Ray Couch Photographs, AV.5131
Abstract
Ray Couch was a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the U.S. Army and photographer living in Buxton, North Carolina, from the 1960s to the 1990s. The Ray Couch Photographs, 1955-1990 and undated, comprise prints, negatives, contact sheets, and color slides documenting the Outer Banks and other topics during this time period, with a particular focus on Hatteras Island subjects and sportfishing.
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Ray Couch Photographs
- Call Number
- AV.5131
- Creator
- Couch, Raymond Benson, 1912-1995
- Date
- 1955-1990 and undated
- Extent
- 5.800 cubic feet
- Language
- English
- Repository
- Outer Banks History Center
Restrictions on Access & Use
Access Restrictions
Available for research.
Use Restrictions
Copyright is retained by the authors of these materials, or their descendants, as
stipulated by the United States copyright law (Title 17 US Code). Individual researchers
are responsible for using these materials in conformance with copyright law as well
as any donor restrictions accompanying these materials.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], AV.5131, Ray Couch Photographs, Outer Banks History Center, Manteo, NC, U.S.A.
Collection Overview
The Ray Couch Photographs, 1955-1990 and undated, consist of photographs in various formats taken by Ray Couch. The images primarily focus on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, with a special focus on fishing. The collection includes black and white prints, contact sheets, negatives, and color slides. Much of Couch's photography focused on subjects on Hatteras Island, where he lived, including the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and local buildings, people, and scenes. However, Couch also traveled to other areas to take photographs, including other towns and villages along the Outer Banks and several international destinations. Couch was also interested in local flora and photographed numerous flowers, grasses, trees, and other plants in the Outer Banks region. The prints and contact sheets in the collection are undated but appear to date from roughly the 1970s to 1980s.
Arrangement Note
The collection is arranged into four series: Prints, circa 1970s-1980s; Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Color Plates & Negatives, circa 1970s-1980s; Contact Sheets, circa 1970s-1980s; and Slides, 1955-1990 and undated. Slides are arranged alphabetically by folder title, then chronologically within each folder with undated slides at the end of the folder.
Biographical/Historical
In 1964, Couch retired from the Army and moved to Buxton, North Carolina. He operated the Red Drum shopping center, which included a tackle shop, service station, auto parts store, and food mart. He was also an avid photographer, working under the direction of Dare County Tourist Bureau photographer Aycock Brown to capture images of the Outer Banks region, with a particular focus on sportfishing, in order to promote tourism to the area. He also helped establish the Outer Banks Preservation Association. He passed away 30 September 1995 after a long illness. He was survived by his wife, Juanita Stewart Couch, as well as three sons: Raymond Stewart Couch, John B. Couch, and Daniel C. Couch.
Contents of the Collection
1. Prints, circa 1970s-1980s
Fishing, circa 1970s-1980s
General Subjects, circa 1970s-1980s
2. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Color Plates & Negatives, circa 1970s-1980s
3. Contact Sheets, circa 1970s-1980s
4. Slides, 1955-1990 and undated
Subject Headings
Acquisitions Information
Donated by Danny Couch, September 1998 and November 2013.