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 9

Barcode: 31234013791130

Folder 1-1: Leming, M. D., 21 January, 1916: 1 item. Letter to JWT. "On the Trail to Tascosa"
Folder 1-2: Leonard, Andrew G., 1928 - 1930: 2 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 1-3: Leonard, J. J., 1918: 5 items. Letters to JWT. Horses.
Folder 1-4: Letcher, R. C., 2/21/1841: 2 items. (Robert?) Copy of letter to Crittenden, from microfilm.
Folder 1-5: Levin, Elizabeth, 1933: 3 items. Letters to JWT. "The Reign of the Nightriders" flier. Biographical sketch and character information.
Folder 1-6: Levin, Ida, 12 February, 1929: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 1-7: Lewis, Barton, 1932: 3 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 1-8: Lewis, John, n.d.: 1 item. "Death of John Lewis, of Langollen", ca. 1858. Biographical sketch of Lewis.
Folder 1-9: Lewis, Joseph H., Col., ca. 1863: 1 item. "Col. Lewis's Report of the Battle of January 2nd, 1863, at Stone River". Stake, Trabue, Breckinridge. Clarke, Stotts, Buchanan, Adams, Lewis, Hanson.
Folder 1-10: Library of Congress, 1928: 3 items. 2 letters to JWT. List of cards for selected authors. Copyright information.
Folder 1-11: Library of Southern Literature, 30 August, 1923: 1 item. Letter to JWT from The Martin & Hoyt Company. Promotion of Library of Southern Literature.
Folder 1-12: Lilly, Eli, 1937 - 1942: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Books.
Folder 1-13: Lilly, Josiah K., 08 September, 1936: 2 items. Letter to JWT. Foster Hall. Joseph Muller sketch. Fletcher Hodges, Jr. Copy of Foster letter from Stephen to Ann Eliza, July 16, 1850; marriage to Miss Jane.
Folder 1-14: Linder, Hallie E., 12 May, 1929: 1 item. (Mrs. J. V. Linder) Letter to JWT. Allen book.
Folder 1-15: Lindsay, A. H., 13 March, 1912: 1 item. Letter to JWT. "Sweet Grace". A. Hynd Lindsay.
Folder 1-16: Lindsay, Vachel, 18 February, 1919: 1 item. Letter to JWT from Allen ?. Carl Litsey, Lindsay story, Phelps. "Painted Windows", "The Great Task", Campbellites, "Rhymes to be Traded for Bread".
Folder 1-17: Lingel, Robert, 31 March, 1938: 1 item. Letter to Mary Floyd, librarian, EKSTC. Hodgkinson.
Folder 2: Litsey, Edwin Carlie, 1905 - 1961: 48 items. 44 letters to JWT. Letter to Sam J. Roberts, "The Man From Jericho". 2 book publication notices. Signed photograph, damaged.
Folder 3-1: Little, Judge, 13 May, 1929: 1 item. Letter to JWT from Mrs. McCullock. L. Freeman Little, Mrs. Bright Hawes.
Folder 3-2: Littrell, L. C., n.d.: 1 item. Dear voter letter for election to congress.
Folder 3-3: Lloyd, Frances, n.d.: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Radio talks.
Folder 3-4: Lloyd, John Uri, 1895 - 1931: 36 items. 16 Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch of Lloyd. "Our Willie" flier. "Etidorhpa" Acknowledgments statement, letter to subscribers, Letter to recipients of the "Authors Edition of Etidorhpa" (1895). The Cincinnati Club invite. Signed photograph. The Lloyd Library Botanical Park and Arboretum. The Lloyd Library and Museum.
Folder 3-5: Locke, David Robinson, 20 June, 1912: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 3-6: Locker, H. C., 13 January, 1914: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 3-7: Logan, W. Hume, 22 May, 1930: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Tomb of Henry Clay.
Folder 3-8: Lorimer, George Horace, 1913 - 1930: 3 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 4-1: Lotos Club, 06 December, 1938: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 4-2: Loucks, Chas N., 1936: 4 items. 2 letters to Carter H. Harrison from Loucks. 2 letters to Loucks from Harrison.
Folder 4-3: Louisville Artist League, 1915 - 1916: 2 items. Exhibition brochures. J. B. Alberts. Rothert. Cawein.
Folder 4-4: Lowe Brothers, 19 March, 1930: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 4-5: Lowe, William Herman, 1927 - 1929: 8 items. 5 letters to JWT. Telegram. 2 Christmas cards.
Folder 4-6: Loweett, J. E., 22 February, 1908: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Biographical sketch of Loweett. Hustler Publishing Company.
Folder 4-7: Lowry, Sarah Berry, 07 September, 1933: 1 item. Letter to JWT. "Carolina" manuscript.
Folder 4-8: Lydenberg, H. M., 1929 - 1930: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Wilson. Sherley. Imlay. Read. Stanton. Visscher. New York Public Library.
Folder 4-9: Lyman, Bertha H., 08 June, 1929: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Chivers in Providence Public Library.
Folder 4-10: Lynch, John T., 08 February, 1930: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Engineers' Club of Frankfort, KY.
Folder 4-11: Lyne, H. O., 28 February, 1927: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Horses.
Folder 4-12: Mabie, H. W., 1903 - 1905: 2 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 4-13: Macaulay, Fannie C., n.d.: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 4-14: MacDonald, Everett, 1916: 3 items. Letters to JWT. "The Red Debt".
Folder 4-15: Mackensie, Alastair St. Clair, 1912 - 1926: 7 items. Letters to JWT. Menifee. JWT wedding. Biographical sketch of Mackenzie.
Folder 4-16: MacLean, J. P., 1922 - 1923: 5 items. Letters to JWT. Bibliography.
Folder 4-17: Maclean, William, n.d.: 1 item. Letter. Kentucky artist. Sculptor Saul.
Folder 4-18: Macmillan Company, 1916 - 1927: 8 items. 7 letters to JWT. Price list for Allen books.
Folder 4-19: Macpherson, Ewan, 31 March, 1930: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Biographical sketch.
Folder 5-1: Maggs Bros., 1924 - 1930: 6 items. Letters to JWT. 3 receipts.
Folder 5-2: Magruder, Mary Lanier, 1921 - 1954: 24 items. Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch. 3 news clippings. "There Will Be Wind". "Two Towns". "The Exodus".
Folder 6-1: Major, Samuel Ire Monger, 1941: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Alex Major.
Folder 6-2: Major, Samuel Ire Monger, ca. 1840 - 1876: 4 items. Letter to Patrick Major. Letter to Mr. Major, from Sallie ?. Photograph card of Kate Major, Oct. 1862. Letter to Major, 1876.
Folder 6-3: Malone, James H., 28 December, 1928: 2 items. Letter to JWT. Biographical sketch. Brochure for "The Chickasaw Nation".
Folder 6-4: Maltby, Lucien Goggin, 1930: 5 items. Letters to JWT. News clipping.
Folder 6-5: Manning, C. N., 1910 - 1926: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Patterson, Pollitt. Lexington Public Library.
Folder 6-6: Manning, Estelle Hempstead, n.d.: 1 item. Letter to JWT. "Hafiz".
Folder 6-7: Marcosson, Isaac Frederick, ca. 1908: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch. O'Malley.
Folder 6-8: Markey, Gene, 1956 - 1957: 3 items. Letters to JWT. Basil Duke. "Kentucky Pride".
Folder 6-9: Markham, Lucia Clark, ca. 1927 - 1930: 4 items. (Lula) Letters to JWT.
Folder 7-1: Marquis, Reina Melcher, 1914: 4 items. (Reina Melcher, Mrs. Don Marquis) Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch. Review from "The Writer".
Folder 7-2: Marriage, E. Charles D., 29 January, 1943: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Kentucky and Nevada Imprints list.
Folder 7-3: Marriot, Crittenden, 1913: 6 items. Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch.
Folder 7-4: Marriter, Harry, 29 December, 1912: 3 items. Letter to JWT. News clippings "In Everyday Life", "Winklewads". Dallas News.
Folder 7-5: Marsteller, William F., 01 July, 1939: 2 items. Announcement of Marsteller joining Benesch, Marsteller, Friedlander & Morriss. Business card.
Folder 7-6: Martin, A. E., 14 September, 1913: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Cornell University.
Folder 7-7: Martin, George Madden, 1914 - 1918: 2 items. Letter to Miss Lucia Field Burnam. Post Card to Miss Gregory.
Folder 7-8: Martin, Lena Prather, 1929: 3 items. Letters to JWT. Photograph. Biographical sketch.
Folder 7-9: Martin, Maude, 09 March, 1915: 1 item. (Mrs. Charles Maude) Letter to JWT. Talk on "Kentucky in American Letters".
Folder 7-10: Massie, W. K., 22 May, 1935: 1 item. Letter to JWT. "Lincoln" by Barton.
Folder 7-11: Mather, Otis M., 1928: 3 items. Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch. LaRue. Haycraft's History of Elizabethtown.
Folder 7-12: Mathews, Edward, 16 July, 1928: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Warfield, Hancock.
Folder 7-13: Matthews, Sue Froman, 1912: 3 items. Letters to JWT, from Sandefur, Matthews and Mammatt. Biographical sketch of Matthews.
Folder 7-14: Mattingly, Sister Mary, 07 August, 1936: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Dissertation " The Catholic Church on the Kentucky Frontier (1785 - 1812). Nazareth College.
Folder 7-15: Maule, H. E., 29 March, 1916: 2 items. Letter to JWT. Kipling. John Carter. Photograph.
Folder 7-16: Mausfield, Eleanor C., 1930: 4 items. Letters to JWT. 1 postcard "Brunson Inn, Cumberland Falls, KY". "Memories of Eleanor".
Folder 7-17: Mayo, Bernard, 1937 - 1941: 3 items. 2 letters to JWT. Letter to John Hunt Morgan. Micah Taul, Conkwright.
Folder 8-1: McAfee, ?, 27 November, 1922: 1 item. Letter to Jim from Geff about Mrs. Dean's McAfee portrait.
Folder 8-2: McAfee, Alonzo B., 14 August, 1912: 1 item. Letter to JWT from Office of the Solicitor General, Washington, D.C. McAfee's listed in the Official Register of the United States.
Folder 8-3: McAllister, J. Gray, 1950 - 1951: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Bluegrass Bookshop.
Folder 8-4: McBeath, Tom F., 1913: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Biographical sketch.
Folder 8-5: McCarthy, Charles E., 09 March, 1921: 1 item. Contract between JWT and McCarty for horses. Lady Vincent, Imp Marie Claire.
Folder 8-6: McCarthy, Frank, 18 November, 1939: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Governor Keen Johnson, State Librarian appointment.
Folder 8-7: McCaslin, Robert H., 27 November, 1912: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 8-8: McChesney, Berma, 14 May, 1929: 1 item. (Mrs. H. V. McChesney) Letter to JWT.
Folder 8-9: McChesney, H. V., 1928 - 1942: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Kentucky State Historical Society. Tom Stuart. Kentucky Sesqui-centennial Commission.
Folder 8-10: McClellan, George M., 1908: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch.
Folder 8-11: McClellan, Georgia, n.d.: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Elizabeth Harrison.
Folder 8-12: McClurg, A. C. and Company, 02 March, 1915: 1 item. Letter to JWT. "Let Us Do the Best We Can".
Folder 8-13: McCombs, Harold Spilman, 21 February, 1927: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Biographical sketch. Prof. Gordon Wilson.
Folder 8-14: McConnell, Walter C., 12 April, 1912: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Biographical sketch.
Folder 8-15: McCookle, Wallen L., 13 November, 1913: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 8-16: McCormack, Jane Teare, 1930: 3 items. (Mrs. A. T. McCormack) Letters to JWT. Dr. J. N. McCormack. McMurtry. Schachner.
Folder 8-17: McCorvey, Thomas C., 07 January, 1922: 1 item. Letter to Mr. Cade. William A. Cade.
Folder 8-18: McCoy, Samuel, 1916: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch.
Folder 8-19: McCreary, James B., 31 May, 1917: 3 items. Letter to Lucia Burnam. Governor. 2 photograph prints.
Folder 8-20: McCreary, William Harold, 13 March, 1939: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 8-21: McDermott, Edward J., 23 February, 1912: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 8-22: McDougle, Ivan E., 11 November, 1927: 2 items. Letters to JWT. "Slavery in Kentucky". Harris, E. C. McDougle, Asa Martin.
Folder 8-23: McDowell, Aubin Aydelotte, 28 May, 1912: 22 items. Letter to JWT. Review. "Old White", "Greenbrier White".
Folder 8-24: McDowell, Dr., 22 August, 1906: 1 item. Postcard to JWT. "Dr. McDowell Residence & Memorial". Danville, Kentucky.
Folder 8-25: McElfatrick, Edwin B., 09 May, 1929: 2 items. Letter to JWT. Copy of "Winds". Biographical sketch.
Folder 8-26: McElroy, Lucy Cleaver, 03 July, 1912: 2 items. Letter to JWT from J. W. McElroy. News clipping. Biographical sketch of Lucy Cleaver McElroy.
Folder 8-27: McElroy, Mrs. L. U. ?: 2 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 8-28: McFall, Anna E., 1912: 2 items. Letter to JWT from Mrs. Daisy Winfrey. News clipping "Mrs. M'Fall Passes Away".
Folder 8-29: McFritzre, J., 03 October, 1930: 1 item. Postcard to JWT. Allen's "Message to Garcia".
Folder 8-30: McGee, Nora, 1933 - 1936: 4 items. Letter to JWT. 2 letters from Nora McGee to Isabel Bennett. 1 letter to Bennett from McGee. Mrs. Kelley. "Flight". Speed.
Folder 8-31: McGill, Josephine?, 30 January, 1929: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Miss McGill songs and keys.
Folder 8-32: McGill, Anna Blanche, 1922 - 1929: 5 items. Letters to JWT. Miss Anderson's poems. Letter from Sister Evangelista, Nazareth Literary and Benevolent Institution, McGill's history. "The Life of Bishop David". Letter to Mrs. H. L. Donovan, n.d.
Folder 8-33: McHargul, J. S., n.d.: 1 item. Note to JWT. Monthly report was tardy.
Folder 8-34: McHenry, Jennie T., 28 March, 1912: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Biographical sketch.