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 13

Barcode: 31234013791171

Folder 1: Slaughter, Elvira Sydnor (f1 of 3), 1912-1924: 103 items. 95 letters to JWT. Letter to Slaughter from Mary Floyd. "Among the Dead" by Bettie Daubert Guepner. "Translation of the Aneid of Virgil". "I never get a letter now". Poems (1930's), "From Bohemia", "Her Face at the Window", "Peace, The Close of the War With Spain", "Falling Leaves", "Love and Song", "The Love of Nature", "Drinks on the King".
Folder 2: Slaughter, Elvira Sydnor (f2 of 3), 1925-1929
Folder 3: Slaughter, Elvira Sydnor (f3 of 3), 1930-1936
Folder 4-1: Smith, Benjamin Bosworth, 1884: Obituary. 1 item
Folder 4-2: Smith, C. Alphonso, 1916: 3 items. Letter to JWT. Brochures, "An O. Henry Biography", "The American Short Story".
Folder 4-3: Smith, Earl H., 1931 - 1936: 6 items. Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch. Review of "The Cabin in the Cotton" by Harry Harrison Kroll. Photograph
Folder 4-4: Smith, Harry Worcester, 1921 - 1925: 4 items. Letters to JWT. Brent, Kenner, Minor.
Folder 4-5: Smith, J. Soule, n.d.: 3 items. ("Falcon") Copy of Smith article from 1890, "Kentucky River Scenery", Sam E. Hill, S. G. Sharp. Poem by Jemy O. Donohue. Excerpt from "Kentucky Whiskies"
Folder 4-6: Smith, John F., 01 September, 1930: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 4-7: Smith, Lilla Hall, 1911 - 1912: 3 items. Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch.
Folder 4-8: Smith, Parnsy, 23 October, 1928: 1 item. (Mrs. Walter Smith) Letter to JWT.
Folder 4-9: Smith, Sydney Laurie, 03 July, 1928: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Catherine Anne Wayfield.
Folder 4-10: Smith, W. B., 1910-1911, 1927: Letters to JWT. Brochures advertising his books. 7 items
Folder 4-11: Smith, William C., 1930 - 1931: 3 items. Letters to JWT. Smith Book Company. Fowler, Western Review.
Folder 4-12: Smith, Z. F., 1907 - 1909: 7 items. 6 letters to JWT. Letter to Prof. G. C. Downing.
Folder 4-13: Snow, Lucile D., 17 July, 1956: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Kendig. Holman book.
Folder 4-14: Southard, Mary Young, 04 November, 1935: 1 item. Letter to JWT. "Who's Who in Kentucky". Allen, Cobb, JWT.
Folder 4-15: Sowards, M. Weldon, 28 April, 1930: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Biographical sketch.
Folder 4-16: Spalding, H. S., 06 February, 1934: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Foster.
Folder 4-17: Sparrow, John C., 1953 - 1954: 3 items. Letters to and from Mary Floyd at EKSTC. "History of personnel demobilization in the United States Army". Review of this book.
Folder 5-1: Spears, George McCalla, 1912 - 1931: 33 items. Letters to JWT. Books, Willis Brown, Hubert Cox, Erwin, Bert Pebbles, Benjamin Gaines. 3 photographs, one with note. Poems, "The Bells of the New Year", "The New Leaf". Letter to Courier-Journal Job Printing Company for JWT's Allen book.
Folder 6-1: Speed, Louise J., 1936: 5 items. Letters to JWT. Photograph.
Folder 6-2: Spencer, Benjamin, 05 July, 1939: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Ohio Wesleyan University, Tomlinson pamphlets.
Folder 6-3: Spivak, John L., 28 November, 1931: 1 item. Letter to JWT. "The Devil's Brigade".
Folder 6-4: Stait, Virginia, 24 April, 1930: 2 items. Letter to JWT. Copy of the poem "Voices". Brochure for "Sanctuary".
Folder 6-5: Stanard, William G., 10 January, 1924: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 6-6: Stanley, A. O., 18 September, 1935: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 6-7: Stanton, Henry T., 1910 - 1911: 3 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 6-8: Starrett, Vincent, 1916 - 1922: 2 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 6-9: Starues, Dorthy and Gail, n.d.: 1 item. Christmas note to JWT.
Folder 6-10: Stephens, A., 12 June, 1929: 1 item. Letter to JWT. "As a Man Thinketh", James Lane Allen.
Folder 6-11: Stephens, Alice Barber, 1925: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Original drawings for Allen's "Summer in Arcady".
Folder 6-12: Stephenson, Martha, 1925 - 1929: 5 items. Letters to JWT. "Why the Mothertown", "The Mothertown Marker" at Harrodsburg, Kentucky, June 15, 1926.
Folder 6-13: Stephenson, Nathaniel Wright, 10 June, 1912: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 6-14: Stevens, Henry and Sons, 10 June, 1938: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Book order.
Folder 6-15: Stewart, Margaret, 1928: 2 items. Letters to JWT. "Haycraft History", Sommers' "In three Continents", Elizabethtown.
Folder 6-16: Stewert, W. K. Company, 05 February, 1929: 1 item. Bill for payment, "Twice Thirty".
Folder 6-17: Stickles, Ardnt M., 1929: 8 items. 7 letters to JWT. Kenneth Rawlings. Copy of letter to Stickles from M. M. Logan, judge, "The Critical Court Struggle in Kentucky".
Folder 6-18: Stiles, Lela Mae, 21 February, 1931: 2 items. Letter to JWT. Photograph.
Folder 6-19: Still, James, 15 November, 1937: 1 item. Letter to JWT.
Folder 6-20: Stokes, W. E. D., 30 March, 1916: 1 item. Letter to Grace Cole. Horses, Roman Queen and Peter Donna.
Folder 6-21: Stone, Kinzea, 31 July, 1924: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Georgetown, Kentucky Mayor.
Folder 6-22: Stott, Roscoe Gilmore, 1915: 10 items. Letters to JWT. Reviews and extracts about Stott's "The Man Sings".
Folder 7: Stuart, Jesse, 1957 - 1965: 53 items. (Folder 1) 29 letters to JWT. "Creator of the Universe?". Letter to JWT of Blue Grass Books from McGraw-Hill Book Company. Program for the 1963 commencement of Washington High School in Ohio. Louisiana Tech Concert Association "The Good, The True, The Beautiful" program. Book announcement for "Mr. Gallion's School". Letter to JWT from Irene Gustin with list of books. "How to the Singer Comes the Song", "Harvest of Youth". 4 photographs. 14 copies of photographs of Stuart lecturing. Postcard to JWT, "Kisssam Hall - Vanderbilt University - Nashville-Tenn.", Wesley Hall fire.
Folder 8: Stuart, Jesse, 1957 - 1965: Folder 2
Folder 9-1: Stuart, S. G., 10 April, 1929: 1 item. Postcard to JWT.
Folder 9-2: Stuart, Thomas G., 1927 - 1931: 10 items. Letters to JWT. Photograph.
Folder 9-3: Sturgill, Virgil Leon, 1928 - 1939: 27 items. 17 letters to JWT. 2 photographs. Letter to Allen Vogler, University Radio Station. "Interview with Kentucky Writers radio program list. "Jesse Stuart -- The Genius of "W" Hollow". "How to Use the Reader's Guide". Poems/songs "To My F.P.", "When We are Still", "Strange Roads", "Portrait of an English Professor", "Strange Warning", Tragedy", "On a Wind-Swept Hill", "Long Ago and Far Away", "The Burlesque Show".
Folder 9-4: Stutzenburger, Albert D., 1936 - 1937: 4 items. Letter to JWT with transcription. Biographical sketch. "The Jamboree". Letter to JWT from Annie S. Hahn. Photograph.
Folder 9-5: Suck, Rudy H., 31 January, 1929: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Miss Johnson's book. Cordelia Petrie.
Folder 9-6: Sugg, Lucille P., n.d.: 1 item. Postcard to JWT. "Save Every Lamb" by Jesse Stuart.
Folder 9-7: Sunset Magazine, 21 February, 1922: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Cobb. Charles Field.
Folder 9-8: Swann, Arthur, 15 March, 1930: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Cooper, "Kentucky Cardinal".
Folder 9-9: Swann, George, 1928 - 1937: 8 items. Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch. Photograph.
Folder 9-10: Sweet, Forest H., 05 January, 1943: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Bounty on Hitler.
Folder 9-11: Swift, Helen M., 02 September, 1927: 1 item. (Mrs. William Swift) Letter to JWT.
Folder 9-12: Swing, Jeannette, 22 February, 1912: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Author.
Folder 9-13: Taft, Lorado, 01 April, 1922: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Chief Paduke statue, Paducah, Kentucky, controversy.
Folder 9-14: Taft, W. H., 19 August, 1925: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Subscription to "The New York Times Book Review".
Folder 9-15: Talbott, ?, n.d.: 1 item. Poem "Age called for him?". Dayton, Ohio.
Folder 9-16: Taney, Mary Florence, 1929: 9 items. Letters to JWT. Photograph.