The collection is arranged by topic, as follows: (Boxes 1-2) correspondence, arranged chronologically by writer; (Box 3) poetry manuscripts, arranged chronologically; (Box 4) poetry and play manuscripts, arranged chronologically; (Box 5-6) prose by Mary Ashley Townsend, arranged chonologically; (Box 7-9) Mary Ashley Townsend manuscripts, arranged chronologically; (Box 10) Poetry by Adele Townsend Stanton, arranged chronologically; (Box 11) Mary Ashley Townsend printed poems and stories and other papers, arranged chronologically; (Box 12-13) newspaper articles; (Box 14) pamphlets, and volumes.

The collection is 14 boxes, 21 volumes, and one oversize folder. The collection is 12 linear feet.

Date Acquired: 05/27/1949

Subjects: American literature -- 19th century., Stanton, Adele Townsend., Townsend, Cora Alice., Townsend, Mary Ashley, 1832-1901., Women authors, American -- 19th century.

Forms of Material: Clippings (information artifacts), Correspondence., Journals (periodicals), Manuscripts for publication., Pamphlets., Poems., Scrapbooks.

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Townsend-Stanton collection consists primarily of the correspondence and manuscripts of Mary Ashley Townsend, Adele Townsend Stanton, and Cora Alice Townsend. The manuscript material is primarily that of Mary Ashley Townsend (some under the pen name Xariffa) and Adele Townsend Stanton and includes includes poems, prose, and plays. Also included are pamphlets, scrapbooks, bound volumes, and autograph books.

Subject/Index Terms

American literature -- 19th century.
Stanton, Adele Townsend.
Townsend, Cora Alice.
Townsend, Mary Ashley, 1832-1901.
Women authors, American -- 19th century.

Administrative Information

Repository: Louisiana Research Collection

Alternate Extent Statement: 12 linear feet

Access Restrictions: Collection is open to the public. No known restrictions.

Use Restrictions: Physical rights are retained by the Louisiana Research Collection. Copyright is retained in accordance with U.S. copyright laws.

Preferred Citation: Townsend and Stanton families papers, Manuscripts Collection 19, Louisiana Research Collection, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid information entered in Archon by LAC Group in 2011.

Other Note: OCLC Number: 705010201

Box and Folder Listing

Box 3: Poetry manuscripts, 1845-1901, undated

These poems are by Mary Ashley Townsend. Those signed with the pen name Xariffa are indicated. Dates in brackets are publication dates.

Folder 1: Poetry manuscripts, 1845-1855

1845. "How gracefully the branches wave..." presented to her sister C by Mary Van Voories

1851 May. Lines in Lizzie Humprey's album, signed Xariffa

1853 December 31. "The Funeral Bell" for Dodges Literary Museum, signed Xariffa

1854 September 24. "Our Own" by Xariffa

1855 August 24. "New Faces" by Xariffa

Folder 2: Poetry manuscripts, 1860-1869

1860 February 6. "Joe" by Xariffa

1864 March 22. "In Memoriam"

1868 November 1. "Creed" also published as "Lover's Relief"

1869 October 3. "At the Wheel"

Folder 3: Poetry manuscripts, 1870-1872

1870 August. "Georgine" by Xariffa

1871 April 16. "Lost and Found"

1872 February 11. "The Haunted Valley"

1872 April 14. "Ashes of Roses" by Xariffa

Folder 4: Poetry manuscripts, 1874

1874. "The Captain's Story"

Folder 5: Poetry manuscripts, 1875-1879

1875 March 23. "Fair Mexico what is the subtle spell..."

1877 October 3. "Adele"

1877 December 17. "Washing the corn" Sunday Times-Democrat

1879 August 15. "Embargo"

Folder 6: Poetry manuscripts, 1880-1881

1880 January 1. "Hark: Tis the sun called midnight..." dedicated to the Times Picayune newspaper carriers

1881 January 1. "The Carrier's Address" "How soon the news grows old..." dedicated to the Times Picayune newspaper carriers

1881 May 10. "Comrades halt! The field is chosen..." poem dedicated to the Army of Northern Virginia

Folder 7: Poetry manuscripts, 1882

1882 May 24. "How glad are we to count today...," poem presented to Mrs. Catherine Lyman

1882. "Down on the Bayou,"

1882. "To Oliver Wendell Holmes,"

1882. "Surrendered"

Folder 8: Poetry manuscripts, 1884

1884 January 1. "The Christmas waits have sung their songs...," Carrier's Address for 1884

1884 May 21. "The Wind," Sunday Times

1884 May. "Resignation,"

1884. "Centennial Poem"

Folder 9: Poetry manuscripts, 1885-1887

1885. "Woman's Day" for the New Orleans Exposition

1887 April 23. "Had I some magic reed..."

Folder 10: Poetry manuscripts, 1888

1888. "A Quest" 6 copies

1888 July 10. "Love and Jealousy"

1888 September 27. "With a White Stone"

1888 October 12. "Out of a bruise root trodden down" poem sent to Cosmopolitan

1888 October 24. "Questions" also titled "Who Knows"

1888. "Away, with the thought, that thou art old..." dedicated to Catherine Lyman on her 88th birthday

Folder 11: Poetry manuscripts, 1889

1889 March 5. "Who buildeth broadcast, buildeth best; ..." poem written for the dedication of the Howard Memorial Library

1889 March 28. "Our preachers may preach, ..."

Folder 12: Poetry manuscripts, 1890-1894

1890 February 14. "St. Valentines" for luncheon honoring Ella Goad of San Francisco

1892 March. "In Venice"

1893 May 23. "Vale"

1894 July 28. "Love has a language that is all its own" verso: "I met thee face to face, one bitter night..."

Folder 13: Poetry manuscripts, 1895

1895 April 17. "The Unattained"

1895 July. "Down South"

1895 December 25. "This little song to her whose life hath been..." presented to Cora

1895. "I cannot pray that prayer. Nay not for me...."

Folder 14: Poetry manuscripts, 1896

1896 March. "Song"

1896 July 4. "At Winchester" read at unveilng of the memorial to Louisiana's soldier-heroes

1896 October. "Sundered"

Folder 15: Poetry manuscripts, 1897

1897 February 15. "To a Broken Idol" or "To an Antique Idol"

1897 February 16. "Query"

1897 February 16. "Trust"

1897 February 18. "Epigram" for Ingenio Roscoe

1897 February 20. "Quatrains" also "A Fireside Welcome"

1897 February 21. "After" for Ingenio

1897 March 5. "In Mexico"

1897 March 8. "Mutation"

1897 March 10. "Patrita"

1897 November 5. "Sunrise in the Tropics"

Folder 16: Poetry manuscripts, 1898-1901

1898 March. "Adios"

1898 September. "Ode to the Czar" or "Hymn to the Czar" Mexico, New York Independent

1900 January 4. "To an Antique Ring" Times Democrat

1900 July 2. "What is a birthday? Tis a height...."

1901 January 19. "The Birthday of Lee"

Folder 17: Poetry manuscripts, undated

Undated. "The Widow's Reverie" by Xariffa

Undated. "The West Wind"

Undated. "Carmen"

Undated. "On Lake Chapala"

Undated. "Xmas"

Folder 18: Poetry manuscripts, undated

Undated. "Unsevered"

Undated. "Fragments"

Undated. "Resemblance"

Undated. "Hymn to Knowledge"

Undated. "Just Wait"

Undated. "To a Picture"

Undated. "Hymn to Education"

Undated. "Tests"

Folder 19: Poetry manuscripts, undated

Undated. "Pomgranate's Plea"

Undated. "The Old Man's Darling"

Undated. "To Marietta on her Fifteenth Birthday"

Undated. "Ils Reviens"

Undated. "Love and Faith"

Folder 20: Poetry manuscripts, undated

Undated. "The Carrier's Song"

Undated. "A Parallel"

Undated. "A Word to the Soldiers"

February 17. "To Lilly" born on St. Patricks Day

Undated. "To a Photograph"

Undated. "To an Artist"

Undated. "The Queen"

Undated. "The Alwedes Daughter"

Tulane University Special Collections