Make a Bequest for the Future of History

What is the Charles Webster Bryant Legacy Society?

In Bryant’s name, the Granville Historical Society has launched the Charles Webster Bryant Legacy Society. This society brings to you, our members and friends, the opportunity to honor and protect the future of preserving our history, now and for the generations to come. Let’s find out how this works.

Who was Charles Webster Bryant?

When friends Crayton Black, Francis Shepardson, and Charles Webster Bryant realized firsthand memories of the early days of Granville were vanishing, they came together to create the Granville Historical Society on March 9, 1885. One of the Society’s first major acts then was to begin to preserve and document the history of the community. We continue that work today.

Estate Planning is for Everyone

Everyone has an estate. Simply, it’s all of the property your own. And because you have an estate, you will want to have an estate plan, a strategy for using your assets well and ultimately passing them on to those you care about.

There are many reasons to make an estate plan:

• You want to provide for others, your loved ones or others who have been meaningful in your life.

• You want a particular individual to inherit parts of your estate: your home, a collectible, a family heirloom.

• You want to leave a legacy to an organization, such as the Granville Historical Society, an organization that you care about and have supported for many years.

• You want to reduce or avoid estate taxes from your taxable estate.

• You want your gift to be unrestricted, enabling the Granville Historical Society to apply your gift to the greatest need when it is received.

• Overall, you want to make wise use of your assets. You want to shape your legacy.

What is a bequest?

A bequest is a gift created now as part of your will or living trust and given at the end of your life. Bequests can include gifts by beneficiary designation, such as the proceeds from a retirement plan or life insurance policy, or direct payments from a financial account our donoradvised fund.

Is this the right gift for you?

The Granville Historical Society welcomes bequests of all sizes from individuals at all stages of life. Whether you are crafting your first will or updating an existing estate plan, we can help you and your advisors explore giving by bequest as one way to express your lifelong commitment to preserving and protecting the history of Granville for future generations.

How is a bequest structured?

Your gift may take the form of a percentage of your estate, a specific amount, or a particular asset. If taking care of loved ones is your first priority, you may wish to leave part of the remainder of your estate to GHS after other gifts have been fulfilled, or name GHS as a contingent beneficiary should certain heirs not survive you. If you have an estate plan that you do not wish to revise in its entirety at this time, your attorney may draft a simple codicil to your will or amendment to your living trust to add a bequest and leave you other plans unchanged.

Can I make a bequest to GHS and provide for my heirs?

By establishing a testamentary life income gift, one can leave a legacy to GHS while also providing a stream of income to your designated heirs.

What are the benefits for you and your family?

A bequest to GHS is deductible from your taxable estate and thus can help you reduce or avoid estate taxes. You may find that the estate planning process is also a meaningful personal opportunity to reflect on the people, values, and organizations that matter most to you.

Talk to us

Evelyn Frolking and Tom Martin, board members, invite you to talk with us about the possibilities that will benefit both you and the Granville Historical Society.

For more information, please contact Evelyn or Tom. There are two ways to do this. Send us an email at CharlesWebsterBryant@gmail.com or leave a message at the Museum at 740.587.3951 and we will be in touch with you.