The photographs were obtained from John Wilson Townsend in 1937. He was a writer, book collector, historian, and associate editor for the Kentucky Historical Society, 1910-1911. Several of the photographs are marked with "W.B. Townsend" a likely relative of John Wilson Townsend. One event documented in the photographs is the 1883 flood in Frankfort, Kentucky. Other events were two celebrations, a parade and a picnic for Frankfort's city Centennial that occured in 1886. A few photographs depict trestles and a viaduct owned by the Kentucky Midland Railroad Company. The railroad company was a 1887 reorganization of an earlier railroad company called the Paris, Georgetown and Frankfort Railroad. Scott, Franklin, Bath and Bourbon counties subscribed to build the railroad. The line was to run from Louisville to Norfolk, Virginia. The section between Frankfort and Geortown was built from 1888-1889.
From the description of John Wilson Townsend Collection, 1883-ca. 1890 bulk 1883-1889. (Kentucky Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 83751504
