John Wilson Townsend Papers, 1898-1965 | Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

By Jonathan Stokdyk

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Collection Overview

Title: John Wilson Townsend Papers, 1898-1965

Predominant Dates:1903-1940

Primary Creator: Townsend, John Wilson (1885-1968)

Extent: 6.47 Cubic Feet

Date Acquired: 04/09/2003

Subjects: African American poets., American literature--Kentucky., American poetry. - Kentucky, Authors, American--Kentucky., Horses--Breeding--Kentucky., Poets, American - Kentucky, Thoroughbred horse. - Kentucky, Women authors, American--Kentucky, Women poets, American--Kentucky

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The John Wilson Townsend Papers consist of letters received by Townsend which reflect literary, business, and personal concerns. The bulk of the materials consist of letters received by Townsend, as well as photographs, book reviews, manuscripts and various other items about Kentucky literary figures. These include, but are not limited to, James Lane Allen, Madison Cawein, Irvin S. Cobb, Willard R. Jillson, Harriette Simpson Arnow, Samuel M. Wilson, Paul Sawyier, Otto A. Rothert, and Jesse Stuart. The letters offer insights into authors that might not otherwise be found, as well as discussions of their works and biographical information. Many letters simply talk about sending or receiving autographed copies of books. Some letters were not written to Townsend, but seem to have been collected by him instead.

In addition there are also letters concerning horses, as Townsend raised Thoroughbreds for years while living at Graceland Farm.

The collection is generally arranged alphabetically by the author of the letter, but in cases where Townsend is not the recipient, the letter was alphabetized by the recipient's name, with a notation in this finding aid of who the letter was from. Letters about a single person are filed by that person's name rather than the author of the letter. All photographs, book reviews, news clippings and other items are filed with the subject making the arrangement a collection of subject files.

There are multiple subjects per folder and because of this the folders have been numbered with a dash to maintain the subject integrity of the arrangement.

Biographical Note

John Wilson Townsend, Kentucky author and historian was born November 2, 1885. His parents were Charles Wesley Townsend, Lexington journalist and lawyer, and Jeannie Dillon Townsend. Townsend had three sisters, two of whom died in infancy and the third, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Morrison who died in 1931 in West Virginia.

Townsend received his early education in the Johnson and Dudley Grammar Schools of Lexington. Following grammar school, he attended the Preparatory School of Kentucky University. After graduating from Kentucky University, now Transylvania College, in 1906, he enrolled in Harvard University where he continued his study of history and literature.

It was at Kentucky University where he first made the acquaintance of James Lane Allen, who later became his personal friend, and about whom he has written much. This friendship began when Allen made a large contribution to the Periclean Literary Society of which Townsend was the member in charge of fund-raising.

His first book, "The Life of Richard Hickman Menefee," was published when he was only 19 years old. Several others followed during his years as a student at Harvard. After leaving Harvard he taught at the Fishburne Military Academy in Virginia before returning to Kentucky as an assistant librarian at the Lexington Public Library in 1909. He subsequently worked at the Kentucky Historical Society, Lexington Herald (1910 to 1916), the Kentucky Geological Survey (1928-1932), WPA (1936-1942), and the Lexington Signal Depot in the 1940s. Throughout this period Townsend was actively engaged in literary and historical research and published numerous books and pamphlets on prominent Kentucky historical and literary figures.

Townsend's best known work is "Kentucky in American Letters," which was the first anthology of Kentucky literature ever published. This work probably produced most of the letters contained in this collection. In addition, he was good friends with many literary figures that he regularly corresponded with. These include Irvin S. Cobb, James Lane Allen, James H. Mulligan, John Fox Jr., and others.

In 1930, Townsend's finest collection of Kentuckiana, consisting of over 1500 books, numerous pamphlets, letters and pictures, was sold to Eastern State Teachers College Library (now Eastern Kentucky University) where it remains to this day. Townsend continued to collect books until his death in 1968.

Subject/Index Terms

African American poets.
American literature--Kentucky.
American poetry. - Kentucky
Authors, American--Kentucky.
Horses--Breeding--Kentucky.
Poets, American - Kentucky
Thoroughbred horse. - Kentucky
Women authors, American--Kentucky
Women poets, American--Kentucky

Administrative Information

Repository: Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

Acquisition Source: Townsend, Dorothy

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Box 5],
[Box 6],
[Box 7],
[Box 8],
[Box 9],
[Box 10],
[Box 11],
[Box 12],
[Box 13],
[Box 14],
[Box 15],
[Box 16],
[Box 17: John W. Townsend Plaster Mask, 1937],
[Folder OS 1],
[Folder OS 2],
[Folder OS 3],
[Folder OS 4],
[All]

Box 10

Barcode: 31234013791148

Folder 1-1: McKelvey, Mrs. J. F., 1915: 3 items. Letter to JWT. 2 letters to McKelvey from Emory University. Cawein.
Folder 1-2: McKenzie, Agnes Carrobine, 19 October, 1933: 1 item. (Mrs. Paul H. Fegan) Letter to JWT. "The Magic Pea-pod and Old Cobble-stone Castle", "The Chickadee's Diary".
Folder 1-3: McKerver, James J., 07 January, 1922: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Paul Shipman.
Folder 1-4: McKinney, Kate Slaughter, 1907 - 1909: 11 items. (Katydid) Letters to JWT. Damaged photograph.
Folder 1-5: McLain, Raymond F., 1940 - 1943: 3 items. Letters to JWT. Pennell, "The Life and Work of Rafinesque".
Folder 1-6: McMeekin, Isabel, ca. 1911: 3 items. (Mrs. Sam McMeekin) Letter to JWT. Letter to and from JWT. Photograph of McMeekin and Dorothy Park Clark; Clark McMeekin, "Show Me a Land".
Folder 1-7: McMurtrie, Douglas C., 1929 - 1942: 17 items. Letters to JWT. History of printing in the United States. American Imprints Inventory. "Alton Trials".
Folder 1-8: McNamara, M. C., 1930: 5 items. 4 letters to JWT. Postcard to JWT. Biographical sketch. "Glory of the Hills".
Folder 1-9: McNary, E. H., 14 July, 1912: 1 item. (Mrs. John H. McNary) Letter to JWT. Death of Dr. Charles H. Hall.
Folder 1-10: McVey, Frank L., 1931: 3 items. 2 letters to JWT. Dedication ceremony, University of Kentucky Library. Honorary degrees.
Folder 2-1: Meehan, Eleanor Childs, 1928 - 1929: 2 items. (Mrs. James Meehan) Letters to JWT from A. Lee Read. Biographical sketch of Meehan.
Folder 2-2: Meine, Franklin J., 17 January, 1929: 2 items. Letter to JWT. Clarkson. Kentucky imprint. Wants list.
Folder 2-3: Mencken, H. L., 1922 - 1923: 3 items. Letters to JWT. Cobb book reviews. Letter from JWT, "The Smart Set".
Folder 2-4: Menefee, Richard H., 1905 - 1909: 12 items. 9 letters to JWT. Letter to Charles Fennel from Menefee. Letter from Fennel. Notes on Menefee.
Folder 2-5: Menninger, Clinton B., 11 May, 1935: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Transylvania Day.
Folder 2-6: Merriweather, Claybron W., 1908 - 1947: 12 items. Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch. News clipping. Poem "John Wilson Townsend". Phil Brown, negro politician.
Folder 2-7: Messenger, Lillian Rozell, 15 July, 1907: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 2-8: Metcalf, John Calvin, 1913 - 1930: 12 items. Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch. Library of Southern Literature. Biercy. News clipping.
Folder 2-9: Metcalf, K. D., 1930: 1 item. Letter to JWT. John Fox. Henry Clay.
Folder 3-1: Meyer, Emma Vories, 1928 - 1929: 2 items. (Mrs. Leland W. Meyer) Letters to JWT.
Folder 3-2: Millen, Eli M., 1931: 4 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 3-3: Miller, Arthur McQuiston, 1930: 2 items. Memorial invitation.
Folder 3-4: Miller, Dewitt, 22 October, 1908: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 3-5: Miller, Elvira Sydnor, 1912: 8 items. (Elvira Sydnor Miller Slaughter) Letters to JWT. Patrick King. Judge Hord. Henton. News clipping.
Folder 3-6: Miller, Jahu Dewitt, 1911: 2 items. Letter to JWT from St. Luke's Hospital. Signed photograph.
Folder 3-7: Minogue, Anna C., 1928 - 1941: 7 items. Letters to JWT. "All Lost". Cardome.
Folder 3-8: Mitchel, F. A., 31 July, 1906: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 3-9: Monaghan, Frank, 27 August, 1934: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 3-10: Montgomery, R. A., 10 November, 1928: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Thomas Dove Foster. Chapel talks.
Folder 3-11: Moore, Eleanor, 04 February, 1938: 1 item. Letter to JWT from Douglass Allen and Leland Davis. Moore song sheet, "My Old Kentucky Home".
Folder 3-12: Moore, Eliza E. Wilson, 11 December, 1964: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 3-13: Moore, Mary T., 05 January, 1940: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Kentucky imprints.
Folder 3-14: Moore, Paul M., 30 December, 1913: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 3-15: Moore, Robert, 1933: 2 items. ( and Hoyt Moore) Letter to JWT. Rascoe. Clarence Reed. Madie Binford.
Folder 4-1: Morehead, Bianca, 21 December, 1914: 1 item. (Mrs. A. H. Morehead) Letter to JWT. Date unclear.
Folder 4-2: Morehead, Charles, 1930: 9 items. 6 letters to JWT. Copies of 2 letters to Morehead from Elvira Miller Slaughter. Copy of letter to Slaughter. Douglass Sherley, biographical information, Elizabeth Cheatham.
Folder 4-3: Morgan, Col. C. C., 12/17/1878: 1 item. Receipt for membership in "The Southern Historical Society".
Folder 4-4: Morgan, E. K. H., 07 December, 1930: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 4-5: Morgan, James, 01 June, 1913: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Autograph.
Folder 4-6: Morgan, John H., 1893 - 1894: 3 items. Christmas card. Receipts for books, Robert Clarke & Company.
Folder 4-7: Morgan, John Pierpont, n.d.: 1 item. Postcard "The Pierpont Morgan Library".
Folder 4-8: Morison, Margaret, n.d.: 1 item. (Mrs. Elgin Morrison) Letter to JWT. John Filson. S. Campbell's Edition of Imlay's Description of Kentucky.
Folder 4-9: Morris, Frank M., 07 May, 1915: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Books.
Folder 4-10: Morris, George V., 1906 - 1913: 4 items. Letter to JWT. Postcard to JWT "L'Arc-de-Triomphe du Carrousel", Paris (The Arch of Triumph). Who's Who proof.
Folder 4-11: Morris, Harrison S., 17 January, 1915: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 4-12: Morris, John H., 1925 - 1927: 2 items. Letter to JWT. Receipt. Horses.
Folder 4-13: Morris, Rob, 16 August, 1912: 2 items. Letter to JWT. Business card. Robert Morris's works.
Folder 5-1: Morrison, E. T., 1931 - 1934: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Influenza, Lizzie, Jennie, Mary. Roosevelt, Democrats.
Folder 5-2: Morrison, H.C., undated: Brochure with list of his books from the Pentecostal Publishing Company of Louisville.
Folder 5-3: Morrison, Hoah F., 06 December, 1918: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Books.
Folder 5-4: Morrison, Lizzie, ca. 1928: 3 items. Letters to JWT and Grace. "Brother".
Folder 5-5: Morrison, Mary, 1929 - 1931: 4 items. Letters to JWT. "Your niece".
Folder 5-6: Morrow, K. W., 20 February, 1939: 1 item. (Mrs. Edwin Pl Morrow) Letter to JWT. Jillson biography of Morrow.
Folder 5-7: Morton, David, 1936: 3 items. Letter to JWT. Telegram to JWT. "A Man of Earth" announcement. Mrs. Arthur Edge.
Folder 5-8: Morton, David, 15 December, 1930: 1 item. Bank note from JWT for "Man of Earth".
Folder 5-9: Morton, Jennie C., n.d.: 1 item. Calling card.
Folder 5-10: Morton, William, 29 September, 1909: 1 item. News article about Morton High School, founded by William Morton and Charlton Hunt.
Folder 5-11: Mosher, M. A., 09 May, 1922: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Horses.
Folder 5-12: Muir, John W., n.d.: 1 item. Partial letter. Allen, Henry Clay, King Solomon, Elliot.
Folder 5-13: Muir, Pauline, 1930: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Judge P. B. Muir.
Folder 5-14: Mulligan, Mrs. J. H., 1888: 2 items. (Mrs. James H. Mulligan) 2 letters to Mrs. J. H. Mulligan.
Folder 5-15: Mulligan, ?, 8/13/1898: 1 item. Letter from Col. David G. Colson, Fourth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry.
Folder 5-16: Mulligan, Genevieve Morgan, 6/08/1899: 2 items. Letter to Mulligan from Henry Litchfield West. Photograph.
Folder 5-17: Mulligan, James Hilary, 1893 - 1915: 24 items. Letters to JWT. William Victor, Catherine Warfield. J. C. Darby. Letty Peter, Alf Peter. Fox, Allen. Letters from Mulligan, Miss Gracious, Belmont, Jen. Letters to Mulligan. James Paterson, State University, history of State University. Emma Walker Herr from St. Joseph's Hospital. "In Kentucky". "From Elkhorn Down to Keene". Invite to "Smoker" gathering. Photograph of Mulligan and JWT at King Solomon monument. Photograph of Mulligan with boy and man. Delegate ribbon, Democratic Congressional Convention, 7th District, 1906 - signed JHM as giving the nominating speech for W.P. Kimball.
Folder 5-18: Mulligan, Kathlene, 17 November, 1913: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 5-19: Mulligan, Marion M., n.d.: 2 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 6-1: Mullins, Isla May, 1916 - 1936: 8 items. (Mrs. Edgar Young Mullins) Letters to JWT. Obituary for Isla. Photograph of Isla. "Anne of the Blossom Shop" brochure. Photograph of Rev. Edgar Young Mullins. .
Folder 6-2: Murphy, Chas., 20 September, 1930: 1 item. Letter to JWT. B. O. Flower. The New Menace.
Folder 6-3: Murphy, Ethel Allen, 21 September, 1912: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Kentucky poet.
Folder 6-4: Murphy, Margaret, 24 February, 1922: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Georgia Clerk Court. Henry McAlpin.
Folder 6-5: Murrell, Cornelia Randolph, 1907 - 1913: 6 items. (M. R. Ailenroc, Mrs. D. G. Murrell) Letters to JWT. Paducah authors, Rollston, Noble, Murrell. "White Castle of Louisiana".
Folder 6-6: Musgrove, Charles Hamilton, 09 June, 1913: 1 item. Letter to JWT. "Pan & Aeolus".
Folder 6-7: Mutzenberg, Charles, 28 June, 1912: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Biographical sketch.
Folder 6-8: Myers, James T., 18 November, 1913: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Gift of books to Transylvania
Folder 6-9: Naggerman, Mary J., ca. 1926: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Malley. Samuel, Eugene, Thomas Naggerman.
Folder 6-10: Nagle, M. H., 29 January, 1923: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Bottles of water.
Folder 6-11: Naylor, James Ball, 23 April, 1908: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Poem, at home in Kentucky.
Folder 6-12: Nazareth Convent, 19 August, 1927: 1 item. Letter to JWT from Sister Adelaide.
Folder 6-13: Neale, Walter, 29 March, 1907: 1 item. Contract with JWT. The Neale Publishing Company contract for "Kentucky Essays".
Folder 6-14: Neet, John D., 1919 - 1925: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Horses.
Folder 6-15: Neligh, Jessie, 14 August, 1903: 1 item. Letter to "Dear Sis". Will, Aunt Sarah.
Folder 6-16: Nelson, Dan, 04 January, 1952: 1 item. Letter to JWT. "A Survey of Jefferson County".
Folder 6-17: Nelson, James P., 1915 - 1916: 4 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 7: Neuman, Fred G., 1921 - 1941: 54 items. 40 Letters to JWT. 4 postcards to JWT, "A Merry Christmas". 8 News clippings, JWT's "James Lane Allen". Brochure "Merry Magic and Joviality", magical entertainment by Fred Neuman. Letter to Fain and the Missus from Neuman, Cairo bridge. Cobb, Davis. Judge Bishop, grave marker. Henry Thompson. Thomas Corbet. Herbert Hobson. Paducah News. Edward Crossland. Cobb homestead, Saunders. Joe Johnson. Battle of the River Raisin, McCracker. Taft. Willson. Purcell. W. A. Cade. Mrs. Anderson. Old Seminary School, Longfellow school. Saunders, Howland.
Folder 8-1: Newhall, Daniel H., 01 October, 1931: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Life of Leonard.
Folder 8-2: Niles, John Jacob, 1933: 4 items. 2 letters to JWT. 2 photographs. 1 by Doris Ulman, summer 1933, John C. Campbell Folk School, North Carolina, with Mercer and Wand Scrogs.
Folder 8-3: Noble, E. L., 02 March, 1937: 1 item. Letter to Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College about "Bloody Breathitt".
Folder 8-4: Noe, J. T. Cotton, 1942: 4 items. Letter to JWT. 2 Christmas cards. Poetry. Tip Sams. Chaparral Poets. "Christmas Tree", "Conversion".
Folder 8-5: Noland, H. W., 17 May, 1955: 1 item. Letter from Mary Floyd, "By-Laws and Ordinances of the City of Richmond, Kentucky".
Folder 8-6: Norfleek, Inez Minor, 22 September, 1931: 1 item. (Mrs. Carl Norfleek sp? ) Letter to JWT. Somerset Woman's Club.
Folder 8-7: Norris, Zoe Anderson, ca. 1913 - 1928: 7 items. Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch. "The East Side" brochure. "Her Magazine". Letter to JWT from daughter Mary C. Chelf (Mrs. F. C. Chelf) after Norris' death. News clipping "Noted Kentucky Writer Predicts Her Own Demise".
Folder 8-8: North, Ernest Dressel, 1930: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Cobb first editions. Allen first additions.
Folder 8-9: Norton, Elizabeth Spencer, 1922 - 1936: 5 items. (Mrs. Charles F. Norton) Letters to JWT. Transylvania College Library. Althorp. Allen, Flute and Violin. Fox. William Bell.
Folder 8-10: Norton, John N., undated: Memorial booklet. 1 item
Folder 8-11: Noyes, Elise R., 1928: 5 items. Letters to JWT. Biographical information about Elise's mother, Elize Moore Chinn McHatton Ripley.
Folder 8-12: Nunns, Annie A., 21 May, 1929: 1 item. Letter to JWT. State Historical Society of Wisconsin.