Townsend Room Collection, 1794-1930 | Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

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Collection Overview

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Subject/Index Terms

Administrative Information

Box and Folder Listing

Box 1

Barcode: 31234014047300

Folder 1: Business and Financial, 1804-1844

Item 1: DS Richard Menifee, 11 Jul 1804

Slave Receipt for hire of Cale by William Hart.

Item 2: DS McElroy & Cunningham, 5 Feb 1826

Request B. Spalding to purchase goods including a list.

Item 3: Insurance Policy, 25 Mar 1844

Policy from the Lexington Fire, Life & Marine Insurance Company for Major Drake & Co.

Item 4: DS Robert E. Little Letter of Reference, 20 Oct 1871

Madison County attorneys provide a letter of reference for Robert E. Little who is planning to move to Texas. It is signed by such well known names as J.W. Caperton, C.F. Burnam and J.B. McCreary to name a few.

Item 5: Richmond Bank Promissory Note, n.d.

Unused note.

Item 6: Memorandum of Payment to Gen. William Hardin, n.d.

Folder 2: Correspondence, 1819-1930

Item 1: ALS H.B.B. to Rev. Wm. Adams, 4 Apr 1819

He writes from The Retreat about his catechizing school in Louisville, KY.

Item 2: ALS Flenny Fletcher to Thomas Fletcher, 22 Sep 1820

A Lexington, KY merchant is writing to his brother in Philadelphia about merchandise that he needs for the store. It includes a list of items for purchase.

Item 3: ALS Samuel Brent to an Unidentified Recipient, 3 Sep 1822

He writes about a suit over land that the recipient is involved in. Brent seems to be the attorney.

Item 4: ALS Eloisa M. Remfort to Sally Ann Clay, 1822

Eloisa writes to her cousin about her brother and the ball season in Richmond, Virginia.

Item 5: ALS James Taylor to James Harper, 12 Jun 1824

Taylor writes from Belle Vere near Newport about a bank payment at US Bank in Lexington, KY.

Item 6: ALS E.L. Todd to David Craighead, 13 Aug 1845

Todd of Lexington, KY talks of family and Whig politics including a Mr. Todd victory.

Item 7: ALS Joseph Gibson to Dr. Mayfield, 28 Mar 1852

Gibson writes to Mayfield of Canton, KY about his desire to be elected secretary of the railroad Mayfield is involved in.

Item 8: ALS J.M. Dodd to W.E. Warfield, 12 Feb 1868

Dodd writes about the primary election plan that is being worked on.

Item 9: ALS H.T. Holcomb to J.W. Bright, 5 May 1868

Holcomb writes briefly about the Andrew Johnson impeachment and recommends Coleman House for the Kentucky delegation as it is on the same street car line as Tamany Hall.

Item 10: ALS Hall & Given to Jackson Given, 10 Jan 1872

The letter talks about the John Paxton estate and names them all below the signature line.

Item 11: ALS R.A. Benton to Gov. Johnson, 19 Jan 1872

Benton asks permission to miss the Democratic Caucus and give instructions for his vote.

Item 12: ALS Lizzie to Louis, 23 Sep 1881

Lizzie is concerned about his health.

Item 13: ALS Clarice Jeffrey to Uncle Aleck, 12 Jun 1887

Thanking his for his generosity and states that with him in the family she can stay unmarried.

Item 14: ALS Jeanie R. Wilkes to Cousin Aleck, 21 Jun 1887

Wilkes thanks her cousin for his contribution to her "hospital for sick darkies" and also talks about her travels and family members that she visited.

Item 15: ALS Jeff Hill to Uncle Aleck, Feb 1888

He entertains his uncle with a series of cartoon sketches with captions.

Item 16: ALS John to an Unnamed Brother, 27 Aug 1887

Talks about the estate of Uncle John McClellan.

Item 17: ALS Wm. B. Simmons to Laurence, 10 Apr 1895

Simmons talks about bachelorhood, acquaintances and baseball.

Item 18: ALS Wm. C. Holbert to Mike Uicans, 28 Apr 1900

Holbert offers a job as a clerk. Talks about political favors for Lewis County, KY because of their support of Morrow.

Item 19: ALS Haselden Bros., 28 Nov 1909

Postcard response to a question about cob pipes.

Item 20: ALS N.G. Daingerfield to Mrs. Cole, 03 Apr 1915

Writes about a sister who had been sick and the war.

Item 21: ALS Pearl Hawthorn to Mary Lanier Magruder, 23 Apr 1929

Hawthorn writes on behalf of John Wilson Townsend about local authors.

Item 22: TL A.E. Winship to Richard Allen Foster, 15 Nov 1930

Copy of a letter about the importance of The School in American Literature.

Item 23: TLS Caroline Tate to Buffie [Sykes], n.d.

Tate talks about her husband Allen's Fulbright professorship at the University of Rome, Catholicism, travel plans, and Mexico.

Item 24: TLS Caroline Tate to Buffie [Sykes], n.d.

She talks about their house in Princeton and visiting at East Hampton.

Item 25: ALS J.J. Reynolds to Robert, n.d.

Reynolds corrects the date of his wedding anniversary and reiterates his dinner invitation.

Item 26: Letter from a Boy to his Mother, n.d.

Talks about how much they love and miss their mother and about their upcoming visit home to Richmond. The letter is written on stationary from the High Oaks Private Sanitarium in Lexington, KY.

Item 27: ALS J.G. Speed to Mr. Keel, n.d.

Recommends that he join the union where he is and it will make it easier to get a transfer card. Presumably he is helping him find a job.

Item 28: Copy of a Letter from Samuel M. Wilson to Elmer Campbell, 1929

Wilson writes because he has heard that Transylvania University is purchasing the John W. Townsend book collection, and he talks about how important the collection is.

Item 29: Copy of a Letter from W.R. Jillson to Flem D. Sampson, 1931

Jillson is recommending John W. Townsend for a position on the Executive Committee of the Kentucky State Historical Society.

Item 30: ALS Carl D. Perkins to W. Howes Meade, 1970-12-15

Letter regarding parole for Charles V. Wheeler.

Folder 3: Ephemera, 1886-1891

Item 1: Louisville Medical College, 1886-1887

Card admitting W.C. Lyon to Practical Anatomy, signed by Sam Cochran.

Item 2: Louisville Medical College, 1887-1888

Matriculation ticket for W.C. Lyon.

Item 3: Declaimer's Contest, 10 Jun 1891

For Prof. H.S. Green's School in Richmond, KY.

Item 4: Toll Pass - Richmond and Irvine Turnpike Road

For C.H. Pigg Horse and Buggy, by W.W. Pigg, proprietor.

Folder 4: Genealogy

Item 1: Thomas Scudder Page, n.d.

Biographical sketch.

Item 2: Josiah Phelps, n.d.

Genealogical information about descendants.

Item 3: David Severn Pension Certificate, 25 Mar 1823

For service in the Revolutionary War .

Item 4: Tombstone Inscriptions

Small pieces of paper with inscriptions for the following individuals: Elizabeth Ardery, Mary Jane Wilson, Martha Marsh and her daughter Martha M. Marsh, Richard Oldham and Wesley Oldham.

Folder 5: Legal Documents, 1794-1894

Item 1: DS Marquis Followay and John Obannon, 4 Feb 1794

Marriage bond for Marquis Followay and Meriam Smith. Part of the document is missing.

Item 2: DS Edward Trabue and Dan Weisiger, 17 Dec 1794

Regarding an Act of the Kentucky legislature to create a town on James Wilkinson's land in Fayette County and a ferry across the river.

Item 3: Doc. James Ray vs. John Bryan Adm., 17 Apr 1815

Suit in New Jersey courts over land in New York, Virginia and Kentucky. John Bryan lived in New Jersey at his death.

Item 4: DS Mercer Curd, 30 Apr 1817

Summons to the sheriff of Logan County, KY to collect money from the estate of John Washington and John G.W. Baylor.

Item 5: DS John Washington, Jno G.W. Baylor, Arm'd Morehead, 6 Jun 1817

Obligation to the administrators of Abram Morgan by the Logan County, KY court.

Item 6: DS A. Miller, 12 Oct 1817

Oath to appraise the estate of John Epperson of Lincoln County, KY.

Item 7: DS Jo. Marshall, 9 Jun 1824

Decree and Opinion of Court of Appeals in the case of Robert Johnson and John A. Craig vs. Humphrey Marshall regarding a 9,115 acre entry on the Ohio River below the mouth of the Licking River.

Item 8: DS J.O. Clark, 9 Sep 1830

Sheriff's sale of property south of Frankfort, KY to satisfy a judgment for John M. Waring.

Item 9: DS Will Bard, 29 Aug 1835

Deposition of Bard taken in Bardstown in the suit of Moses Thomas vs. Joseph Miller, Thomas Beeler and John Quiggins.

Item 10: DS S.H. Morrison, 6 Feb 1855

Scott County, VA marriage license for George M. Johnson and Mary C. Tomlinson.

Item 11: DS J.W.S Morison, 17 Jun 1857

Lee County, VA marriage license for William Witt and Elizabeth Clarkston.

Item 12: Law Suit: T.S. Moberly vs. Peter Wakem, 22 Feb 1894

Typescript of the defendant's answer and counterclaim to the complaint with a letter attached from his attorneys. The suit is over the soundness of a Shorthorn bull named High Top. See also French Tipton Collection, box 1, folder 17.

Folder 6: Lexington, KY Booklets, 1884-1946

Item 1: Chamber of Commerce of Lexington, KY, 1884

Constitution and By-Laws

Item 2: Conference for Education in the South, 1906

Ninth annual meeting at the Auditorium in Woodland Park.

Item 3: Kentucky Association, 1926

Centennial Meeting of the Kentucky Association for the Improvement of the Breeds of Stock.

Item 4: Lexington Bar Association, 1946

Annual Dinner in honor of members of the Court of Appeals of Kentucky and members of the Lexington Bar who served during World War II.

Item 5: Lexington Fair, 1893

Item 6: Lexington Public Library, Annual Report, 1909

Item 7: Lexington Public Library, Annual Report, 1910

Item 8: Lexington Public Library, Annual Report, 1915

Historic Shrines in and Around Lexington

Item 9: Lexington Public Library, Annual Report, 1936

Item 10: Lexington Public Library, Annual Report, 1938

Item 11: Little Tours among History Shrines in and about Lexington, 1925

Item 12: Souvenir of the One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the Permanent Settlement of the City of Lexington, KY, 1929

Item 13: Traffic Rules and Regulations, 1930

City of Lexington

Folder 7: Personal Writings

Item 1: Lexington Gazette Memo, 1788-1792

A handwritten list of what appears to be notices placed in the Gazette.

Item 2: Main Street Church, n.d.

A history of the Main Street Church in Lexington

Item 3: Hair Tonic Recipe

Item 4: Elma M. Rutledge Notebook, 16 Aug 1888

Elma Moore Rutledge lived most of her life in Tennessee, and this notebook mentions Mont Eagle; but she died in Madison County, KY. This notebook she writes an essay about disreputable prints and the harm they do to families. There are also two accounts of Temperance Days at Mont Eagle, August 15 and 15.

Item 5: John Boyle, n.d.

Essay on John Boyle by Wm. Kavanaugh Doty.

Folder 8: Transcript of Evidence (f.1 of 2), 1943

For a law suit in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky (L. Metcalfe Walling, Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division, United States Department of Labor vs. Lexington Roller Mills, Inc.). One of the attorneys for the defendant is William L. Wallace. This transcript includes copies of exhibits and typescripts of depositions and testimony on a case relating to violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.

Folder 9: Transcript of Evidence (f.2 of 2), 1943

Folder 10: North Carolina and Kentucky

Address before the Ohio Valley Historical Association Dinner on Oct. 24, at the Hotel Phoenix, by Archibald Henderson.

Folder 11: The Great Cane Ridge Revival: An Interpretation, 1941

Address delivered by E.C. McDougle, Richmond, Kentucky at the celebration of the 140th anniversary of the revival, August 17, 1941.

Folder 12: Sally Ann's experience, 1910

Holograph of Sally Ann's experience by Eliza Calvert Hall. Published: Boston: Little, Brown, 1910.

Folder 13: School Publications, 1928-1931

Training School, Eastern Teachers College publications, March 1928-October 1931. Includes Junior High News, Junior Journal, The Ninth Grade Evening Messenger, Sixth Grade Journal, Fifth Grade Out Look, The Eastern Progress Junior, and Fourth Grade Times.

Folder 14: Baptist Association Minutes, 1825, 1853

Item 1: Tates Creek Association of Baptists Minutes, 1825

From a meeting held at Union meeting house, Madison County, 27, 28, 29 of August, 1825.

Item 2: Minutes of Predestinarian Baptists, 1853

From a meeting held with the church at Cane Spring, Madison County, Ky., 3rd Saturday in August 1853 and 2 days following.

Folder 15: By-laws of Kingston Lodge, No. 315, 1856

By-laws of Kingston Lodge, No. 315. Located at Kingston, Madison County, KY. Printed by A.G. Hodges & Co Printers, Frankfort, KY, 1856.

Folder 16: The Flag: Presentation to Eastern in Senior Class Program, 1938

Signed holograph of presentation by James Neale.

Box 2

Barcode: 31234014047318

Folder 1: One Beneath the Sun, 1948-1951

First draft submitted to publisher by H. Edward Richardson. Accompanied by memo concerning contents of manuscript by "EC"; holograph memo from Dudley Strasburg, assoc. ed.; publication announcement of One Beneath the Sun; newspaper clipping about publication of the book; and additional poems by H. Edward Richardson.

Folder 2: Biographical Sketches of Kentucky Authors, 1930

Written by the 235 members of the classes in Library Science 166. Each biography is handwritten or typed and bound in booklet form. Illustrated by J.D. Turley, '34. Richmond, Kentucky. Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College.

Folder 3: Happy Chandler Clippings, 1935-1971

Newspaper clippings and campaign literature about Happy Chandler.

Folder 4: Manuscript Poems of Elizabeth Madox Roberts, 1900-1924

Includes poems: "The Sky," "The Woodpecker," "Mr. Wells," "Crescent Moon," "The Richest Woman in the World," "Strange Tree," "The Sun and the Birch Tree," "A Beautiful Lady," and "The Hens."

Folder 5: Elementary, 1957

Holograph poem by Edwin Carter, April 1957.

Folder 6: The Awakening, 1936

Holograph, signed poem by Mrs. Florence Colley. Enclosed in Easter program from The First Christian Church, Richmond, Ky., April 12, 1936. Typed biographical sketch included.

Folder 7: The Washington Monumental Society, 1850

The Washington Monumental Society Officers and Board of Managers and Kentucky Subscribers. List of contributions from Jefferson County, Kentucky to the Washington National Monument. Also includes list of the officers and board of managers of the Washington National Monument.

Folder 8: Letter and Poems to Isabel Bennett, 1941

Signed holograph of letter and two poems from David Morton, Amherst, Massachusetts to Isabel Bennett, The Library, Eastern State Teachers College, Richmond, Kentucky. Poems: "Who Walks with Beauty" and "Example and Precept." Dated November 26, 1941. Includes mailing envelope.

Folder 9: May Luxon's Composition Book, 1881-1885

May B. Luxon's copy book of exercises while she was a pupil at Madison Female Institute, Richmond, Kentucky.

Folder 10: Oxen, 1932

Sheet music. Poem by Mary Cummings Eudy, composed by Alma Steedman. Published by J. Fischer & Bro., New York, New York.

Folder 11: Big Bone Lick in Boone County, Kentucky, 1953

Extracts from a meeting of the Christopher Gist Historical Society, August 15, 1953, including a typescript history of Big Bone Lick, Kentucky.

Included is a letter from Reverend Eugene F. Lefebvre, rector of St. Timothy's Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to the Department of History, Eastern Kentucky State University, September 26, 1974.

Folder 12: Memories out of Arcady

Typewritten, review/narrative by William Kavanaugh Doty about "James Lane Allen" by John Wilson Townsend (1927).

Folder 13: The History of Medicine in Kentucky, 1775-1952

By Max E. New. Holograph; contains drawing by the author and clippings pertaining to medicine.

Folder 14: The Bryan and Stewart Families, 1969

Descendants of John Randolph Bryan of "Eagle Point," Gloucester Co., Virginia, and his wife Elizabeth Tucker Coalter; and of John Stewart of "Brook Hill," Henrico Co., Virginia, and his wife Mary Amanda Williamson. Prepared by John Frederick Dorman, Washington, D.C., 1969.

Box 3

Barcode: 31234014047326

Folder 1: Memoirs of J.W. McGarvey, 1903

Holograph; appears to be notes by Mrs. Anna R. Bourne, Professor of English Literature and Dean of Women, Bethany College, West Virginia pertaining to J.W. McGarvey's "The Organ Question" and "A Visit to Texas."

Folder 2: Letter from Nicolas Le Gros, 1739-1740

Letter from Nicolas Le Gros (1675-1751) to the Bishop of Soisons concerning the promises of the church. Manuscript in Spanish.

Folder 3: Old Cane Springs, 1936

Typewritten with holographic corrections. Author: John Cabell Chenault (1855-1924). Published by Standard Printing Company, Louisville, KY, 1936.

Folder 5: Confession of Richard H. Shuck, 1877

Confession of Richard H. Shuck (1851-1877), a member of the Owen and Henry County Marauders, of the state of Kentucky.  Written by Jesse Fears. Printed at the Kentucky Yeoman Office, Frankfort, Kentucky, 1877.

Folder 6: Education for Democracy, 1943

By Samuel W. Fife. Annual senior address, commencement exercises, Madison-Model High School. Typewritten; includes author's signature.

Folder 7: Autobiography of Strother Cook, 1880-1891

Autobiography of Strother Cook (1809-), Mercer County, Kentucky. Photocopy of holograph.

Folder 8: Diary of the Gold Rush of '49, 1849

Journal kept by William Riley Murray (1812-1894) during overland journey from Kansas to California. Typewritten transcript.

Subject/Index Terms:

Overland journeys to the Pacific.

West (U.S.)--Description and travel.

Folder 9: Autobiographic Sketch of "Mr. Justice" Samuel F. Miller, 1952

Holograph (transcript, typewritten), transcribed by Robert E. Little. Autobiographic sketch of Samuel Freeman Miller (1816-1890), American jurist born in Richmond, Kentucky. Miller was appointed Justice of the Supreme Court by President Lincoln.

Folder 10: White Oak Pond Christian Church Minute Book, 1818-1898

Holographic photocopy. Minutes of the White Oak Pond Christian Church, Richmond, Kentucky.

Folder 11: Booneville Association of Missionary Baptists Minutes of the Annual Session, 1954-1959

Booklets containing typed minutes of the Booneville Association of Missionary Baptists' Annual Session: September 10-11, 1954; September 9-10,1955; September 8-9,1956; September 13-14,1957; September 12-13,1958; and September 11-12,1959.

Folder 12: Louisville, Kentucky Pamphlet, 1938

Folder OS 1: Oversize

Barcode: 31234013924228

Item 1: DS James Biddle, 29 Mar 1794

The deposition of Christopher Greenup in the suit of David Bryant and John C. Owings vs. Caleb Wallace.

Item 2: DS William H. Seward, 17 Jul 1839

Document from New York appointing Henry Z. Hayner a Master in Chancery.

Item 3: DS J.J. Crittenden, 29 Apr 1850

Governor Crittenden appoints James W. Wilson a Justice of the Peace for Crittenden County, KY.

Item 4: DS Robert Lincoln, 16 Jul 1889

Legation of the United States at Loudon appoints Elias L.M. Bristol as "Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary."

Item 5: DS J.C.W. Beckham, 29-May-06

Appoints J.W. Cammack as regent of the State Normal School for the Eastern District.