Grosvenor L. Townsend Scrapbooks, 1893-1910

Summary

Creator:

Townsend Family

Abstract:

The Grosvenor L. Townsend scrapbooks consist of 7 volumes containing newspaper clippings, photographs, halftone prints, correspondence, ephemera, printed materials, maps, realia, telegrams, and other miscellaneous documents and materials related to the military career of Grosvenor Lowery Townsend.

Extent:

7 volumes

Language:

English
Spanish
Tagalog

Authors:

Collection processed and finding aid created by Jakob Dopp, February 2020

Background

Scope and Content:

The Grosvenor L. Townsend scrapbooks consist of 7 volumes containing newspaper clippings, photographs, halftone prints, correspondence, ephemera, printed materials, maps, realia, telegrams, and other miscellaneous documents and materials related to the military career of Grosvenor Lowery Townsend. Newspaper and journal clippings were mainly taken from New York-based publications. Most of the clippings are in extremely fragile condition. Many clippings are coupled with inscriptions indicating the name and date of the publication they were taken from. Numerous photographs also bear inscribed captions. Each volume measures approximately 25 x 19 cm in size and has marbled paper covers.

Volume 1 (1893-1894--New York; New Jersey)

• This volume contains materials related to Townsend's service in the New York National Guard, 7th Regiment, Company D, between 1893 and 1894. Items of particular interest include a Grand Army of the Republic report regarding the 7th's service record in the Civil War and during various New York City riots (pg. 1); a group portrait of 7th NYNG Co. D soldiers, including Townsend (figure furthest to the right), at an encampment in Peekskill, New York in June 1893 (pg. 5); clippings related to a mock Civil War battle held at Van Cortlandt Park (pg. 11); clippings related to Townsend's promotion from private to lance-corporal (pg. 13); clippings from the New York Herald and New York Tribune regarding the 7th NYNG relocating to the Seventh Regiment Armory (pgs. 42-45); a group portrait of 7th NYNG members at Sea Girt, New Jersey, in July of 1894 during a visit with New Jersey National Guardsmen (pg. 67); and Townsend's Lance Corporal chevrons (pgs. 92, 93).

Volume 2 (1896--New York)

• This volume contains materials related to Townsend's service in the New York National Guard, 7th Regiment, Company D, during 1896. Items of particular interest include an engraving depicting Company D winning a chariot race at the 7th Regiment games (pgs. 28, 29); a New York Herald clipping from May 31st 1896 regarding the 7th NYNG's victory over West Point in a baseball match (pg. 39); an American Lithographic Co. halftone reproduction of a Jay Hambidge painting showing the 7th NYNG marching in uniform titled "For Love or War?" (pg. 43); clippings regarding the new regimental clubhouse at the Creedmoor Rifle Range (pg. 45); a private circular for NCOs regarding a regimental parade in honor of Chinese viceroy Li Hongzhang as well as a halftone portrait of Li (pgs. 46, 47); and cartoons from the 7th Regiment Gazette of December 1896 comically depicting track and field events (pg. 61).

Volume 3 (1897-1898--New York)

• This volume contains materials related to Townsend's service in the New York National Guard, 7th Regiment, Company D, from 1897 to May of 1898. Items of particular interest include a photographs of 7th NYNG officers and NCOs (pgs. 2, 3); halftone images from a 7th NYNG camp (pg. 7); a New York Sun clipping from October 10th 1897 regarding a mock battle at Van Cortlandt Park replete with a topographical map of the park (pg. 11); a New York Herald clipping from October 10th 1897 showing engravings related to "The Battle of Van Cortlandt Park." (pgs. 12, 13); a Harper's Weekly clipping from October 1897 showing halftone reproductions of paintings related to the mock battle at Van Cortlandt Park (pgs. 14, 15); camp scene photographs from June 1897 including one portrait of Townsend in uniform (pg. 23); halftone images showing interior rooms of the Seventh Regiment Armory (pgs. 25-28); a halftone reproduction of an engraving showing 7th NYNG uniforms from 1802 to 1897 (pg. 33); a halftone reproduction from Harper's Weekly vol. 42 no. 2157 of a painting by T. De Thulstrup showing the 7th NYNG being reviewed by Major General Charles F. Roe at the Seventh Regiment Armory (pgs. 76, 77); and multiple clippings related to the 7th NYNG's decision to refrain from allowing members to individually enlist in the regular US Army at the outset of the Spanish-American War so as not to disintegrate the unit (pgs. 82-91).

Volume 4 (1899--New York; Fort Monroe; Washington, D.C.; Cuba)

• This volume contains materials related to Townsend's service in the 201st Infantry Regiment of New York Volunteers as well as in the US Army 1st Infantry Regiment covering the period from March of 1899 to February of 1900. Items of particular interest include clippings related to Townsend's promotion from Captain of Company M 201st NY Volunteer Infantry Regiment to Second Lieutenant in the US regular army (pg. 5); letters from Townsend to his parents regarding exams he must take at Fort Monroe, Virginia, in order to achieve his promotion (pgs. 8, 9); a picture book containing halftone images from around Fort Monroe (pg. 11); a photograph showing a Fort Monroe examination room black board coupled with text of the example question present on the board (pg. 17); a copy of Townsend's commission as Second Lieutenant (pgs. 22, 23); clippings related to the naval transportation of American troops to Cuba (pg. 33); photographs of various Cuban scenes including an ossuary outside of Havana, Cuban huts and houses, Cuban soldiers being paid, American camps and barracks, a Cuban funeral, Afro-Cubans, underbrush near the mountains, a general view of Pinar del Rio, American military officers and their wives, and American troops in formation (pgs. 36-46, 48-55); a memorandum concerning the administrative use of officers' photographic portraits (pg. 59); photographs showing scenes of Guanajay and Pinar del Rio, Company K rifle ranges, American officers including Lt. McCue, Lt. Tebetts, Lt. Reams, Lt. Beacham, Lt. Wilcox, Dr. Dunchie, and Lt. Reeder, child golf caddies (including a Chinese boy named Ah Soy), a Cuban house being constructed out of palm tree materials, American officers and their wives, a Cuban burial party, soldiers on the march and drilling, an American military graveyard, Cuban ox carts, a railroad station, and churches (pgs. 60-66, 68-82); a clipping including an advertisement for "Mahara's Minstrel Carnival" (pg. 84); and more photographs showing American officers and their wives, Chinese-Cubans, a man posing with a white owl, a well-dressed Cuban man named "Mr. Usavraga", 2nd Battalion shelter camps, American barracks at Guanajay, a group of American officers and several women that includes both Townsend and his mother Emma, the fort at Mariel, a Cuban ship named Alphonso XIII sinking in Mariel Harbor, street scenes in San Antonio and Guanajay, and golf links at Guanajay (pgs. 91-115).

Volume 5 (1900-1901--Cuba; Fort Leavenworth; San Francisco; Philippines)

• This volume contains materials related to Townsend's service in the US Army 1st Infantry Regiment covering the period from April 1900 to December 1901. Items of particular interest include photographs showing 1st Infantry Company K assembled in uniform at Guanajay and the aftermath of a major storm at Guanajay, (pgs. 1, 2); clippings related to the potential ordering of the 1st Infantry from Cuba to China as well as Yellow Fever outbreaks among American soldiers stationed in Cuba (pgs. 4, 5); a fragment of an envelope bearing an official stamp from a US military surgeon indicating that the parcel had been "Disinfected and Passed" (pg. 9); clippings from August 1900 detailing the ordering of troops to Manila, Philippines, instead of China (pgs. 13-17); photographs showing various scenes from around Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, including the US Army Disciplinary Barracks (pg. 19-24); clippings from October 1900 regarding the capture and subsequent rescue of Capt. Devereux Shields (pgs. 28-30); clippings regarding the launch of the Samar Expedition and insurgent fighting tactics (pgs. 31-33, 40); photographs showing buildings occupied by American troops in Catbalogan, US Army officers and headquarters at Tacloban in February 1901 (pgs. 40-42); a clipping showing a map of the "Peaceful Districts in the Philippines" highlighting areas deemed unsafe for Americans to venture (pg. 46); photographs showing street scenes, Filipino villages and villagers, and landscape views (pgs. 50-54); a letter and associated hand-drawn map sent by Townsend to his mother describing an ambush against American forces in southern Samar in April of 1901 during which Townsend came under fire from a rifle he believed to have belonged to an American soldier who had deserted (pgs. 55, 56); a letter from Townsend to his mother in April of 1901 describing the visit of a group of Palauan tribesmen and counterinsurgency operations (pg. 57); photographs taken by Townsend of the Palauan tribesmen (pgs. 58-60); photographs from around Guiuan, including the U.S. Army headquarters, a 200 year old church door, Lt. Downes and Townsend's quarters, and images of a church and locals in Mercedes (pgs. 62, 63); clippings related to the death of Lt. Downes and Lt. McClure (pg. 68); a typescript copy of a letter initially sent by Townsend to Capt. Willard C. Fisk from July 1901, which the latter forwarded to Townsend's parents, describing engagements in Samar including one that led to Townsend being stabbed in the forearm (pg. 70); clippings related to the death of Lt. Downes and the Balangiga Massacre (pgs. 71-76); a letter from Townsend to his mother dated Oct 5 1901 describing the Balangiga Massacre and how his detachment were very nearly sent there (pg. 77); Townsend's Second Lieutenant bars (pg. 78); and a clipping describing innovative traps used by the Moros against American soldiers (pg. 79).

Volume 6 (1905-1907--Fort Brady; Canada; Philippines)

• This volume contains materials related to Townsend's service in the US Army 1st Infantry Regiment covering the period from 1905 to September 1907. Items of particular interest include a group portrait showing Townsend, other U.S. Army officers, and several women (including Cornelia T. Getty) standing in front of a house in Canada with snowshoeing equipment (pg. 3); clippings related to Fort Brady and a roster of troops serving in the Department of the Lakes as of August 15th 1905 (pgs. 5-7); clippings related to renewed unrest in China and the shipment of more U.S. troops to the Philippines (pg. 10, 12); clippings related to the transportation of American troops to the Philippines (pgs. 18, 19); clippings related to the celebration of George Washington's birthday at a ceremony in Gibraltar in February 1906 (pgs. 24, 26); a letter from Townsend to his mother from aboard the USS McClellan near Sri Lanka in April 1906 describing the conditions of the ship and the progress of the journey thus far (pg. 36); a typescript summary of Townsend's military career as of July 1906 (pg. 49); panoramic views of Camp Stotsenburg (pgs. 58, 64); a clipping regarding an earthquake in the Philippines in April 1907 (pg. 69); a typescript copy of a memo from September 1907 titled "Regarding the Government of the Philippine Islands With Special Reference to the Subject of Police Protection" (pg. 80); and photographs by Pedro Casanave of the S.S. Mindoro and of "Calle Gen. Hughes" in Iloilo City (pgs. 87, 88).

Volume 7 (1909-1910--Fort Leavenworth; New York)

• This volume contains materials related to Townsend's service in the US Army 23rd and 1st Infantry Regiments covering the period from August 1909 to August 1910. Items of particular interest include a roster of officers and troops on duty at the Army Service Schools, Fort Leavenworth and the US Military Prison as of November 1909 (pg. 5); a studio portrait of Townsend in uniform taken at Fort Leavenworth (pg. 7); a copy of the September 1910 issue of the Infantry Journal by The United States Infantry Association containing an article written by Townsend titled "The Use and Effect of Flying Machines on Military Operations" (pg. 25); clippings related to practice maneuvers at Pine Camp, New York (pgs. 28-39, 49-58); halftone images showing camp scenes at Pine Camp (pgs. 47, 48); and photographs showing Townsend in uniform, Townsend's parents Malcolm and Emma, and what may have been the Townsend family residence (pg. 59).

In addition to this finding aid, the Clements Library has also created the G. L. Townsend Scrapbook Inventory which serves as an itemized list of the contents of each scrapbook.

Biographical / Historical:

Grosvenor Lowery Townsend (1874-1956) was born in Brooklyn, New York, to parents Malcolm (1847-?) and Emma Virginia Townsend (1849-?). First joining the ranks of the New York National Guard, 7th Regiment, Company D, on September 29th 1891, Townsend was elected Lance-Corporal on November 6th 1893 and Corporal on December 20th 1894. He was honorably discharged on July 22nd 1898.

During the Spanish American War, the 7th NYNG faced controversy for voting unanimously against allowing members to individually enlist in the US Army, as this would have effectively disbanded the unit. However, New York Governor Frank S. Black (1853-1913) refused the 7th NYNG's various proposals for service that would have allowed the regiment to remain intact. Townsend desperately wanted to serve his country and was eventually allowed to join Company M of the 201st Infantry Regiment of New York Volunteers as a Captain in July of 1898 after receiving sterling recommendations from commanding officers including Captain Willard C. Fisk (1856-1927) and Colonel Daniel Appleton (1852-1929). On April 10th 1899, Townsend was appointed a Second Lieutenant in the regular army and received his first assignment a month later with the 1st Infantry Regiment, Company K, stationed at Pinar del Rio and Guanajay, Cuba. Townsend's mother Emma also appears to have traveled to Cuba as she is identified in select photographs as "Mrs. Townsend."

At the outset of the Philippine-American War, the 1st Infantry were ordered to head for Manila. After a brief stay at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, the regiment arrived in San Francisco in late August, 1900, before setting sail for the Philippines. While in the Philippines, Townsend was primarily deployed in the Eastern Visayas and was for a time the Inspector of Customs at Guiuan, Samar. During an engagement near Laoang, Samar, Townsend himself survived an ambush in which he was stabbed in the arm. His detachment also narrowly avoided being sent to Balangiga, where 54 American soldiers were killed in the infamous Balangiga Massacre on September 28th 1901.

After his first tour of active duty in the Philippines, Townsend was stationed for a time at Fort Brady in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, in the Department of the Lakes. However, he and the 1st Infantry were once again sent to the Philippines in January of 1906 and stationed at Camp Stotsenburg, where Townsend was detailed as Aide-de-Camp to Brigadier Generals Walter T. Duggan (1843-1915) and Albert Leopold Mills (1854-1916). Townsend was subsequently promoted to 1st Lieutenant and later made Captain of Company H of the 23rd Infantry before being reassigned to the 1st Infantry in 1910.

Townsend graduated from the Army School of the Line and the Army Staff College in Fort Leavenworth in 1909 and 1910 respectively. Sometime following his graduation, Townsend was promoted to Lt. Colonel before being appointed to an administrative position at St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland. He married Kathryn McCombs (1879-1973) in Manhattan on December 9th 1916. In 1923, Townsend was appointed Commandant of Cadets at Ohio State University, a position he held until his retirement from the US Army in 1938. He had attained the rank of Colonel by the time of his retirement. Townsend passed away on January 6th 1956 in St. Petersburg, Florida, at the age of 82.

Townsend's written works include the Manual of the Bayonet: United States Army, which he co-authored with Herschel Tupes in 1913.

Acquisition Information:

Purchased from Cowan's Auctions, 1999. F-696 .

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Related

Additional Descriptive Data:

In addition to this finding aid, the Clements Library has also created the G. L. Townsend Scrapbook Inventory which serves as an itemized list of the contents of each scrapbook.

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:

Chinese--Philippines.
Counterinsurgency--Philippines.
Desertion, Military.
Guerrilla warfare--Philippines.
Massacres--Philippines.
Military administration.
Military art and science--Study and teaching--United States.
Military orders.
Military promotions.
Military regulations.
Muslims--Philippines.
Photographs shelf.
Regimental histories.
Sharpshooting (Military science)
Theaters--New York (State)
Yellow fever--Cuba.
Armies--Insignia.
Barracks--American--Cuba--1890-1900.
Blacks--Cuba.
Boats--1890-1910.
Caddies--Cuba--1890-1900.
Carriages & coaches--1890-1910.
Carts & wagons--1890-1910.
Chinese--Cuba.
Churches--Cuba--1890-1900.
Churches--Philippines--1900-1910.
Cubans.
Dwellings--Cuba--1890-1900.
Dwellings--Philippines--1900-1910.
Forts & fortifications--1890-1910.
Funeral rites & ceremonies--1890-1910.
Golf--Cuba--1890-1900.
Indigenous peoples--Philippines--1900-1910.
Military camps--American--1890-1910.
Military life--American--1890-1910.
Military officers--American--1890-1910.
Military spouses--American--Cuba--1890-1900.
Military training--1890-1910.
Military uniforms--American--1890-1910.
Militias--United States--1890-1910.
Music--1890-1910.
Newspapers--1890-1910.
Ossuaries--Cuba.
Palauans.
Rifle ranges--1890-1910.
Soldiers--American--1890-1910.
Soldiers--Cuban--Cuba--1890-1900.
Spanish-American War, 1898.
Track athletics--United States--1890-1910.

Formats:

Advertisements.
Albumen prints.
Art reproductions.
Cabinet photographs.
Bookplates.
Cartoons (Commentary)
Checks.
Clippings.
Collodion printing-out paper prints.
Correspondence.
Dance cards.
Documents.
Engravings.
Ephemera.
Etchings
Gelatin silver prints.
Group portraits.
Handbills.
Halftone photomechanical prints.
Intaglio prints.
Invitations.
Landscape photographs.
Maps.
Menus.
Military regulations.
Pamphlets.
Photographic postcards.
Photographic prints.
Platinum prints.
Portrait photographs.
Programs.
Scrapbooks.
Telegrams.
Topographic maps.

Names:

Army School of the Line (U.S.)
St. Bartholomew's Church (Brooklyn, New York, N.Y.)
United States--Army--Department of the Lakes (1898-1913)
United States--Army--Department of the Visayas.
United States--Army--Infantry, 1st.
United States--Army--Infantry, 29th.
United States--Army Transport Service.
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
Dixie (Screw steamer)
New York (State). National Guard.
Seventh Regiment Armory (New York, N.Y.)
American Lithographic Co.
Harper & Brothers.
Mail & Express (Firm)
Rand McNally and Company.
Truth Co.
United States Infantry Association.
Black, Frank Swett, 1853-1913.
Duggan, Walter T., 1843-1915.
Appleton, Daniel, 1852-1929.
Downes, Edward E., 1875-1901.
Fisk, Willard C., 1856-1927.
Li, Hongzhang, 1823-1901.
Mazet, Robert, approximately 1857-1945.
Casanave, Pedro, 1867-1948.
Hambidge, Jay, 1867-1924.
Tayman, Charles E., 1861-1942.
Testar, A.
Thulstrup, Thure de, 1848-1930.
Townsend, Grosvenor Lowery, 1874-1956.
Townsend, Malcolm, 1847- .
Townsend, Emma Virginia, 1849- .

Places:

Balangiga (Philippines)
China--History--Boxer Rebellion, 1899-1901.
Iloilo (Philippines)
Fort Brady (Mich.)
Marinduque (Philippines)
Soo Locks (Mich.)
Bahia Honda (Cuba)
Catbalogan (Philippines)
Creedmoor Rifle Range (New York, N.Y.)
Cuba.
Fort Leavenworth (Kan.)
Fort Monroe (Va.)
Fort Stotsenburg (Philippines)
Guanajay (Guanajay, Cuba)
Hampton (Va.)
Havana (Cuba)
Mariel (Cuba)
New York (N.Y.)
Peekskill (N.Y.)
Philippines--History--Philippine American War, 1899-1902.
Pinar del Rio (Cuba)
Samar Island (Philippines)
Sea Girt (N.J.)
Tacloban (Philippines)
Van Cortlandt Park (New York, N.Y.)
Washington Square (New York, N.Y.)