Log In | Contact Us| View Cart (0)
Browse: Collections Digital Content Subjects Creators Record Groups

John Wilson Townsend Papers

Overview

Scope and Contents

Biographical Note

Administrative Information

Detailed Description

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

John W. Townsend Plaster Mask

Folder OS 1

Folder OS 2

Folder OS 3

Folder OS 4



Contact us about this collection

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

By Jonathan Stokdyk

Printer-friendly Printer-friendly | Email Us Contact Us About This Collection

Collection Overview

Title: John Wilson Townsend Papers, 1898-1965Add to your cart.View associated digital content.

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 12Add to your cart.
Barcode: 31234013791163
Folder 1-1: Rankin, Anne, 08 January, 1915Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. Jane Belfield. Southern Woman's Magazine.
Folder 1-2: Rascoe, Burton, 1928 - 1941Add to your cart.
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, 1927Add to your cart.
2 items. Letter to JWT. List of Kentucky libraries and librarians.
Folder 1-4: Reams, Cecil Calvert, 1930 - 1931Add to your cart.
4 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 1-5: Reed, Rufus M., n.d.Add to your cart.
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, 1917Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. Kentuckians
Folder 1-7: Reese, Mrs. Harry M., Jr., n.d.Add to your cart.
2 items. Letter to JWT. Inquiring about possible photograph of Mary Todd Lincoln. Photograph.
Folder 1-8: Reeves, LeRoy, 1953Add to your cart.
5 items. Letters and a postcard to EKSTC Library, Mary Floyd, "Ancestral Sketches".
Folder 1-9: Reid, Robert Pittman, 1927 - 1937Add to your cart.
3 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 1-10: Reynolds, R. E. Lee, 02 April, 1928Add to your cart.
3 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 1-11: Reynolds, Charles Lee, 01 June, 1917Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 1-12: Reynolds, Margaret M., 23 November, 1936Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. "Kentucky History in Outline".
Folder 1-13: Rice, Cale Young, 1911 - 1932Add to your cart.
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, 1929Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 1-15: Richards, Frances, 10 June, 1929Add to your cart.
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 - 1928Add to your cart.
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, 1930Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 1-18: Riker, Francis Simrad, 03 May, 1915Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. Books for Kentucky College for Women library.
Folder 2-1: Riley, Franklin L., 24 May, 1911Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. Mississippi Historical Society. Russell bust.
Folder 2-2: Rivers, Lillian, 16 November, 1921Add to your cart.
1 item. (Mrs. E. A. Rivers) Letter to JWT. Her father's book, "Paducah Historically".
Folder 2-3: Roach, Abby Mequire, 12 June, 1907Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 2-4: Roberts, Anna T., 1913Add to your cart.
2 items. ( Mrs. Samuel Roberts?) Letters to JWT.
Folder 2-5: Roberts, Elizabeth Madox, 1922 - 1932Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
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, 1912Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 2-7: Robertson, A. T., 11 May, 1912Add to your cart.
2 items. Letter to JWT. List of books by Professor A. T. Robertson.
Folder 2-8: Robertson, Cary, 27 October, 1961Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. Paul Sawyier pictures, Jillson.
Folder 2-9: Robertson, Ella Broadus, 1912Add to your cart.
1 item. (Mrs. A. T. Robertson) Pamphlet for "The Heart of the Bible".
Folder 2-10: Robertson, Harrison, 1913 - 1930Add to your cart.
3 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 2-11: Robertson, James Rood, 1918 - 1919Add to your cart.
5 items. Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch.
Folder 2-12: Robertson, Mary, 17 June, 1931Add to your cart.
1 item. (Mrs. William Howard Robertson) Letter to JWT.
Folder 2-13: Robertson, Morgan, n.d.Add to your cart.
1 item. Library card for "Masters of Men".
Folder 2-14: Robertson, William J., 02 November, 1931Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. Kitty McClung. General Hill.
Folder 2-15: Robinson, Elrie, 01 January, 1940Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. Kentucky Imprints. Duncan. Bradford booklet.
Folder 2-16: Robinson, H. S., 07 January, 1943Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 2-17: Robinson, Mrs. Alexander, 30 June, 1929Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 2-18: Robson and Adee, n.d.Add to your cart.
2 items. Letter to JWT. List of old books for sale.
Folder 2-19: Roche, James M., 1929 - 1936Add to your cart.
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 - 1929Add to your cart.
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., 1914Add to your cart.
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, 1907Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 3-4: Rollston, Adelaide D., ca. 1907Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. Biographical sketch.
Folder 3-5: Ronne, Christian E., 10 April, 1954Add to your cart.
2 items. Poem "The Poor Neglected Robber Stamp", a poem dedicated to JWT.
Folder 3-6: Roof, Margaret, 1938 - 1942Add to your cart.
4 items. (Margaret Yopp, Mrs. Raymond L. Roof) Letters to JWT. Filson's.
Folder 3-7: Ropp, Frances B., 1954Add to your cart.
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, 1929Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. Autographs.
Folder 4-1: Rose, William, 1913Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter about his birthplace.
Folder 4-2: Rosebery, Marguerite T., 1938 - 1942Add to your cart.
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 - 1962Add to your cart.
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, 1931Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 4-5: Rothert, Otto A., 1913-1923Add to your cart.
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., 1913-1923Add to your cart.
Folder 2
Folder 6-1: Rowland, Kate Mason, 11 April, 1908Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. Grandfather Steven Thomas Mason, first governor of Michigan.
Folder 6-2: Rowlett, J. D., Jr., 17 September, 1931Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 6-3: Rowlett, Kathleen, 1921 - 1929Add to your cart.
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 - 1927Add to your cart.
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, 1957Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. Russell family. Clipping. Charlie, Mammie (Mann) Russell.
Folder 6-6: Russell, Charlie, 24 October, 1949Add to your cart.
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.Add to your cart.
2 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 6-8: Russell, Virginia Stait, 28 May, 1930Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 7-1: Sachs, Emanie N., 1934 - 1937Add to your cart.
8 items. Letters to JWT. Photograph.
Folder 7-2: Sackett, Frederick M., 20 May, 1929Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. B. Rowan Hardin.
Folder 7-3: Saffarrans, Ada Meade, 1928 - 1934Add to your cart.
10 items. (Mrs. Daniel Saffarrans, Ada Meade) Letters to JWT. News clipping. 2 photographs, some damage.
Folder 7-4: Salmon, Walter J., 08 July, 1920Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. Horses.
Folder 7-5: Sampson, Emma Speed, 1918 - 1919Add to your cart.
2 items. (Mrs. H. A. Sampson) Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch. Nell Speed.
Folder 7-6: Sampson, Susan Steele, 10 January, 1931Add to your cart.
1 item. (Mrs. Flem D. Sampson) Letter to JWT. Kentuckiana Library at the Executive Mansion.
Folder 7-7: Saunders, J. N., 17 June, 1912Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. Sarah Bell Hackley. Masonic Monitor.
Folder 7-8: Savage, Maxwell, 20 January, 1916Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 7-9: Sawyer, Paul, 1902 - 1913Add to your cart.
6 items. Letters to JWT. Receipt from JWT.
Folder 7-10: Saxton, Byrd B., 10 January, 1927Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. Biographical sketch. "Summer Fields and Other Poems".
Folder 8-1: Scarberry, Alma Sioux, 1928 - 1936Add to your cart.
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, 1930Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. McDowell Biography.
Folder 8-3: Schnarr, Walter H., 30 June, 1941Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. "History of ST. Charles Church" by Dr. Pike.
Folder 8-4: Schoonmaker, Edwin Davies, 1912 - 1962Add to your cart.
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, 1980Add to your cart.
2 items. Letter to JWT. Linden Grove Memorial Association letter, Covington, Kentucky.
Folder 8-6: Schueider, Evellyn J., 04 January, 1935Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. University of Louisville library's Stephen Foster holdings.
Folder 8-7: Schuler, Eric, 05 August, 1929Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. Cranmer. Association Against the Prohibition Amendment.
Folder 8-8: Schultz, ?, n.d.Add to your cart.
1 item. Postcard to JWT, "You Know Her".
Folder 8-9: Schwegmann, George A., Jr., 03 March, 1942Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. Belle Peterson.
Folder 9-1: Scott, Elizabeth B., 13 November, 1924Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 9-2: Scott, Ernest L., 1957 - 1958Add to your cart.
5 items. Letters to JWT. Books, Clay.
Folder 9-3: Scott, George, 21 December, 1915Add to your cart.
1 item. Postcard to JWT, "New Year Wishes".
Folder 9-4: Scott, Hattie, n.d.Add to your cart.
1 item. Partial letter to JWT.
Folder 9-5: Seebode, Richard W. F., 13 April, 1931Add to your cart.
2 items. Letter to JWT. Maxwell Savage. Copy of the Louisville Unitarian.
Folder 9-6: Seitz, Don C., 30 July, 1925Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. Joseph Pulitzer, New York World, Artemus Ward.
Folder 9-7: Semple, Ellen Churchill, 11 April, 1932Add to your cart.
2 items. Letter to JWT. Brochure for "The Geography of the Mediterranean Region".
Folder 9-8: Seseva, Virginia Hearue, 14 January, 1916Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. New cousin, JWT's child. Virginia Townsend?
Folder 9-9: Settle, George T., 1912 - 1929Add to your cart.
3 items. Letters to JWT. Bibliography of Missouri writers. "Kentucky and American Letters". Jillson.
Folder 9-10: Seymour, C. B., 16 August, 1912Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 9-11: Seymour, William, 17 September, 1927Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. "The Choir Invisible" play, dramatization.
Folder 9-12: Shackelford, W. R., 12 November, 1928Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 9-13: Shackleford, Elise, 21 September, 1935Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 9-14: Shapiro, Elliott, 31 May, 1933Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. "Gentle Annie".
Folder 9-15: Shaw, Robert K., 12 June, 1929Add to your cart.
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.Add to your cart.
1 item. Brochure for "Historical and Literary Studies in Entertaining Lecture Form".
Folder 9-17: Shearin, H. G., 07 May, 1912Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 9-18: Shelby, Evan, 07 October, 1927Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 9-19: Sherley, George Douglas, 1913 - 1917Add to your cart.
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 - 1915Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
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, 1963Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. Sawyier paintings.
Folder 11-2: Shouse, Mary Armstrong, 1929Add to your cart.
3 items. Letters to JWT. News clipping, Headley Shouse.
Folder 11-3: Shuin, Barry, n.d.Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter. Idle Hour Stock Farm. Horses.
Folder 11-4: Simmons, Flora E., 16 September, 1924Add to your cart.
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, 1928Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT from I.C. Judge Simmons.
Folder 11-6: Simpson, Elizabeth, 14 October, 1933Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. Biographical sketch.
Folder 11-7: Simpson, Martha Clay, 23 September, 1926Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 11-8: Simpson, Robert N., 03 July, 1913Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
1 item. Letter to JWT. Zoe Anderson Norris.
Folder 11-9: Skain, John, 05 December, 1917Add to your cart.
1 item. Letter to JWT. Appreciation to JWT family and Mrs. Cole.

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]


Page Generated in: 1.021 seconds (using 231 queries).
Using 7.83MB of memory. (Peak of 8.15MB.)

Powered by Archon Version 3.21 rev-3
Copyright ©2017 The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign