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

By Jonathan Stokdyk

Printer-friendly |

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 12

Barcode: 31234013791163

Folder 1-1: Rankin, Anne, 08 January, 1915: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Jane Belfield. Southern Woman's Magazine.
Folder 1-2: Rascoe, Burton, 1928 - 1941: 6 items. Letters to JWT. 3 plain postcards. "Belle Star". Labron Burton, "Before I Forget". Biographical sketch. Kipling, Twain.
Folder 1-3: Rawson, Fannie C., 02 September, 1927: 2 items. Letter to JWT. List of Kentucky libraries and librarians.
Folder 1-4: Reams, Cecil Calvert, 1930 - 1931: 4 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 1-5: Reed, Rufus M., n.d.: 1 item. Release notice for "Lyrics of Life and The Great Outdoors" by Reed, The Pageant Press.
Folder 1-6: Reese, Lowell Otus, 20 May, 1917: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Kentuckians
Folder 1-7: Reese, Mrs. Harry M., Jr., n.d.: 2 items. Letter to JWT. Inquiring about possible photograph of Mary Todd Lincoln. Photograph.
Folder 1-8: Reeves, LeRoy, 1953: 5 items. Letters and a postcard to EKSTC Library, Mary Floyd, "Ancestral Sketches".
Folder 1-9: Reid, Robert Pittman, 1927 - 1937: 3 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 1-10: Reynolds, R. E. Lee, 02 April, 1928: 3 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 1-11: Reynolds, Charles Lee, 01 June, 1917: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 1-12: Reynolds, Margaret M., 23 November, 1936: 1 item. Letter to JWT. "Kentucky History in Outline".
Folder 1-13: Rice, Cale Young, 1911 - 1932: 4 items. 2 letters to JWT. Letter to Mr. Peters. News clipping, "In the Deep Midnight".
Folder 1-14: Rich, Mrs. G. B., 11 August, 1929: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 1-15: Richards, Frances, 10 June, 1929: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Teachers College and Western Kentucky State Normal School, Bowling Green, books for Kentucky Building Library.
Folder 1-16: Richardson, Warfield Creath, 1908 - 1928: 1 item. Letter to JWT from Richardson. King Solomon's Monument. Letter to JWT from Belle R. Harrison. Information about her father (Warfield) and family.
Folder 1-17: Riding, Laura, 23 May, 1930: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 1-18: Riker, Francis Simrad, 03 May, 1915: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Books for Kentucky College for Women library.
Folder 2-1: Riley, Franklin L., 24 May, 1911: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Mississippi Historical Society. Russell bust.
Folder 2-2: Rivers, Lillian, 16 November, 1921: 1 item. (Mrs. E. A. Rivers) Letter to JWT. Her father's book, "Paducah Historically".
Folder 2-3: Roach, Abby Mequire, 12 June, 1907: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 2-4: Roberts, Anna T., 1913: 2 items. ( Mrs. Samuel Roberts?) Letters to JWT.
Folder 2-5: Roberts, Elizabeth Madox, 1922 - 1932: 12 items. Letters to JWT. Letter to Mary Floyd. 2 news clippings. Receipt to Roberts from JWT.
Folder 2-6: Roberts, Samuel Judson, 25 May, 1912: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 2-7: Robertson, A. T., 11 May, 1912: 2 items. Letter to JWT. List of books by Professor A. T. Robertson.
Folder 2-8: Robertson, Cary, 27 October, 1961: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Paul Sawyier pictures, Jillson.
Folder 2-9: Robertson, Ella Broadus, 1912: 1 item. (Mrs. A. T. Robertson) Pamphlet for "The Heart of the Bible".
Folder 2-10: Robertson, Harrison, 1913 - 1930: 3 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 2-11: Robertson, James Rood, 1918 - 1919: 5 items. Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch.
Folder 2-12: Robertson, Mary, 17 June, 1931: 1 item. (Mrs. William Howard Robertson) Letter to JWT.
Folder 2-13: Robertson, Morgan, n.d.: 1 item. Library card for "Masters of Men".
Folder 2-14: Robertson, William J., 02 November, 1931: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Kitty McClung. General Hill.
Folder 2-15: Robinson, Elrie, 01 January, 1940: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Kentucky Imprints. Duncan. Bradford booklet.
Folder 2-16: Robinson, H. S., 07 January, 1943: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 2-17: Robinson, Mrs. Alexander, 30 June, 1929: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 2-18: Robson and Adee, n.d.: 2 items. Letter to JWT. List of old books for sale.
Folder 2-19: Roche, James M., 1929 - 1936: 5 items. Letters to JWT. Letter to and from JWT and Roche. Weir-Duncan, Breckenridge, Dudley, Episcopal cemetery on Winchester Street.
Folder 3-1: Rogers, Jane Harris, 1928 - 1929: 13 items. Letters to JWT. News clipping. Biographical sketches. Photograph. Poems "Mammy's Concern", "Mammy's Freedom", "Mammy's Philosophy", "Mammy's Lullaby".
Folder 3-2: Rogers, John H., 1914: 2 items. Letter to JWT from Mary Gray Rogers (Mrs. John H. Rogers). Copy of "The South Vindicated", reunion address for the Convention of United Confederate Veterans.
Folder 3-3: Roland, Alice Kate, 12 September, 1907: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 3-4: Rollston, Adelaide D., ca. 1907: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Biographical sketch.
Folder 3-5: Ronne, Christian E., 10 April, 1954: 2 items. Poem "The Poor Neglected Robber Stamp", a poem dedicated to JWT.
Folder 3-6: Roof, Margaret, 1938 - 1942: 4 items. (Margaret Yopp, Mrs. Raymond L. Roof) Letters to JWT. Filson's.
Folder 3-7: Ropp, Frances B., 1954: 4 items. (Mrs. Glen Ropp) Letters to Floyd from Ropp. Letters to Ropp from Floyd. "History of Kentucky Federation of Music Clubs" by Minnie Pickels for 1953-54 State Historian's Report.
Folder 3-8: Roppert, Felix, 19 May, 1929: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Autographs.
Folder 4-1: Rose, William, 1913: 1 item. Letter about his birthplace.
Folder 4-2: Rosebery, Marguerite T., 1938 - 1942: 8 items. Letters to JWT. Postcard "Riverside Hospital, Paducah, KY". Nation League of American Pen Women, bill to provide for poetry day in Kentucky.
Folder 4-3: Rosebery, Mercedes, 1933 - 1962: 12 items. (Mrs. Ralph Waldo Rosebery) Letters to JWT. 2 Postcards, "The Court of the Two Sisters, 615 Royal Street, New Orleans". 2 news clippings.
Folder 4-4: Ross, Marion, 16 January, 1931: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 4-5: Rothert, Otto A., 1913-1923: 66 items. 55 letters to JWT. Letters to and from JWT and Rothert. Letter to JWT from Rothert and to Rothert from Mrs. McKelvey. Letter from R. Rayer. Damaged photograph of Cawein's grave at Cave Hill, letter to JWT on back. Copy of letter to be sent to James Lane Allen. Letter to Rothert from the Christian Observer. Letter to American Historical Society regarding JWT's sketch of Cawein. News clipping "A History of Unity Baptist Church". Filson Club publication "The Story of a Poet: Madison Cawein", June 17, 1921. Filson club correspondence. French Lick Springs Hotel Company stationary with photograph. Copy of cover page for "Local History in Kentucky Literature" by Rothert.
Folder 5: Rothert, Otto A., 1913-1923: Folder 2
Folder 6-1: Rowland, Kate Mason, 11 April, 1908: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Grandfather Steven Thomas Mason, first governor of Michigan.
Folder 6-2: Rowlett, J. D., Jr., 17 September, 1931: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 6-3: Rowlett, Kathleen, 1921 - 1929: 6 items. (Mrs. J. D. Rowlett) Letters to JWT. Rowlett's father, William Gaston Whitefield, Cobb's Sergeant Bagby.
Folder 6-4: Rule, Lucien V., 1907 - 1927: 16 items. 13 letters to JWT. Letter to Miss McGee. Letter to The Torch Press. Copy of "A Mother's Requiem".
Folder 6-5: Russell, Austin, 03 August, 1957: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Russell family. Clipping. Charlie, Mammie (Mann) Russell.
Folder 6-6: Russell, Charlie, 24 October, 1949: 2 items. Copy of article by JWT with copy of letter to JWT from Nancy C. Russell, March 5, 1930.
Folder 6-7: Russell, V. Blaine, n.d.: 2 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 6-8: Russell, Virginia Stait, 28 May, 1930: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 7-1: Sachs, Emanie N., 1934 - 1937: 8 items. Letters to JWT. Photograph.
Folder 7-2: Sackett, Frederick M., 20 May, 1929: 1 item. Letter to JWT. B. Rowan Hardin.
Folder 7-3: Saffarrans, Ada Meade, 1928 - 1934: 10 items. (Mrs. Daniel Saffarrans, Ada Meade) Letters to JWT. News clipping. 2 photographs, some damage.
Folder 7-4: Salmon, Walter J., 08 July, 1920: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Horses.
Folder 7-5: Sampson, Emma Speed, 1918 - 1919: 2 items. (Mrs. H. A. Sampson) Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch. Nell Speed.
Folder 7-6: Sampson, Susan Steele, 10 January, 1931: 1 item. (Mrs. Flem D. Sampson) Letter to JWT. Kentuckiana Library at the Executive Mansion.
Folder 7-7: Saunders, J. N., 17 June, 1912: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Sarah Bell Hackley. Masonic Monitor.
Folder 7-8: Savage, Maxwell, 20 January, 1916: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 7-9: Sawyer, Paul, 1902 - 1913: 6 items. Letters to JWT. Receipt from JWT.
Folder 7-10: Saxton, Byrd B., 10 January, 1927: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Biographical sketch. "Summer Fields and Other Poems".
Folder 8-1: Scarberry, Alma Sioux, 1928 - 1936: 20 items. Letters to JWT. Letter to JWT from Harry Queen. News clipping, Kentucky Woman Writers, George Elliston, Anne Elizabeth Wilson, Alma Sioux Scarberry. Postcard for Scarberry talk. 4 photographs, some autographed. Christmas card.
Folder 8-2: Schachner, August, 01 July, 1930: 1 item. Letter to JWT. McDowell Biography.
Folder 8-3: Schnarr, Walter H., 30 June, 1941: 1 item. Letter to JWT. "History of ST. Charles Church" by Dr. Pike.
Folder 8-4: Schoonmaker, Edwin Davies, 1912 - 1962: 4 items. Letter to JWT from Edwin. Letter to JWT from Ben. Letter to JWT from Nancy (Mrs. Edwin) Shoonmaker. Letter to the Torch Press from Edwin.
Folder 8-5: Schroder, Mrs. Henry, 17 March, 1980: 2 items. Letter to JWT. Linden Grove Memorial Association letter, Covington, Kentucky.
Folder 8-6: Schueider, Evellyn J., 04 January, 1935: 1 item. Letter to JWT. University of Louisville library's Stephen Foster holdings.
Folder 8-7: Schuler, Eric, 05 August, 1929: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Cranmer. Association Against the Prohibition Amendment.
Folder 8-8: Schultz, ?, n.d.: 1 item. Postcard to JWT, "You Know Her".
Folder 8-9: Schwegmann, George A., Jr., 03 March, 1942: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Belle Peterson.
Folder 9-1: Scott, Elizabeth B., 13 November, 1924: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 9-2: Scott, Ernest L., 1957 - 1958: 5 items. Letters to JWT. Books, Clay.
Folder 9-3: Scott, George, 21 December, 1915: 1 item. Postcard to JWT, "New Year Wishes".
Folder 9-4: Scott, Hattie, n.d.: 1 item. Partial letter to JWT.
Folder 9-5: Seebode, Richard W. F., 13 April, 1931: 2 items. Letter to JWT. Maxwell Savage. Copy of the Louisville Unitarian.
Folder 9-6: Seitz, Don C., 30 July, 1925: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Joseph Pulitzer, New York World, Artemus Ward.
Folder 9-7: Semple, Ellen Churchill, 11 April, 1932: 2 items. Letter to JWT. Brochure for "The Geography of the Mediterranean Region".
Folder 9-8: Seseva, Virginia Hearue, 14 January, 1916: 1 item. Letter to JWT. New cousin, JWT's child. Virginia Townsend?
Folder 9-9: Settle, George T., 1912 - 1929: 3 items. Letters to JWT. Bibliography of Missouri writers. "Kentucky and American Letters". Jillson.
Folder 9-10: Seymour, C. B., 16 August, 1912: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 9-11: Seymour, William, 17 September, 1927: 1 item. Letter to JWT. "The Choir Invisible" play, dramatization.
Folder 9-12: Shackelford, W. R., 12 November, 1928: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 9-13: Shackleford, Elise, 21 September, 1935: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 9-14: Shapiro, Elliott, 31 May, 1933: 1 item. Letter to JWT. "Gentle Annie".
Folder 9-15: Shaw, Robert K., 12 June, 1929: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Henrietta Wright's "Children's Stories in American Literature". "James Lane Allen and His Books".
Folder 9-16: Shearer, Rowena Deering, n.d.: 1 item. Brochure for "Historical and Literary Studies in Entertaining Lecture Form".
Folder 9-17: Shearin, H. G., 07 May, 1912: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 9-18: Shelby, Evan, 07 October, 1927: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 9-19: Sherley, George Douglas, 1913 - 1917: 17 items. Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch. Obituary. Letter to the Torch Press. Several poems. Copy of news clippings. Cards, "A Three-hearted Valentine", "A Christmas Letter to Dominic Antonio Gerardi", "To His Valentine", "A Calendar-less Candle", "A Care-Less Candle".
Folder 10: Shipman, Paul R., 1912 - 1915: 6 items. 4 letters to JWT, one letter autobiographical, 12pp. of news clippings including author's obituary, autobiography, and commentary by John Wilson Townsend, and 1 manuscript of Shipman's "Kentucky Neutrality." The news clippings include the biographical information that he sent to JWT as well as a portion of his manuscript.
Folder 11-1: Shouse, Headley, Jr., 10 October, 1963: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Sawyier paintings.
Folder 11-2: Shouse, Mary Armstrong, 1929: 3 items. Letters to JWT. News clipping, Headley Shouse.
Folder 11-3: Shuin, Barry, n.d.: 1 item. Letter. Idle Hour Stock Farm. Horses.
Folder 11-4: Simmons, Flora E., 16 September, 1924: 1 item. Letter to JWT from Library of Congress about "A Complete Account of the John Morgan Raid" by Flora E. Simmons.
Folder 11-5: Simmons, J. F., 06 October, 1928: 1 item. Letter to JWT from I.C. Judge Simmons.
Folder 11-6: Simpson, Elizabeth, 14 October, 1933: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Biographical sketch.
Folder 11-7: Simpson, Martha Clay, 23 September, 1926: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 11-8: Simpson, Robert N., 03 July, 1913: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Zoe Anderson Norris.
Folder 11-9: Skain, John, 05 December, 1917: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Appreciation to JWT family and Mrs. Cole.