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 8

Barcode: 31234013791122

Folder 1: Jillson, Willard Rouse, 1922 - 1929: 36 items. 32 letters to JWT. "Cap'n Jim" book order form. Letter and application from Who's Who Among North American Authors. Letter to Jillson from Rothert, "The Kentucky Land Grants".
Folder 2: Jillson, Willard Rouse, 1930 - 1934: 4 items. 3 signed photographs. 1 damaged photograph. Writing on back, John H. Goodwhere. "The Bibliomania" description of bibliomania (collecting of books) from 1792.
Folder 3: Jillson, Willard Rouse, 1935 - 1961: 40 items. 25 letters to JWT. 11 Postcards to JWT; New Century Hotel, Dawson Springs, KY; Hi-Level Dome Car of El Capitan; Liberty Hall, Frankfort, KY; Brink of the American Falls, Niagara Falls; Sterling Memorial Library, Yale University, New Haven, CT. Wedding invitation for Criole Jillson. 3 invites to "Ye Book Lovers' Memorial Dinner".
Folder 4: Jillson, Willard Rouse, 1930 - 1934: 28 items. 22 letters to JWT. Copy of 2 letters to Filson Club members Thruston and Rothert, Louisville's sesqui-centennial celebration. Copy of letter to Mayor Harrison, Louisville's sesqui-centennial celebration. Letter from Governor Sampson's secretary, recommending JWT for Kentucky State Historical Society committee. Courier-Journal news clipping, "Filson's Kentucky", Betty Gordon, Gusling quote, Texas Guinan, George A. Wallace. "Tales of the Dark and Bloody Ground" flier.
Folder 5-1: Johnson, Annie K., 1929: 2 items. (Mrs. Ben Johnson) Letters to JWT. Sam Elliott. Rowan Hardin. Hardin Rowan.
Folder 5-2: Johnson, Ben, 12 February, 1917: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Verhoff. John Fitch.
Folder 5-3: Johnson, Charles H., 1956: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Jockeys Hall of Fame. Isaac Murphy. Todd Sloan. John Longden. Henry Cooper paintings. Snapper Garrison.
Folder 5-4: Johnson, Ella Hicks, 1929: 6 items. "Granny Remembers". Biographical sketch. "Candle Lighting" by Arthur Ketchum. Beverly A. Hicks. Mary Eliza Herndon.
Folder 5-5: Johnson, Keen, 25 November, 1936: 1 item. Letter to Mary Floyd, librarian.
Folder 5-6: Johnson, L. F., 1916 - 1928: 4 items. 3 letters to JWT. Famous Kentucky Tragedies and Trials. News clipping.
Folder 5-7: Johnston, Annie Fellows, 1912 - 1913: 3 items. 2 letters to JWT. Response to "The Little Colonel". Biographical sketch.
Folder 5-8: Johnston, Bess, 1939 - 1941: 4 items. Letters to JWT. Postcard, "Picture of Stephen Collins Foster".
Folder 5-9: Johnston, Harris H., 13 November, 1913: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 5-10: Johnston, J. Stoddard, 1907 - 1910: 6 items. (Josiah Stoddard) Letters to JWT.
Folder 5-11: Johnston, Margarett Preston, 31 August, 1930: 1 item. (Mrs. Preston Johnston) Letter to JWT.
Folder 5-12: Johnston, Mary G., 1931: 3 items. Letters to JWT. "The Little Colonel". Her mother, Annie Fellows Johnston? Sympathy note for Annie Fellows Johnston.
Folder 5-13: Joiner, Harvey, n.d.: 1 item. News clipping with picture.
Folder 5-14: Jonas, Edward Asher, n.d.: 2 items. Postcard to JWT. Biographical sketch of Jonas.
Folder 5-15: Jones, Breckinridge, 12 November, 1913: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 5-16: Jones, E. Stanley, 21 Aug 1930: Letter to JWT, 1 item
Folder 6-1: Jones, Edgar DeWitt, 1929 - 1936: 22 items. Letters to JWT. Henry Clay Novel. JWT's "Richard H. Menefee". Clipping about Edgar D. Jones.
Folder 6-2: Jones, Paul M. L., 1908: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Kentucky Black people in literature.
Folder 7-1: Jones, Thomas S., Jr., 1927 - 1928: 13 items. 8 letters to JWT. James Lane Allen. Christmas card, "Saint Christopher". "Quatrains". Norreys Jephson O'Connor "After Reading 'Sonnets of the Cross' ". Book list. News clipping. "An Appreciation" by Jessie B. Rittenhouse.
Folder 7-2: Joyce, John A., 14 March, 1907: 1 item. Letter. "Jewels of Memory".
Folder 7-3: Juckes, George, 05 April, 1930: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Books.
Folder 7-4: Juliau, Y. S., 05 February, 1912: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Books.
Folder 7-5: Keene, W. L., 06 December, 1944: 1 item. "Our Venturing" Poem dedicated to the young men of Eastern Kentucky University who lost their lives in World War
Folder 7-6: Keeney, Philip O., 19 March, 1940: 1 item. Letter to JWT. A. B. Magruder. Emma Bell Miles.
Folder 7-7: Kehoe, James A., 14 May, 1905: 1 item. Letter to Mary Floyd. Flag.
Folder 7-8: Kelley, Edith Summers, ca. 1923: 4 items. Letters to JWT. "Weeds". Biographical sketch of Kelley. Signed photograph.
Folder 7-9: Kelly, Eleanor Mercein, 1949 - 1962: 4 items. (Mrs. Robert Morrow Kelly) Letters to JWT. 2 blank postcards. Photograph. "Toya the Unlike" flier.
Folder 7-10: Kelly, Robert Morrow, Jr., 1912 - 1913: 5 items. 4 letters to JWT. Letter to Kelly from ?.
Folder 8-1: Kemp, James A., Corporal, n.d.: 1 item. Transcription of talk about Kemp's experiences as a Civil War and Mexican War Veteran. Marshall, Churchill, Hines, Morgan, John Scott, Clay, Gaines, Heady. Prison of St. Jago, Santa Anna, Vera Cruz.
Folder 8-2: Kemp, Mrs. L. V. A., 12 October, 1927: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Friend of Allen.
Folder 8-3: Kendall, Joseph Morgan, 22 October, 1928: 3 items. Letter to JWT. Biographical sketch of Kendall. "Medusa". 1 Photograph.
Folder 8-4: Kennedy, Harriet L., 25 January, 1929: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 8-5: Kennedy, Mitchell, 10 March, 1938: 1 item. Letter to JWT. "The Stars and Stripes".
Folder 8-6: Kent, Charles W., 1908: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Chivers proof.
Folder 8-7: Kenton, Edna, 17 May, 1931: 1 item. Letter to JWT. "Simon Kenton". Maysville-Aberdeen bridge, Simon Kenton Memorial Bridge. Kehoe.
Folder 8-8: Kentucky Fire Equipment, 14 April, 1930: 2 items. Letter to JWT. Receipt.
Folder 8-9: Kentucky Folk Lore Society, 06 April, 1931: 1 item. Plain postcard to JWT about meeting.
Folder 8-10: Keppel, Frederick Co., 25 March, 1916: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Whistler picture frame. Wolf "Miss Alexander".
Folder 8-11: Kern, A. A., 30 March, 1913: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Russell prints and verse.
Folder 8-12: Kern, M. V., 30 September, 1931: 1 item. Letter to JWT. David Morton.
Folder 8-13: Kerr, Charles, 1927 - 1939: 15 items. Letters to JWT. Notes concerning the "Master of Ashland". Connolly, Jillson, Barnum, General Allen.
Folder 8-14: Kerr, Hazel C., 1927 - 1928: 7 items. (Mrs. Charles H. Kerr) Her father. Letters to JWT. Major Thomas.
Folder 9-1: Kesport, Charles W., 1930: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Allen books.
Folder 9-2: Kidd, Stewart Company, 1924: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Books.
Folder 9-3: Kiechle, Grace, 19 October, 1938: 2 items. Letter to JWT.
Folder 9-4: Kincade, Robert L., 30 August, 1956: 1 item. Letter to JWT. "The Wilderness Road".
Folder 9-5: King Solomon Monument, 1960 - 1982: 3 items. Letter to Mr. Wright from Dorothy Townsend. Notes by JWT about monument. Photograph of dedication. Mulligan, Gramer, Nicol, Skain, Milward, Wilson, Price, Townsend, Longmore.
Folder 9-6: King, Edgar W., 06 July, 1932: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Books.
Folder 9-7: King, Fain White, Col., 26 February, 1940: 1 item. Letter to WPA Library. "Under Your Feet" by Mrs. King.
Folder 9-8: King, Sloddard, 09 February, 1929: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 9-9: Kingsbury, Gilbert W., 28 March, 1952: 1 item. Letter to Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College (EKSTC) Library. "This Land of Ours" radio program, Shelbyville, Kentucky.
Folder 9-10: Kinkead, Cleors, 11 February, 1916: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 9-11: Kinkead, Cleres, 22 September, 1927: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 9-12: Kinkead, Eleanor Talbot, ca. 1906: 3 items. Letters to Townsend. Letter to Mr. Morgan, "The Development of English Fiction".
Folder 9-13: Kinkead, Elizabeth Shelly, 1905: 2 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 9-14: Kinkead, Nellie Talbot, n.d.: 2 items. Letters to Mr. Morgan.
Folder 9-15: Kinney, E. J., 1917: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Cover crops for tobacco fields, farming, field preparation. Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Kentucky.
Folder 9-16: Kirby, Harriet G., n.d.: 1 item. Letter to JWT. "Barbesieu"
Folder 9-17: Kirkpatric, S. C., 07 September, 1930: 1 item. Letter. Claude Higgin's "In Abe Lincoln's Town". On back: Ladies Lincoln league, Hodgenville, Larue County Memorials, Highway 68, Lincoln Shrines.
Folder 9-18: Klippel, Clara M., 18 August, 1928: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Berea College. Hutchins.
Folder 9-19: Knapp, Charles M., 17 April, 1931: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Mississippi Valley Historical Association. Charles Staples.
Folder 9-20: Knickerbocker, William S., 19 October, 1929: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Sewanee Review, A. G. Newcomer's essay Poe-Chivers Tradition.
Folder 9-21: Kniffin, H. Henderson, 1913: 4 items. Letters to JWT. (Thomas Henderson Kniffin ?) "Kentucky of Kentucky.
Folder 9-22: Knight, Grant C., 1927 - 1938: 7 items. Letters to JWT. 2 plain postcards.
Folder 9-23: Knott, Richard W., 14 November, 1913: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 9-24: Koger, Ethel Brooks, 1929 - 1932: 12 items. (Mrs. David D. Koger) 7 letters to JWT. 1 note. 2 news clippings. Copy of "Soldiers of the Southland". Signed photograph, damaged.
Folder 9-25: Krug, Julia, 07 June, 1929: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Allen books in St. Louis Public Library.
Folder 9-26: Kurfees, M. C., ca. 9/06/1927: 1 item. Note card.
Folder 10-1: Lafferty, Mrs. W. T., 1915 - 1931: 12 items. 8 letters to JWT. 1 Christmas card. 3 Woman's Club of Central Kentucky tickets. "Kentucky's Historic Past". White Hall purchase and preservation.
Folder 10-2: Laine, Henry Allen, 1912 - 1915: 8 items. 2 letters to JWT. Letter to Desha Breckenridge. 4 poems. 1 news clipping.
Folder 10-3: Laird, John Jr., 15 March, 1922: 1 item. Letter to members, Decorative Arts League.
Folder 10-4: Lamb, Flora M., 1927 - 1931: 3 items. Letters to JWT. Allen "The Last Christmas Tree". Jessie Lemont, "White Nights", biographical sketch of Lemont. Mosher, Rilke "The Book of Pilgrimage".
Folder 10-5: Lampton, W. J., ca. 1912: 6 items. 3 letters to JWT. Poems, "Humility", "Our Air Castles", "These Days". Zoe Anderson Norris. William E. Connelly.
Folder 10-6: Lancaster, Clay, 1947 - 1962: 2 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 10-7: Landrum , Grace Warren, 06 February, 1929: 1 item. Letter to JWT. College of William and Mary, Dean of Women.
Folder 10-8: Lane Theological Seminary, 10 November, 1928: 2 items. Seminary brochures. R. Ames Montgomery, President.
Folder 10-9: Lane, Margaret Preston, n.d.: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 10-10: Laner, Myria Cox, 1929: 2 items. Letters to JWT. (Lauer?)
Folder 10-11: Langley, John W., 1929: 3 items. Letters to JWT. Brochure for "They Tried to Crucify Me" or " Smoke Screen of the Cumberland's". Prohibition.
Folder 10-12: Lansill, John, 1940 - 1941: 2 items. 2 letters to JWT. 1 letter from JWT. Loss of The Chimney Corner Graduate.
Folder 10-13: LaRue, John Wellington, 21 March, 1923: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Smith's "Deadlines". Cobb's "Snake Doctor".
Folder 10-14: Latendorf, E. W., 13 August, 1948: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Remington bronzes.
Folder 10-15: Latour, n.d.: 1 item. Statement about horses, including Latour, Le Samaritain, Little Lady. Jockey Club of New York.
Folder 10-16: Lauderbach, Marion, 1931 - 1935: 2 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 10-17: Lawrence, Adelaide, 24 February, 1933: 1 item. Letter to Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College from Mrs. A. Lawrence Ballard, "Fair Play in Marriage".
Folder 10-18: Lawrence, Henry R., 19 March, 1928: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Fox's "The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come".
Folder 10-19: Lawrence, Millicent, 04 February, 1943: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Work Projects Administration, WPA, in California.
Folder 10-20: Leacock, Stephen, 09 February, 1922: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 10-21: Leanard, Mary Finley, 1911 - 1913: 2 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 10-22: Lee, Henry, n.d.: 1 item. Copy of letters to Henry Lee form Gilbert Imlay, ca. 1884. Lewis, Triplet, Skinner, John Floyd, Wilkinson.
Folder 10-23: Lee, Lucy C., 17 August, 1928: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 10-24: Leech, Carolyn Apperson, ca. 1915: 2 items. 2 letters to JWT. News clipping. Return of the Mona Lisa to Florence.
Folder 10-25: Leland, Ernest Stevens, n.d.: 1 item. Christmas card.