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 14

Barcode: 31234013791189

Folder 1-1: Tate, Allen, 1931 - 1950: 8 items. Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch. "Hardy's Philosophic Metaphors, 1940", Thomas Hardy. Photograph.
Folder 1-2: Tate, Caroline Gordon, ca. 1931: 3 items. (Mrs. Allen Tate) Letter to JWT. Biographical sketch sent by Allen Tate, May 24, 1931. Photograph of painting.
Folder 1-3: Taudy, Charlie, 1905 - 1907: 8 items. Letters to JWT. Library book retrieval form. Exeter College, Oxford.
Folder 1-4: Taylor family, 10 July, 1904: 1 item. Notes on the history of the Taylor family from "The Times Dispatch", July 10, 1904.
Folder 1-5: Taylor, E. H., Col., 1894: 3 items. Complimentary pass to the Eminence Fair, Eminence, Kentucky. Notes on Cigarette Ordinance. Notes on Col. Taylor's connection with the founding of the Bank which was the predecessor of Marshall's present bank.
Folder 1-6: Taylor, E. H., Jr., 06 January, 1909: 1 item. Letter to J. Swigert Taylor. Col. Hoge. Postal Savings Banks resolution passed by Indianapolis Clearing House.
Folder 1-7: Taylor, Edmund Watson, 1910 - 1931: 5 items. 2 letters to JWT. Copy of A Bill introduced to the House of Representatives in July, 1912 to amend the food and drug act. 2 letters to "Dear Papa", Gov. Wilson.
Folder 1-8: Taylor, J. Blanford: 4 items. Letters to JWT. Kentucky books. Dayton, Ohio.
Folder 1-9: Taylor, J. Swigert, 1910 - 1925: 17 items. (President of E. H. Taylor Jr. & Sons.) 13 letters to JWT. Telegram to JWT. "Coff Special" advertisement. Letter to Taylor from The Chicago Tribune. Horses. Whiskey. "Family Tree". Sherman, Ewing, McCook. Rebecca Edrington. 1840 bank exchange note. Notes for S.M.W. on Townsend-Taylor matter, biography of Taylor's father.
Folder 2-1: Taylor, Kenner, 1925: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Swigert, Duncan Kenner, John Watson, Colonel Taylor, Edmund Watson, Tom Taggert, Landen and Lucking, Hereford Farms.
Folder 2-2: Taylor, S., 7/05/1854: 1 item. Letter to S. Hensley. Bank business.
Folder 2-3: Tead, O., 11 March, 1930: 1 item. Letter to JWT from Harper & Brothers Publishers. James Lane Allen books.
Folder 2-4: Teagar, Michael Moores, 1909 - 1912: 3 items. Letter to JWT from Mrs. Teagar. 2 letters to James H. Mulligan from Teagar. "Altars of Sacrifice".
Folder 2-5: Tenney, Anna L., 28 August, 1933: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Foster songs.
Folder 2-6: Terrillson, E., 6/10/1880: 1 item. Letter to John T. Sallee. "Dear nephew".
Folder 2-7: Tevis, Julia A., 15 December, 1921: 1 item. Letter to JWT from Charles Mapes. Monument to Julia A. Tevis.
Folder 2-8: Thatcher, Leora, 14 February, 1960: 1 item. Letter to Mrs. Townsend. "Music Man", television work.
Folder 2-9: Thomas, Jean, 1929 - 1959: 32 items. (The Traipsin Woman) Letters to JWT. Postcard, "Traipsin Woman", Totheroh, Bondi. Letter to J. W. Cammack. News article, book review of "Traipsin Woman". Postcard "Wee House in the Wood", museum home of Jean Thomas. 2 photographs, Chicagoland Music Festival, American Folk Song Festival.
Folder 2-10: Thomas, Lucy B., 1924 - 1929: 3 items. Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch of Daniel Lindsay Thomas, "Kentucky Superstitions".
Folder 3-1: Thompson, C. M., 13 April, 1934: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Lancaster Rotary Club.
Folder 3-2: Thompson, Davis, 29 December, 1909: 1 item. Letter to Judge Mulligan from M. L. Davis regarding death of Davis Thompson.
Folder 3-3: Thompson, Ed Porter, 15 January, 1903: 1 item. Letter to Ed Porter Thompson from Henry E. Hord regarding Colonel Thompson's role in the Paducah fight. Paducah fort, General Forrest, Buford, Lyon, Crossland, Chambers, Roddy. Dresden, Mayfield.
Folder 3-4: Thompson, Henry E., n.d.: 2 items. Excerpts from letters.
Folder 3-5: Thompson, John, 14 April, 1913: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Will Lampton. Pearson's Magazine.
Folder 3-6: Thompson, Lawrence S., 1949 - 1960: 8 items. (Larry) Letters to JWT. Brooks, Warren, Quensel, A. O. Stanley. University of Kentucky library.
Folder 3-7: Thompson, Mary B. Neale, 24 February, 1932: 1 item. Letter to Thompson from Mary Floyd. "Miller: History and Genealogies".
Folder 3-8: Thompson, Rhodes, 1941, undated: Book review of Voices from Cane Ridge and a news clipping about the church history. 2 items.
Folder 3-9: Thompson, Vance, 22 April, 1916: 1 item. Letter to JWT. "Drink and Be Sober" review.
Folder 3-10: Thornbury, Dr., 9/12/1850: 1 item. Receipt for boarding of horses by Mr. Lynn for Dr. Thornbury
Folder 3-11: Thorne, J. W., n.d.: 1 item. Partial letter to JWT. Charles Forbes Taylor.
Folder 3-12: Thorne, William P., 30 December, 1924: 1 item. Letter to John T. Hearn, Georgia. Former lieutenant governor of Kentucky.
Folder 3-13: Threlkeld, W. L., 16 April, 1909: 1 item. Letter to James H. Mulligan. Townsend's "blushing honors full upon you".
Folder 3-14: Thrickeld, H., 1928: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Hamilton College dean. Preparatory and grammar school.
Folder 3-15: Throckmorton, Josephine, 23 August, 1907: 1 item. Letter to Governor J. C. W. Beckham.
Folder 3-16: Thruston, R. C. Ballard, 1931 - 1938: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Thruston's flag address.
Folder 3-17: Thum, W. W., 06 December, 1916: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Comments on Cawein noted in "Myth and Romance". Notes on envelope.
Folder 3-18: Thwaites, Reuben G., 10 June, 1912: 1 item. Letter to JWT. John D. Shane.
Folder 3-19: Tigert, J. J., 10 November, 1909: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Death of Tigert's father.
Folder 3-20: Tisdel, Alton, 09 June, 1930: 5 items. Letter to JWT. Library catalog cards for Oscar Underwood, William Phalen, Ralph Stone.
Folder 3-21: Todd, C. Stewart, 10 December, 1928: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Charles H. Todd, Charles S. Todd.
Folder 3-22: Toppin, Isabel Whitehouse, 1932 - 1934: 9 items. 4 letters to JWT. Postcard to JWT. Photograph. 2 news clippings, brief biographical sketch. "Poems of Courage" promotion.
Folder 3-23: Torch Press, 06 April, 1917: 3 items. Letter to JWT. Statements for books purchased from The Torch Press.
Folder 4-1: Towles, Susan Starling, 1929 - 1931: 12 items. Letters to JWT. A copy of "The Transylvanians" second annual meeting agenda. Photograph. Lucy Furman, Henderson Journal, Simmons, Dixon, Jonas, Johnson, Johnston, Crockett, Alves, Lockett.
Folder 4-2: Towne, Charles Hanson, 1916 - 1930: 4 items. 3 letters to JWT. Letter to Mr. Dunn. Towne's books and his father's books.
Folder 4-3: Townsend, Charles W., 1874 - 1912: 5 items. Letter to Mr. Stewart, Southern Railroad. Postcard to Townsend, "Jean Jacques Henner's Mary Magdalene at the Tomb of Our Savior". Letter regarding sister Townsend from Deering. Letter of reference from French Camp by Graham, Tuckett. Photograph with Harrison and Farrell?.
Folder 4-4: Townsend, Grace, 1915 - 1936: 8 items. (Grace Cole) 4 letters to JWT. Postcard to Grace, "Famous Kentucky Thoroughbreds". 2 letters to Grace. Horse breeding contract with Patchen Wilkes Stock Farm Company.
Folder 4-5: Townsend, Jane, 1928 - 1934: 4 items. Letter to Aunt Lizzie. Postcard to Jennie, "Our 'Lindy', Bidding Farewell to Renowned French Flyer, Rene Fouck, Before the Start". Report card from Cardome Visitation Academy. Photograph.
Folder 5: Townsend, John Wilson, 1904 - 1934: 42 items. 3 letters to JWT from Cardome Academy of the Visitation, 1 letter from Margaret Hall, regarding girl's schooling. 7 letters from JWT, to children, Kentucky Collection, books. News clippings, "Kentuckians in History and Literature", marriage to Grace Cole, "New Manor at Providence in Home of Great Beauty", JWT addresses Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College. Subscription list for "Richard Hickman Menefee". Midterm report, 1904, Kentucky University. Filson Club certificate of membership. Loan note between JWT and John and Thomas Walton, 1920. Chicago Historical Society gift recognition certificate, "Lore of the Meadowland". Knights Templar certificate for JWT, 1911, Webb Commandery. Library of Congress letter, "Lore of the Meadowland". Louisville Literary Club program. Library of Congress copyright notice for "Irvine S. Cobb" by JWT, 1929. New England Mutual Insurance Company notice. American Railway Express shipment notice. Filson Club member election notice. Biographical sketch of JWT in draft letter to Mary Floyd. Sewanee Review receipt. 4 photographs of JWT. Photograph of JWT's birthplace. 8 subscription sheets for "Kentuckians in History and Literature". Membership resolution in the Shakespeare Association of America. "James Lane Allen" limited edition promotional booklet. Townsend family list from Bible with dates of births and marriages.
Folder 6: Townsend, John Wilson, 1930 - 1940: 8 items. (Transcripts and Writings) "This Man I Once Knew" - Eastern's Chapel, 1930, "James Lane Allen" - Allen Fountain of Youth, Transylvania University, 1933, "Some Famous Fellows I Have Known" - Eastern State Teachers College, 1931, "Keen O'Hara and His Son, Theodore: A Proposed Adventure", "Geology In Kentucky" - Charles Henry Richardson, Leonidas Chambers Glenn, Charles Butts. Kentucky Kit-cats, a collection of news articles - James Blaine, James Buchanan, "The Western Bard" - Fulkerson, "Mme. De Navarro" - Mary Anderson, Ulysses Grant, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, David Atchison, Lysander Hord, James Morrison, Julius MacCabe. Discussion of the importance of the preface and foreword in understanding a book. Mailing list for talks on "Great Kentucky Writers" by JWT. Partial manuscript, pages 22 - 46.
Folder 7-1: Townsend, Laura, 1930 - 936: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Family, school.
Folder 7-2: Townsend, Lizzie, n.d.: 3 items. (Mrs. Ernest Morrison, JWT's sister) 2 letters to JWT. Letter to JWT and Grace. Family. Obituary, Funeral flier.
Folder 7-3: Townsend, Lucy, n.d.: 3 items. (Lucie, Luciel) Letter to JWT. Family. 2 photographs.
Folder 7-4: Townsend, Martha, ca. 1929 - 1945: 8 items. 4 letters to JWT. 2 postcards, "Charles Curran, Children Catching Minnows", "Beaumont Inn, Harrodsburg, KY". Photograph.
Folder 7-5: Townsend, William H., 1934 - 1954: 22 items. 18 letters to JWT. Letter to Dorothy Townsend. Bookplate. Photo postcard to JWT. Announcement for Townsend's Lincoln Collection at the University of Kentucky.
Folder 8
Folder 8-1: Trabue, Alice E., 1928 - 1932: 3 items. Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch. "A Corner in Celebrities" brochure.
Folder 8-2: Transylvania College, 1921 - 1930: 5 items. Recognition of gifts received. One hundred and fiftieth anniversary activities. Jefferson Davis bust.
Folder 8-3: Tranter, E. J., 19 July, 1920: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Horses, Sweepy, Pataud, Huhla, Speed F. Owen.
Folder 8-4: Tremere, Keen O'Hara, 1928 - 1929: 7 items. Letters to JWT. Photograph. Biographical sketch. Keen O'Hara family.
Folder 8-5: Tuft, Gertrude King, ca. 1912: 3 items. 2 letters to JWT. Postcard to JWT, "Lost! in Old New York Y? Merry Christmas"
Folder 8-6: Tunstall, Virginia Lyne, 1927 - 1928: 4 items. (Mrs. Robert Baylor Tunstall) Letters to JWT.
Folder 8-7: Turck, Charles J., 18 March, 1931: 1 item. (Centre College President) Letter to JWT. Jillson, Cobb, honorary degree, speaker.
Folder 8-8: Turley, T. J., 1907: 2 items. Letters to B. M. Cole. Wind mill and tower.
Folder 8-9: Turner, James W., 20 September, 1931: 1 item. Letter to Turner from JWT about "Wonders of the Great Mammoth Cave of Kentucky".
Folder 8-10: Twitchell, Paul, 1938 - 1943: 3 items. Letter to JWT. Letters to Mary Floyd. List of magazine publishers.
Folder 8-11: Tyler, George C., 20 October, 1927: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Production of " The Choir Invisible".
Folder 8-12: Tyre, H. H., 18 August, 1934: 1 item. Letter to Mary Floyd. Noah Webster's "Elementary Spelling" or the blue back speller.
Folder 9-1: Ulrich, Alois E., 1924: 4 items. 3 letters to JWT. "Money Mad". Letter to Reverend and Dear Father, Catholic Clergy, "Money Mad".
Folder 9-2: Underwood, Francis Henry, 14 September, 1912: 2 items. Letter to JWT from Robert S. Fletcher. Biographical sketch of Underwood from Amherst College.
Folder 9-3: Underwood, Oscar W., 1912: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Speeches.
Folder 9-4: Underwood, T. C., 16 January, 1913: 1 item. Letter to JWT. "New Eras".
Folder 9-5: Underwood, Thomas R., 09 January, 1928: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Lexington Herald, Henry Clay.
Folder 9-6: University of Kentucky: 1 item. Invitation to Library Building dedication.
Folder 9-7: Usher, Robert J., 27 January, 1939: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Holman's "Prisoner of Nigeria", Wright's "Early American Novels". Howard Memorial Library.
Folder 9-8: Valentine, Caroline S., 1908: 3 items. Letters to JWT.
Folder 9-9: Vallandingham, J. W., 1912: 2 items. Letters to JWT. Biographical sketch.
Folder 9-10: Van Buren, Alicia Keisker, 1908 - 1913: 3 items. Letter to JWT. Postcard. Biographical sketch.
Folder 9-11: Vance, John T., Jr., 1913 - 1939: 8 items. 5 letters to JWT. Letter to Torch Press. Copy of "A Word for Santo Domingo", Dominican Republic. Postcard to JTW, "The Williams Picture of Washington".
Folder 9-12: Vance, Louis Joseph, 22 June, 1922: 1 item. Letter to JWT. Dramatization of Cobb's "Smoke of Battle".
Folder 9-13: Vance, W. R., 04 February, 1912: 1 item. Letter to JWT. "History of Slavery in Kentucky".