Background
Townsend, James Benjamin was born on February 17, 1918 in Stillwater, New York, United States. Son of Jackson and Lula May (Townsend) Townsend.
Townsend, James Benjamin was born on February 17, 1918 in Stillwater, New York, United States. Son of Jackson and Lula May (Townsend) Townsend.
AB, Princeton University, 1940. Master of Arts, Harvard University, 1942. Doctor of Philosophy, Yale University, 1951.
Instructor English Yale University, 1947-1950, 51-53. Assistant professor English University North Carolina, Greensboro, 1953-1957. Assistant professor to professor English State University of New York, Buffalo, since 1957, director, 1960-1966, vice chairman department English, 1966-1967, chairman department art, 1969-1971.
Co-founder, master Modern College, 1969-1971. Assistant director National Portrait Gallery of Smithsonian Institution, 1967-1968. Bibliographical associate Archives American Art, since 1974.
Member executive committee, member advisory council Albright-Knox Art Gallery, 1958-1970. Member advisory committee Charles Burchfield Center, Buffalo, since 1970. Trustee Park School, Buffalo, 1969-1972.
Vice president Company Man, Buffalo, 1970-1973. Served with Army of the United States, 1942-1945, European Theatre of Operations. Member Phi Beta Kappa.
Married Jeanette Thankful Rice, September 15, 1945. Children– Josephine Rice Townsend Kaestner, Jackson II, Rhys Frederick, Clarissa Rowe.