Bryant Mangum, longtime VCU English professor and F. Scott Fitzgerald scholar, dies at 83

By Sian Wilkerson

Bryant Mangum, an author and prominent F. Scott Fitzgerald scholar whose Virginia Commonwealth University career spanned more than 50 years, died Sept. 13 at age 83.

Mangum, Ph.D., retired in 2022, and throughout his distinguished career as a professor in the Department of English in VCU's College of Humanities and Sciences, he left a lasting impact on students and colleagues alike.

"Bryant was an amazing colleague, a master teacher and a wonderful friend," said Catherine Ingrassia, Ph.D., dean of the college and a professor of English. "While a nationally known and highly respected scholar of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Bryant was humble - and working on scholarly projects until the end."

Building off an early interest in English, Mangum discovered the works of Fitzgerald as an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he received his bachelor's degree, followed by master's and doctoral degrees from the University of South Carolina. He went on to become a prominent Fitzgerald scholar, as well as an expert on the prominent magazine The New Yorker.

In addition to his numerous articles, stories, reviews and book chapters, Mangum wrote and edited a number of books, including "F. Scott Fitzgerald in Context," "Best Early Short Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald" and "A Fortune Yet: Money in the Art of F. Scott Fitzgerald's Short Stories."

At VCU, Mangum was repeatedly recognized for both his scholarship and his skill as an educator. In addition to being named a VCU Board of Visitors Teaching Fellow, he received VCU's Distinguished Teaching Award, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia's Outstanding Faculty Award, the Elske v.P. Smith Distinguished Lecturer Award, the Southern Atlantic Modern Language Association Outstanding Teaching Award and the VCU Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Faculty Mentor Award.

"Bryant shaped the experience of untold numbers of graduate and undergraduate students with his enthusiasm, infectious wit and creative courses," Ingrassia said, pointing to his "legendary" class on The New Yorker. "He was, frankly, an inspiration to us all. He will be deeply missed."

When Mangum retired after 51 years at VCU, his former students were effusive as they recalled his generosity and kindness.

"He absolutely remembered every student, where they sat in every class, all that jazz," alum Angelica Bega told VCU News, adding that Mangum's "care and concern for students is as palpable as it is remarkable. Both his enthusiasm for the discipline and his care for students lie at the heart of what made him a great teacher, mentor and friend."

Fellow alum Aine Norris described Mangum as "dedicated not only to scholarship and teaching, but also to ensuring each student succeeds. … I have never encountered another professor who could compete with Dr. Mangum's humility, knowledge and kindness."

Among Mangum's lasting contributions to VCU is his collection of rare books, magazines and personal papers, which he donated to the James Branch Cabell Library this year. The collection includes highly sought-after first editions of Fitzgerald's works, including a first printing of the first edition of "The Great Gatsby," and the works of Alice Adams.

Donating the collection, Mangum told VCU News, "allows me to continue my professional life, carrying it forward to teach in much the way that I have done it in my years on the VCU English faculty - as learner, teacher and scholar, though missing deeply, however, the personal contact with the thousands and thousands of students that it has been my delight to work with."