William H. Townsend papers
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- William H. Townsend papers
- Date
- 1946-1958
- Creator
- Townsend, William H., (William Henry), 1890-1964
- Extent
- 0.44 Cubic feet
- Subjects
- Basketball Betting.
- Basketball players--Kentucky.
- College sports.
- Sanctions, administrative.
- Universities and colleges.
- Arrangement
- This collection is arranged in two topical series: I. Athletics investigation II. University of Kentucky Alumni Association
- Preferred Citation
- 1986ua024: [identification of item], William H. Townsend papers, 1946-1958, University of Kentucky Special Collections.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- William H. Townsend was born in Anderson County, Kentucky, and graduated from the University of Kentucky Law School in 1912. He represented Adolph Rupp in Adolph Rupp vs. Cowles Magazine, Inc., in which Rupp sued the publishers of Look magazine for defamation. Townsend was the president of the UK Alumni Association during the 1951-1952 NCAA investigation into violations at the university, and served on a special committee charged with drawing up new policy proposals for intercollegiate athletics at UK.
- Townsend may be best known as a Lincoln scholar and collector, and he was also the founder and first president of the Kentucky Civil War Round Table in 1953.
- In 1951, a scandal erupted involving several University of Kentucky basketball players accused of shaving points, resulting in an NCAA investigation. Ultimately, the basketball program at UK was handed the "death penalty," barring the team from play during the 1952-1953 season.
- The other well-known outcome was the indictment for perjury and acquittal of Bill Spivey, whom several other players implicated in the point-shaving scandal. Spivey proclaimed his innocence for the rest of his life, but the negative publicity not only led to his permanent suspension from UK's basketball program, but also resulted in his being barred for life from NBA play.
- Scope and Content
- The majority of materials in the William H. Townsend papers relate to the point-shaving scandal involving several University of Kentucky basketball players and the NCAA investigation into these allegations during 1951-1952. These materials include correspondence, statements, indictments, reports, and minutes.
- Also included in the collection are general materials relating to the Alumni Association, including commencement programs, publications, minutes, and a listing of alumni contacts. The materials span the years from 1946-1958.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
- Use Restrictions
- The intellectual rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections.
Contents of the Collection
Athletics Investigations
Scope and Contents note
The Athletics Investigations series contains correspondence, minutes, reports, and statements generated by the university, regulatory bodies, attorneys, and affected parties relating to the NCAA, SEC, and SAC investigations into allegations of game fixing by basketball players.
Correspondence between Herman Donovan and other interested parties, November 1951-May 1953
Indictment and correspondence, Bill Spivey case, December 1951-April 1952
- Box 1, folder 2
Letter from Shelby Blatterman to Herman Donovan expressing disagreement with UK's handling of Bill Spivey case, March 4, 1952
Response from Herman Donovan to Shelby Blatterman explaining actions taken by the university in the Bill Spivey case, page 1, March 6, 1952
Response from Herman Donovan to Shelby Blatterman explaining actions taken by the university in the Bill Spivey case, page 2, March 6, 1952
Response from Herman Donovan to Shelby Blatterman explaining actions taken by the university in the Bill Spivey case, page 3, March 6, 1952
Reply from Shelby Blatterman to Herman Donovan regarding different outlook on Bill Spivey case, March 10, 1952
SEC (SouthEastern Conference) statements and correspondence, November 1951-March 1953
- Box 1, folder 3
Statement to Executive Committee of Southeastern Conference by Herman Donovan, page 1, August 11, 1952
Statement to Executive Committee of Southeastern Conference by Herman Donovan, page 2, August 11, 1952
Statement to Executive Committee of Southeastern Conference by Herman Donovan, page 3, August 11, 1952
Statement to Executive Committee of Southeastern Conference by Herman Donovan, page 4, August 11, 1952
Statement to Executive Committee of Southeastern Conference by Herman Donovan, page 5, August 11, 1952
Statement to Executive Committee of Southeastern Conference by Herman Donovan, page 6, August 11, 1952
Press statement on SEC ruling by Herman Donovan and A.D. Kirwan, August 11, 1952
SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) memoranda and correspondence, May-November 1952
NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) memoranda and correspondence, October 1951-August 1954
- Box 1, folder 5
Letter from NCAA President H.C. Willett informing Herman Donovan of ruling and punishment, page 1, October 22, 1952
Letter from NCAA President H.C. Willett informing Herman Donovan of ruling and punishment, page 2, October 22, 1952
Response from Herman Donovan to H.C. Willett pledging compliance with NCAA ruling, October 30, 1952
UK Board of Trustees and staff memoranda, statements, and correspondence, 1946-1952
- Box 1, folder 6
Letter from Bill Spivey to Herman Donovan proclaiming innocence in point-shaving incident and asking to be considered ineligible for play, December 24, 1951
Special committee reports and correspondence, January-July 1952
Adolph Rupp vs. Cowles Magazine, Inc., 1952
General materials on investigation, circa 1951-1952
Lucille Crumley Bradberry vs. Edward William Curd, et. al, April 1953
University of Kentucky Alumni Association
Scope and Contents note
The University of Kentucky Alumni Association series contains miscellaneous materials relating to Townsend's responsibilities to the Alumni Association, and includes commencement programs, publications, notes, minutes, and member listings.
Alumni Association materials, 1948-1958
List of alumni contacts, circa 1950-1964
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Table of Contents
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
