20, 1909.”

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To that end, the April 1910 plans for Dormitory #1 (Francis Willard Hall) at the University of Mary Washington is a massive set of plans and includes some revised pages as the first page is marked "Revised April 1910."  Many pencil notes and "as built" changes are present.  It is a massive three story boxed building with superb exteriors designs.  This April 1910 plan-set includes a November 1909 set marked "Charles M. Robinson, Charles K. Bryant, Associated Architects, Richmond, VA, Philip N. Stern Fredericksburg, VA. This set is also signed "Approved Dec 7 1909, Sheets 1 to 7 inclusive, P. J.  White, Chairman of Building Committee, J. A. C. Chandler, President, Alan Bell, Secretary, J. C. Curtis, Contractor."  Charles M. Robinson appears to have written in the titles of the officials.

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On September 20, 1909, it is advertised that his architectural firm is in bankruptcy. 

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On September 28, 1909, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that the Richmond School Board could not decide on which of the eight Richmond architects should receive the commission for the Hanover Avenue School (William Fox). 

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“Representatives of competing firms were allowed fifteen minutes each to speak on the merits of their propositions.  It was therefore impossible to hear more than five last night.  Accordingly the board was adjourned at 12 o’clock and called to-night at 8 o’clock to complete the hearing.  Those heard last night were: W. Duncan Lee, Carneal & Johnston, Scarborough and Howell, William C. West and C. W. Robbins.  To-night A. F. Huntt, Charles C. Bryant and J. T. Skinner will present their claims.”

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In March 1910 – Charles M. Robinson – who had not even presented, signed his plans for the Hanover Avenue School, beating-out Richmond’s Architectural Royalty.

 

On April 29, 1913, a legal notice in the Richmond Times-Dispatch states that he has formed a partnership and that the firm will be known as “A.T. Shepherd & Charles K. Bryant, Architects, Inc.”

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Searches of City Directories prior to 1915 show Mr. Bryant as an active sole-proprietor architect with offices in the Lyric Building, Suite 500-503 and living at Stop 26 on the Westhampton streetcar line.

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A 1916 search shows no listing. 

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For 1917, the Richmond City Directory states “Architect – Charles M. Robinson, Home 117 North 5th.”

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The following Charles M. Robinson Architects plans (other than Dormitory #1 at Mary Washington) are attributed to Charles K. Bryant:

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• Residence, Dr. A. DeTalma Valk, Winston-Salem, NC – Signed “Bryant Feb. 1917”

• Bank & Store Bldg. for Mrs. McG. McNeel, York, SC – Signed “CKB Feb. 1917”

• Addition to Graded School, Clifton Forge, VA – Signed “CKB April 1917”

 

Therefore, Charles K. Bryant and Charles M. Robinson didn’t renew their 1909-11 association for very long in 1917.  Perhaps the arrival of J. Binford Walford and Charles Custer Robinson did not allow the relationship to evolve, for one reason or another.

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For 1918-1920, he is listed as “architect” with no place of employment.  He remained very active in Richmond architectural circles until his death.  The 1920 Census lists him as “architect,” living at 701 North Boulevard with his wife and two servants.

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In 1930, the US Government chose him to recreate his 1914-15 Pan Pacific Design of the Virginia Building – this time for the 1931 Paris International Overseas Exhibition

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He died at home at 1521 Hanover Avenue on December 22, 1933 of a cerebral hemorrhage and is buried in the large Bryant Family Plot at Hollywood Cemetery.  He was survived by his wife, Mary Gay Berry Bryant (1871-1938), a sister and nieces and nephews.  He does not appear to have had any children.