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 7

Barcode: 31234013791114

Folder 1-1: Guerrant, Edward O., Rev., 1912

7 items. 2 letters to JWT. American Inland Mission, Society of Soul Winners, annual report. "Galax Gatherers", sketch of Appalachian people.

Folder 1-2: Guiterman, Arthur, 1922 - 1929

7 items. 2 letters to JWT. "Poet's Proverbs". Book list.

Folder 1-3: Gunn, James W., 08 July, 1921

2 items. Letter to Gunn from Librarian. Letter to Mrs. Morten. William S. Bishop, Judge Priest.

Folder 1-4: Gusling, Kalfus Kurtz, 1922 - 1937

30 items. Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch of Gusling. Signed photograph. Photograph of house. News clipping of poem for "Save the Yosemite!". Mrs. Slaughter. Poems, some unpublished, "The Tree Lover", "The Plateau", "Exchange", "The Newcomer", "An Angry Lover", "Afterglow", "Why?". McMeekin. Litsey.

Folder 2-1: Hackley, Sara Bell, 05 December, 1918

1 item. Letter to JWT. Biographical sketch.

Folder 2-2: Hall, Carl Mitchel, 1928

7 items. Letters to JWT. "A History of Johnson County" brochure. Highlights from press comments. News clipping of Hall's mother's death, Ella Davis Hall, wife of Judge J. Melvin Hall.

Folder 2-3: Hall, Eliza Calvert, n.d.

2 items. Photograph. Blank postcard "Eliza Calvert Hall".

Folder 2-4: Hall, Radclyffe, ca. 1928

1 item. Brochure for Hall's "The Well of Loneliness".

Folder 2-5: Halleck, Reuben Post, 1905 - 1913

2 items. Letters to JWT. 1886 graduates of Male, includes Cawein, Hite, Latimer, Sievers, Gleason, Hoepner, McKee, Vandiver, Weiss, Hebden, Jarvis, Scearce, Waller.

Folder 2-6: Hallmeyer, C., 01 January, 1923

1 item. Letter to JWT. Burley Tobacco Growers.

Folder 2-7: Hamilton, Katherine T., 25 May, 1925

1 item. Letter to JWT.

Folder 2-8: Hampson, "Kitty", 10 February, 1931

1 item. Letter to JWT. Lela Mae.

Folder 2-9: Hanly, Edith Sheldon, 1928 - 1929

14 items. (Mrs. John H. Hanly) Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch. 2 news clippings, Bowman Field, J. Swigert Taylor estate and will.

Folder 2-10: Hanly, John H., ca. 1910

4 items. 1 letter to Judge James H. Mulligan from John Hanly. 3 letters to Mulligan from Edith S. Hanly (wife).

Folder 3-1: Hapgood, Norman, 08 March, 1933

1 item. Letter to Miss Burnam. "Changing Years.

Folder 3-2: Harbison, Clint, 1964

2 items. Letters to and from JWT. Books.

Folder 3-3: Harbison, Clinton, 23 June, 1954

1 item. Letter to JWT. William H. McAlister

Folder 3-4: Hardin, Rowan, 15 June, 1929

1 item. Letter to JWT.

Folder 3-5: Hardin?, Halden?, 1913 - 1915

17 items. Letters to JWT. Flier for "The Care of the Baby" by Frances Sage Bradly, Russel Sage Foundation. (HHH on stationary, name uncertain).

Folder 3-6: Harding, Mrs. Robert, n.d.

1 item. Name card.

Folder 3-7: Hardy, Warren F., 1927 - 1928

2 items. Letters to JWT. Allen. Robert McElroy.

Folder 3-8: Harlan, John M., 7/03/1873

1 item. Letter to General William. W. Belknap. Postmaster General. Dobbyns.

Folder 3-9: Harlow, Alvin F., 1941 - 1943

2 items. Letters to JWT. Dr. Sherwood, Georgetown College. Harte. Roosevelt.

Folder 4-1: Harney, Will Wallace, 10 October, 1912

1 item. Letter to JWT from Harney's son. Brief biographical sketch.

Folder 4-2: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 14 November, 1927

1 item. Letter to JWT. "Two Gentlemen of Kentucky". Allen books.

Folder 4-3: Harris, Credo Fitch, 1912 - 1940

19 items. Letters to JWT. 2 news clippings. 1 letter to Mary Floyd. WHAS. Name card. Zudie Harris, "Ten Best Foster Songs". Barry Bingham. Etheridge.

Folder 4-4: Harris, Frances Allen, 1907 - 1922

3 items. Letters to JWT. "Among the Meadows" flier.

Folder 4-5: Harris, Mary B., n.d.

1 item. Biographical sketch or review.

Folder 4-6: Harrison, Benjamin, 12/22/1899

1 item. Letter to William H. Rideing. The Youth's Companion.

Folder 4-7: Harrison, Carter H., 1938

4 items. Letters to JWT. Elkhill property cemetery. Willis J. Abbot autobiography of Carter Henry Harrison. "Stormy Years".

Folder 4-8: Harrison, Elizabeth, 1924 - 1929

5 items. Biographical sketch. 3 letters to JWT from Belle Woodson. Miss McClellan. List of books.

Folder 4-9: Harrison, Ida Withers, 30 April, 1912

2 items. Letter to JWT. News clippings. Biographical sketch.

Folder 4-10: Harrison, Katherine A., 06 September, 1924

1 item. Receipt to JWT for Utopia.

Folder 4-11: Harrison, Mrs. Clarence, 18 January, 1958

1 item. Letter to JWT. Gullins and their books.

Folder 5-1: Harrson, J. C. M., 27 July, 1915

1 item. Letter to JWT. Kentucky Collection, University of Chicago.

Folder 5-2: Hart, ? Bradford, 1913

2 items. Letter to JWT. List of books.

Folder 5-3: Hart, Joel Tanner, 19 September, 1929

1 item. News clipping with poem, "Our Lost Jews Harp".

Folder 5-4: Hart, Jules, 1929

10 items. Letters to JWT. Allen, including copy of a letter to Hart. Letter to Hart from F. Arthur Metcalf.

Folder 5-5: Hartwig, John George, 23 September, 1941

2 items. Letter to JWT. Eugene Field Society honorary membership.

Folder 5-6: Harvard Club of Kentucky, 23 February, 1907

1 item. Letter to JWT from Percy N. Booth.

Folder 5-7: Hatcher, Harlan, 1931 - 1935

7 items. Letters to JWT. "Tunnel Hill" press release by Hatcher. Letter to Hatcher from Isabel Bennett, Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College, JWT collection. Catalog card for "The Versification of Robert Browning".

Folder 5-8: Hathaway, Mrs. B. W., 22 July, 1933

1 item. Letter to Charles Lee Smith from Mrs. Hathaway about the North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register.

Folder 5-9: Hawthorn, Perle, 14 April, 1929

1 item. Letter to JWT. George Coon Public Library.

Folder 5-10: Hay, C. W., 1929

3 items. Letters to JWT. Horses, Utopia, Sarah Winn. Calling card, Taylor.

Folder 5-11: Hay, T. R., 17 November, 1932

1 item. Letter to JWT. General James Wilkinson. Gilbert Imlay.

Folder 6-1: Hayes, T. P., 1920 - 1921

2 items. Receipt to Charles McCarthy for horse, Meelick, Regea. Receipt to JWT from Hayes and McCarthy.

Folder 6-2: Hays, Will S., ca 1885

1 item. Pamphlet for Rajah coffee and Pe-Kong tea. The Pe-Kong Tea Company.

Folder 6-3: Hazelrigg, D. L., 1928 - 1931

11 items. Letters to JWT. Regarding Townsend's claim against the estate of J. Swigert Taylor relating to the book he was contracted to write about E. H. Taylor, Jr. Also a brief note about the Prohibition Amendment.

Folder 6-4: Hearn, John T, 1885 - 1925

8 items. Letters to JWT. "The Blind Bard of Kentucky", James Morrison Heady. 1885 letter from House of Representatives about post office.

Folder 6-5: Hearne, Virginia, n.d.

1 item. Letter to JWT from cousin.

Folder 6-6: Heatwole, Sue Porter, 1930

4 items. (Mrs. C. J. Heatwole) Letters to JWT. "New Light on the Alphabet" from the Virginia Journal of Education. Mother Goose. Sally's ABC's.

Folder 6-7: Heazlitt, Clarence Watt, 20 Nov 1918

1 item. Letter to JWT with a brief biography of his life and mention of his published poetry.

Folder 6-8: Heck, E. L., 18 October, 1933

1 item. Postcard to JWT. Collins' History of Kentucky.

Folder 6-9: Hedvey, ?, 12 July, 1929

1 item. Letter to JWT. Stanley Jones.

Folder 6-10: Heintzelman, Samuel P., 1857

2 items. Letter from Major Heintzelman. Copy of letter to Heintzelman from S. Cooper. Newport Barracks. First Infantry. Major Backus.

Folder 6-11: Helton, Roy, 05 August, 1931

3 items. Letter to JWT. 2 photographs, I signed.

Folder 6-12: Hemphill, W. Edwin, 20 January, 1939

2 items. Letter to JWT. Dr. William H. McGuffey monument, University of Virginia Cemetery.

Folder 7-1: Henderson, Archibald, 1914 - 1934

23 items. Letters to JWT. Blank postcard. List of books, essays and papers by Henderson. "Archibald Henderson and His Books" pamphlet.

Folder 7-2: Henderson, Isabel L., 11 June, 1929

1 item. Letter to JWT. Chivers' poetry.

Folder 7-3: Hendren, Nell Alden, 1939

4 items. 3 letters to JWT. Letter to Ms. Hendren from Douglas McMurie. "The New England Primer".

Folder 7-4: Henkels, Stan V., 09 November, 1929

1 item. Letter to JWT. Auction of Townsend library collection.

Folder 7-5: Henninger, Francis C., 1928

2 items. Letters to JWT. Western Kentucky Sate Normal School's History Club.

Folder 7-6: Herdman, Carl D., 1915 - 1928

7 items. Letters to JWT. Viereck and Elderidge.

Folder 8-1: Hergesmeimer, Joseph, 20 September, 1930

1 item. Letter to JWT. "The Limestone Tree".

Folder 8-2: Herr, Frederick, 08 January, 1921

1 item. Letter to JWT. Horse.

Folder 8-3: Hestor, Bryon, n.d.

1 item. Copy of "Living Epistles" with note.

Folder 8-4: Hickman, Robert, 16 May, 1918

1 item. Letter. Horses. Blue Pato.

Folder 8-5: Hill, Alexander, 1912 - 1913

3 items. Letters to JWT. Holly. Piatt. Miller.

Folder 8-6: Hill, Edward G., 1921 - 1929

7 items. Letters to JWT. 1 postcard. "Tales of the Orient". "The Rhymed Motley". "The Eternal Question". "The

Folder 8-7: Hill, Paty Smith, 11 April, 1913

1 item. Letter to JWT. "The Kindergarten". Susan Blow.

Folder 8-8: Hindman Settlement School, 1930

2 items. Letter to JWT from May Stone. Copy of "The Hindman Letter".

Folder 8-9: Hinemann, William, 01 April, 1911

1 item. Letter to JWT. Whistler.

Folder 8-10: Hobbs, Roe R., 20 February, 1913

1 item. Letter to JWT. Biographical sketch.

Folder 8-11: Hobbs, William C. G., 1928

4 items. 3 letters to JWT. Copy of letter to Courier Journal Job Printing.

Folder 8-12: Hoch, Homer?, 09 October, 1912

1 item. Letter to JWT.

Folder 8-13: Hodges, Fletcher Jr., 1953 - 1961

5 items. Letters to JWT. Margaret Hodges. 1 Telegram. Stephen Collins Foster stamp. Foster Hall. Foster Memorial.

Folder 8-14: Hodnefield, Jacob, 22 June, 1928

1 item. Letter to JWT. Minnesota Historical Society.

Folder 8-15: Hoge, Peyton Harrison, 23 January, 1913

1 item. Letter to JWT. "The Travels of Ego and Alter". Howard Bayne.

Folder 8-16: Holland, Rupert Sargent, 01 February, 1913

1 item. Letter to JWT. Biographical sketch.

Folder 8-17: Holmes, Calvin, 1939

3 items. Letters to Isabel Bennett, Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College. Kentucky Feuds, "A Two-Man Grudge".

Folder 8-18: Holmes, Daniel H., 12 March, 1929

1 item. Letter to JWT from Covington Board of Education. Private library of Daniel H. Holmes. Warrington.

Folder 8-19: Holmes, Mary Jane Hawes, 1908 - 1937

4 items. 2 letters to JWT from Holmes' husband, Daniel, with list of popular novels. Letter to JWT from Hermon Pitcher, with biography of Holmes and her family.

Folder 9-1: Holt, Matt J., 09 May, 1923

2 items. Letter to JWT with biographical sketch.

Folder 9-2: Hopkins, Charles Edwin, 1931

3 items. 2 letters to JWT. "Ohio The Beautiful and Historic" brochure.

Folder 9-3: Hopkins, E. N., 1927

2 items. Letters to JWT.

Folder 9-4: Hopkins, Edwin Sylvester, 1912

3 items. Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch of Hopkins.

Folder 9-5: Hord, Parker, 14 December, 1928

2 items. Letter to JWT. "A Youth Goes Forth" advertisement.

Folder 9-6: House, C. R., 13 January, 1928

1 item. Letter to JWT. "Kentucky in American Letters".

Folder 9-7: Howard, Gen. O. O., 22 January, 1907

1 item. Letter to JWT. "General Taylor". "General Wallace".

Folder 9-8: Howard, John Tasker, 1934

4 items. Letters to JWT. Foster. Walker. Morrison. Harvey Gaul. Damaged signed photograph of Howard.

Folder 9-9: Howe, Edgar Watson, 1930

3 items. Letter to JWT. List of books by Howe.

Folder 9-10: Howe, W. T. H., 1915

5 items. Letters to JWT. Copies of 2 photographs of Madison Cawein.

Folder 9-11: Howells, Mildred, 05 March, 1930

1 item. Letter to JWT. Her father's letters to Allen.

Folder 10-1: Hudgins, Claude, 1930

2 items. Letter from JWT to Hudgins. Letter to JWT from Hudgins. "In Abe Lincoln's Town".

Folder 10-2: Huggins, Clelie, 1936

2 items. Copy of Houghton Mifflin Fellowship Award announcement and photograph. See Robert Penn Warren for originals.

Folder 10-3: Hughes, Alma R., 1930

2 items. Letter to JWT. Postcard to JWT. William E. Robinson.

Folder 10-4: Hume, William Garvin, n.d.

5 items. 2 letters to JWT. Biographical sketch. Name card. Copy of "My Love" and "Achievement".

Folder 10-5: Hurkert, Andrew, 14 December, 1926

1 item. Letter to JWT. Horses, Hazy. Miller. Man O'War. Sweep. McGee.

Folder 10-6: Hurlbutt, Gordon, 01 March, 1929

3 items. Letters to JWT. Brochure for "Windows and Wings". "Wings of the Spirit".

Folder 10-7: Hutchens, William J., 04 June, 1930

1 item. Letter to L.C. Moore from Hutchens. Berea College. L&N Railroad.

Folder 10-8: Hyatt, Harry M., 16 February, 1930

1 item. Letter from JWT. "The Millers of Millersburg".

Folder 10-9: Imelda, Sister, 1908 - 1912

2 items. Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch. Pen name of Estelle Marie Gerand?. Birth name Helen Estelle Brady.

Folder 10-10: Ingalls, Anna Louisa, 03 May, 1906

1 item. Letter to JWT.

Folder 10-11: Irvine, Kate, 1931

3 items. Letters to JWT. Thesis on "The Beauchamp-Sharp Tragedy of KY in Literature".

Folder 10-12: Irwin, Donald McDonald, 06 July, 1933

1 item. Letter to JWT. "Young and Fair"

Folder 10-13: Isenberg, James L., 1929 - 1930

2 items. Letters to JWT. Kentucky Progress Commission historical highway markers. George Rogers Clark.

Folder 10-14: Isham, Ralph Heywood, col., n.d.

1 item. Flier about printing the Private Papers of James Boswell. William Edwin Rudge.

Folder 10-15: Jackson, John H., 11 February, 1908

1 item. Letter to JWT. Biographical Sketch.

Subject/Index Terms:: African American authors.; African-Americans--Kentucky.

Folder 10-16: Jacobs, Mary Clark, n.d.

2 items. Letter to JWT. Biographical sketch. Signed photograph.

Folder 10-17: James, N. J., 29 June, 1929

1 item. Letter to JWT. Allen, Chivers books at Wesleyan University.

Folder 10-18: Janvier, Meredith, 10 January, 1924

1 item. Letter to JWT. Irvin Cobb.

Folder 10-19: Jenkins, Burris A., 1906 - 1940

9 items. 7 letters to JWT. List of books by Jenkins. "Hand of Bronze" brochure.

Folder 10-20: Jenkins, Charles Francis, 18 June, 1930

1 item. Letter to JWT.

Folder 10-21: Jennings, Mrs. J. Homer, 10 March, 1934

1 item. Letter to JWT.

Folder 10-22: Jessup, Alexander, 1915 - 1923

3 items. 2 letters to JWT. 1 Letter to and from Irvin Cobb. "Representative American Short Stories". Letter from Allyn and Bacon, price of American Short Story.

Folder 10-23: Jewett, Frances H., 1927

4 items. Letters to JWT. Repertory Theater of Boston. "The Choir Invisible" drama.

Folder 10-24: Jewett, Henry, 1927

3 items. Letters to JWT. Repertory Theater of Boston. "The Choir Invisible" drama. Signed photograph from Macbeth, 1927.