Hail Bryant Collection
Introduction
Title: Hail Bryant Collection
Accession number: 92-001-AC
Collection size: 4 linear ft. (1 large archival box, 1 oversized map box)
Donor: R. Hail Bryant
Repository:
Information About Hail Bryant and the Collection
Hail Bryant is a pioneer in northern
The Hail Bryant Collection contains photographs, slides,
newspaper and magazine clippings, maps, and videotaped interviews relating to
Bryant’s cave exploration and specifically to the exploration and development
of Blanchard Springs Caverns. The
collection also contains a set of cave inspection reports. Of particular interest is Bryant and Hugh
Shell’s hand-drawn map of
Nancy S. Griffith completed processing in 1992. Kim Halpain and Judy Blackwell completed detailed indexing and the website finding aid in 2002. The collection is open for research.
SUBJECT INDEX:
Blanchard Springs Caverns
Bryant, Hail
Cave Exploration—History
Shell, Hugh
Detailed Series Description
Folder 1:
Chronology- 1934-1977; Cave Description and Hail Bryant’s Biography, 2 copies
Folder 2:
Photograph 1- Blanchard Caverns: Entrance to the Spring
Photograph 2- Blanchard Caverns: Hail Bryant on top of Flowstone
Photograph 3- Blanchard Caverns: Hail Bryant and Hugh Shell
Photograph 4- Blanchard Caverns: Large Stalagmite
Photograph 5- Blanchard Caverns: Lower Level along stream
Photograph 6- Blanchard Caverns: 1962 Group of People
Photograph 7- Blanchard Caverns: Huge Room in Cave’s Most recently Discovered area
Photograph 8-Hail Bryant and Mike Hill Upper Level
Photograph 9-Unidentified Cave
Photograph 10-Blanchard Caverns: Giant Flowstone
Photograph 11-Blanchard Caverns: “The Giants” Middle Level
Photograph 12-Blanchard Caverns: Hail Bryant Standing Behind Large Pile of Bat Guano
Photograph 13- Blanchard Caverns: Undeveloped Area-“The Giants” Huge Stalagmites
Photograph 14- Blanchard Caverns: Hugh Shell and Hail Bryant
Photograph 15- Blanchard Caverns: Hail Bryant; Stalagmite, Upper Level
Photograph 16- Blanchard Caverns: Column in Upper Level
Photograph 17- Blanchard Caverns: Faye Bryant, Jane McGuffey, ?, Gennie Ford, ? In shaft Left to Right; 1960
Photograph 18- Blanchard Caverns: Copy of Photograph 17
Photograph 19- Blanchard Caverns: Copy of Photograph 17
Photograph 20- Hail Bryant in Middle Level
Photograph 21- Floor Plan Map of ½ Mile Blanchard Caverns
Photograph 22- Blanchard Caverns: Hail Bryant in Upper Level; Drapes/Column
Photograph 23- Blanchard Caverns: Hail Bryant Upper Level
Photograph 24- Blanchard Caverns: Hail Bryant in Upper Level
Photograph 25- Blanchard Caverns: “Bone Yard Room”; Large Area; Small Spelunkers
Photograph 26- Blanchard Caverns: Hail Bryant Upper Level Last Discovered Area; Stalagmites
Photograph 27- Blanchard
Caverns: Hail Bryant, Exploring
Photograph 28- Blanchard Caverns: Hugh Shell and Hail Bryant; Cracked Stalactite
Photograph 29- Blanchard Caverns: Hugh Shell and R. Handford; Upper Level
Photograph 30- Blanchard Caverns: Left-Hugh Shell Right- Mike Hill; Passageway Stream at Bottom
Photograph 31- Blanchard Caverns: Hail Bryant; Stalagmites of different sizes
Photograph 32- Blanchard Caverns: Tour Maps
Photograph 33- Blanchard Caverns: Floor Plan Map of Back of Beyond Area
Photograph 34- Blanchard
Caverns: Elevator Far Left- Hugh second
from left- Mr. Vesey, Forest Service,
Photograph 35- Blanchard Caverns: Hail Bryant and Mike Hill
Photograph 36- Blanchard
Caverns: Remains of Indians; Reeds-Cane,
Bamboo, and Wood Lying on a
Photograph 37- Blanchard Caverns: Middle Level; Water and passageway below Route; Christmas Tree (Bottom Stalagmite); Drapes; Large Passage Filled with Calcite Deposits
Photograph 38- Blanchard Caverns: Calcite Crystals, Rimming what may have been a pool at one time
Photograph 39- Blanchard Caverns: Hail Bryant
Photograph 40- Blanchard Caverns: Bats
Photograph 41- Blanchard Caverns: Robert Handford On Stalagmite
Photograph 42- Blanchard Caverns: Deep in Cave- Undeveloped “Giants”; Far Right- Large Stalactite; Top- Hail Bryant
Photograph 43- Blanchard
Caverns: 4 Spelunkers; Right- Mike Hill,
Photograph 44- Blanchard Caverns: Hail Bryant; Stalagmites
Photograph 45- Blanchard Caverns: Coming Down Shaft- Rappelling with Safety Line
Photograph 46- Blanchard Caverns: Drapes- Upper Level;
Photograph 47- Blanchard
Caverns: Hugh Shell;
Photograph 48- Blanchard Caverns: Entrance Shaft
Photograph 49- Blanchard Caverns: Descending Entrance Shaft- Rapelling
Photograph 50- Blanchard Caverns: Upper Level
Photograph 51- Blanchard Caverns: Looking up Shaft at Natural Entrance
Folder 3:
Magazine Article- “Bringing a Cavern to Light”; Arkansas Democrat Sunday Magazine;
Folder 4:
Newspaper Article- “Huge Cavern May Become National
Attraction”;
Newspaper Article- “Spelunking Pioneers Frozen Out”; Batesville Guard;
Newspaper Article- “It Beats Carlsbad Cavern:
Newspaper Article- “Blanchard Springs Caverns Publicized”; Sunday News and Leader; 1964-1965
Newspaper Article- “Batesville Explorers show Kiwanis Club
Potentials of Huge Cave in
Newspaper Article- “Bigger than
Newspaper Article- “Plans Made to Open Big Cave in
Newspaper Article- “Cave, Comparable to
Newspaper Article- “
Newspaper Article- “Huge Cavern May Become National
Attraction”;
Magazine Article- “A Big Spelunking Dividend Wonders of a
Cave Find”; Life;
Folder 5:
Magazine- Life; December 18, 1946
Magazine- “The Seven Sticks of
Newspaper Article- “Cave Development to Start with $178,000
Allotment”; Batesville Guard;
Newspaper Article- “Panel Allots $178,000 For Blanchard”;
Newspaper Article- “Blanchard Caverns Featured in New Issue
of Chronicle”; Batesville Guard;
Newspaper Article- “Funds Okayed for Blanchard Cavern”; Batesville Guard;
Newspaper Article- “ ‘Hairy Experiences’ Add Thrills to
Search of Earth’s Blackness”; Arkansas
Democrat Sunday Magazine;
Folder 6:
Newspaper Article- “Resolution of Commendation”; Batesville Guard;
Newspaper Article- “The Ancient Mystery of Blanchard Springs
Caverns”;
Resolution- Commending Hail Bryant, Hugh Shell, and others; 1969
Congressional Record- Senate;
“Exploration of Blanchard Springs Caverns,
Newspaper Article- “Blanchard Springs Caverns Revisited”;
Folder 7:
Newspaper Article- “Thor not Silent as 500 Attend
Groundbreaking for Center at Caverns”; Arkansas
Gazette;
Newspaper Article- “Where Credit is Due”; Batesville Guard;
Newspaper
Article- “Second Grant for Caverns is
Approved”; Arkansas Gazette;
Newspaper Article- “The Men Who Explored Blanchard Springs
Caverns”;
Letter- Hail Bryant from Robert K. Strosnider;
Letter- Hail Bryant from Robert K. Strosnider;
Letter- Bob Strosnider from Bob Hicks;
Letter- Hugh Shell and Hail Bryant from Jerry
Alexander;
Letter- Hail Bryant from James S. Sabin, Jr.;
Folder 8:
Newspaper Article- “Blanchard Explorers”; Batesville Guard;
Progress Report- “Blanchard Springs Caverns”; 1973;
Newspaper Article- “Ninety Minutes of Beauty await Visitors
of Blanchard Springs Caverns”; Batesville
Daily Guard;
Newspaper Article- “Blanchard Springs Caverns”; Batesville Daily Guard;
Folder
9:
Newspaper Article- “Blanchard Explorers Brought Glorious
Underworld into Light”; Batesville Daily
Guard;
Newspaper Article- “Spelunkers prove Blanchard Springs Caverns
Very Unusual”; Arkansas Democrat;
Magazine- “Caving in to the Lure of the Lair”; Friends: The Chevy Owners’ Magazine; July 1983
Magazine- “Going Under”;
Folder 9a:
Newspaper Article- “Batesville Man Tells of Early Exploration
of Caverns”; River Country;
Newspaper Article- "Local Men Explored Blanchard Caverns"; Batesville Daily Guard River Country; July 15-21, 1995
Folder 10:
Newspaper Article- “Batesville Men Love Adventure, Challenge
of Exploring Caves”; River Country;
Folder 11:
Brochure- “News about Blanchard Springs Caverns”
Newspaper Article- “30-Year Period Brought Several Cave Explorers”; Batesville Guard
Newspaper Article- “Scenic Wonders of Half Mile Cavern Shown”; “Rebirth of the Caverns”
Newspaper Article- “
Newspaper Article- “
Folder 12:
Photograph-
Photograph-
Photograph-
Newspaper Article- “Uncovered at Rock Quarry”; Batesville Guard;
Newspaper Article- “Navy Diver Dies Following Rescue
Operations at Cave”; Batesville Guard;
Newspaper Article- “Local Spelunkers Explore Large
Folder
13:
Photograph- Dinosaur Track;
Newspaper Article- “Fossil Collectors”; Batesville Daily Guard;
Newspaper Article- “Collector Notes Opportunities for Fossil
Finds in
Congress Hearing- “Hearings before the Subcommittee on
National Parks and Recreation of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs
House of Representatives”;
Newspaper Article- “
Newspaper Article- “Local Man Builds Collection of Fossils,
Minerals, Indian Artifacts”; Batesville
Guard;
Folder 13a:
Newspaper Article- “In Return Visit to Cave- Youths Unable to
Trap Lion”;
Newspaper Article- “Crowd Returns, Youths Hoisted From
Cavern”;
Newspaper Article- “
Letter- Articles Copied from Scrapbook of Michael
Broyles;
Folder 14:
Pamphlet- Recreation Guide; “Blanchard Springs
Caverns:
Visitor Guide- “Sylamore Splash”; Visitor Guide to the Sylamore Ranger District 1989
Pamphlet- “Welcome to Blanchard Springs Caverns,
Paper- “Blanchard Facts”
Paper- “Bats”
Paper- “Geology of Blanchard Springs Caverns”
Paper- “What to do When Blanchard Springs Campground is Full”
Paper- “Recreation Facilities:
Paper- “Ozark National Forest-Blanchard Springs Caverns”
Paper- “What are the Differences Between the Two Tours in Blanchard Springs Caverns”
Paper- “Ozark National Forest-Blanchard Springs Recreation Area”
Folder 15:
List- Contract Numbers for Caves and Caverns
to be Inspected in Sharp,
Special
Facilities Inspection Reports
Name of Cave
Facility Number County Nearest Town
Cave 01033 Baxter
Cave 01034 Baxter
Cave 01043 Baxter
Cave 01044 Baxter
Cave 01048 Baxter
List
Hope Paradise(
Gathers Cove 01006 Boone
Madison Mine 01005 Boone
Keener 01206 Boone Bergman
Group of Caves 01086
Rankin (Dripping Springs) 01096
Possum Walk 01094
List
Cave 01049
Cave 01051
Cave 01057
Cave 01053
Cave 01068
Bluff Dwellers Cave 01164 Izard Calico Rock
Berghren Cave 01163 Izard Calico Rock
Lists
Stave
Will
Cave 01120
Blowing Cave 01109
Cave 01112
Cave 01105
Lists
Cave 01182 Johnson
Cave 01183 Johnson
Cave 01008
Bull Shoals Caverns 01016
Cave 01011
Cave 01010
Cave 01217
Cave 01022
Big
Cave 01202
Cave 01228
Cave 01230
Cave 01232
Little Bear Cave 01235
Lists
Upside Down Cave 01234
Lists
Cave 01187 Pope
Blag Cave 01069 Sharp
Nathan Slay Cave 01139 Searcy Snowball
Little Nate Slay Cave 01220 Searcy Snowball
Cave 01225 Searcy Silver Hill
Cave 01221 Searcy Snowball
Cave 01224 Searcy Silver Hill
Blowing Cave 01128 Searcy Zack
Big
Wolf Cave 01070 Sharp
Porter Cave 01078 Sharp
Ott Cave 01073 Sharp
King Haller Cave 01076 Sharp
Cave 01084 Sharp
Cave 01081 Sharp
Cave 01080 Sharp
Cave 01071 Sharp
Caves (2) 01072 Sharp
Back of Beyond Cave 01135 Searcy
Buzzard Cave 01075 Sharp
Cave 01077 Sharp
Alexander Cave 01154 Stone Fifty-Six, Arkansas
Bald Scabby Cave 01161 Stone
Cave 01215
Blanchard Cave 01147 Stone Fifty-Six
Ennis Cave
Half Mile Cave 01212 Stone Fifty-Six
Rowland Cave 01149 Stone Fifty-Six
Salt Peter Cave 01150 Stone Fifty-Six
Sky Blanchard Cave 01210 Stone Fifty-Six
Lists
Lists
Brown’s Cave 01103 Van Buren
Folder 16:
Inventory
Negatives- Unidentified
Newspaper Article- “The Men Who Explored Blanchard Springs
Caverns”;
Magazine- Map and Pictures; The
Loose:
Slides- Carousel #1; Better Slides, in chronological Order
Slides- Carousel #2; Additional Cave Slides
Slides-
Video- ”Blanchard Springs Caverns Explorations”; 1959-1965; Produced by Hail Bryant & Hugh Shell, June 1992
Video- ”Blanchard Springs Caverns Explorations”; 1959-1965; Produced by Hail Bryant & Hugh Shell
Video- “
Map- Unidentified map indicating fossil locations
Map- 1959
highway map –
Map- 1962
highway map –
Map- 1968
highway map –
Map- 1956
highway map –
Map- 1968
highway map –
Map- Penter’s Bluff sheet – Limestone district
Map- Map
of
Map- Map
of
Map- Map of Fifty-Six Cave
Map- Map
of
Map- U.S. Forest Service map of Blanchard Springs Caverns