Jack Kerouac Estate “incredibly grateful” after Zach Bryan pays $12 million for ‘On The Road’ scroll at auction
The Jack Kerouac Estate has issued a statement after his original scroll for On The Road was purchased by Zach Bryan.
In addition to purchasing the original scroll that Kerouac used to write On The Road, Bryan also bought The Dharma Bums scroll, as well as a series of personal letters that the late author wrote to his friend Ed White.
Bryan made the purchase at a Christie’s auction, paying over $12 million dollars for the On The Road original scroll alone.
The items previously belonged to the private collection of Jim Isray, the late former owner of the NFL team Indianapolis Colts, who also owned prized possessions from rock royalty David Gilmour, George Harrison, and Jerry Garcia, which went under the hammer on March 12th.
Bryan’s purchases are not for his personal collection. Instead, they will eventually go on display for Kerouac fans to admire at the Jack Kerouac Center.
Last year, the singer-songwriter purchased the St Jean Baptiste Church in Kerouac’s hometown, Lowell, Massachusetts, which is currently in the process of being turned into a museum to commemorate the legendary writer.
In a statement, the Kerouac Estate wrote on Instagram, “Yes, it’s true – in a landmark moment for American literary history and the City of Lowell, our friend Zach Bryan has acquired Jack’s original On the Road scroll, The Dharma Bums scroll, and a collection of personal letters at Christie’s auction.”
Their message continued, “We’re incredibly grateful as it’s about honoring Jack’s work, and making sure it continues to inspire the next generation.”
They also provided an update on the museum, sharing, “The Jack Kerouac Center, currently in development in Lowell, is about bringing Jack back to where it all started. Not as some distant, untouchable museum, but as a living, breathing place. Exhibitions, a 1,500-cap room for music and storytelling, a recording studio, classrooms, and a home for archives.”
As it stands, there is no timeline for when The Jack Kerouac Centre will open. The church, which is where Kerouac served as an altar boy and had his funeral held, cost Bryan approximately $3.4 million to purchase.
Meanwhile, after spending millions on memorabilia, Bryan has now hit the road himself to earn those dollars back.
He recently began the North American leg of With Heaven On Tour, which will arrive in the UK this summer with dates lined up at Anfield, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and Murrayfield, as well as more stadium shows in Ireland plus mainland Europe.
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