And when Jane Goodridge finally put her hands on the first copies of "Brighter Leaves," a new 300-page history of the arts in the Bull City, she couldn't believe her eyes, she said.

The book, to be released next weekend, turned out well, said Goodridge, past president of Preservation Durham, a nonprofit dedicated to safeguarding the city's historic artifacts.

In fact "Brighter Leaves" nearly didn't come out at all.

The project, which focuses on music, dance, architecture and other arts since World War II, was a venture proposed by Patrick Kenan, a doctor, musician and actor in Durham for nearly 50 years.

But Kenan died unexpectedly in 2002. The committee he had assembled to document Durham's arts community nearly dismantled, Goodridge said. Several people dropped out of the project.

But half a dozen persevering volunteers continued to chip away at the project for six more years, finally seeing it published by the Historic Preservation Society of Durham, the publishing operation of Preservation Durham.

Nine writers contributed different chapters of the text, which was a challenge in itself, Goodridge said.

"Gathering all of the pieces and all of the ideas, and trying to make it come together as one cohesive unit, was truly a labor of love," she said, "And the result of a strong belief in the arts."

The glossy-covered book offers surprising stories about the famed performers and artists who have ties to Durham, from gospel singer Shirley Caesar to tap-dancer Savion Glover. The writers also compiled a separate section of profiles -- more than 70 pages' worth -- that outline the who's who in Durham arts.

The only regret, said contributing writer Jean B. Anderson, is that there was so much more to write.

"It's not completely comprehensive, but it's something that can be added to," Anderson said of the book.

Even from the time the manuscripts were being finalized, to the release of the volume, the arts community has continued to evolve, and lose prominent contributors.

Memorialized in its pages is Ella Fountain Pratt, a figure in the Duke University arts community, and in the Durham Arts Council. Passages of the book were pieced together from her extensive personal photos and recollections.

Just months after the manuscript was finalized, Pratt fell ill and passed away in July at the age of 94.

Contributors will celebrate the book's release from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 12 at Parker & Otis, 112 S. Duke St. The event will feature live music, refreshments and copies of the book, priced at $50.

Copies may be ordered online at www.preservationdurham.org or by calling (919) 682-3036.

Durham's public libraries are expected to have the books by the end of October, Goodridge said.

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Are you a Durham arts aficianado, or a newly-inducted Durhamite?

1. Which of the following artists have performed in Durham?

a) Benny Goodman

b) Marian Anderson

c) Duke Ellington

d) all of the above

e) none of the above

2. True or False: In the early 1960s, there were five movie theaters in downtown Durham.

3. Which of the following statements about Ernie Barnes, a Durham-born artist and athlete, is NOT true:

a) he attended Hillside High School

b) he played professional football for the Washington Redskins

c) his civil rights painting, "The Advocate," hangs in the N.C. Central University Law School

d) he was once named "Official Artist" of the Olympic Games

4. Which of these film festivals has NOT been hosted in Durham:

a) the Retrofantasma Film Series

b) Escapism Film Festival

c) the N.C. Jewish Film Festival

d) War, Art, Relationships and Politics fest

e) the Brightleaf Cinema Series

5) Which of the following local figures work primarily with the same medium:

a) Margaret Pepper Fluke, Larry Downing, Marilyn Griffin

b) Jacqueline E. Morgan, Iain Hamilton, Elizabeth Lee

c) Andrew Preiss, Francis Vega, Al Frega

d) Philip Freelon, Frank DePasquale, Ellen Kong

ANSWERS: 1. (d) 2. True 3. (b) Barnes has played professional football for the Baltimore Colts, the San Diego Chargers and the Denver Broncos, but never for the Redskins. 4. (e) 5. (c) Preiss, Vega and Frega are all artists who work with metal.