Since 1995 work has been underway transcribing, compiling, and curating two collections of letters, diaries, and documents written primarily during the first half of the 19th century by members of the Townsend family, Philadelphia Quakers. Passed down to us through several generations, these collections came from two Townsend family members: Edward (1806-1896) and his youngest sister, Elizabeth (1825-1869).

     The first collection, A collection of Townsend Family Letters 1810“1858 Volume 1, was published in 2009. The second collection of Townsend family documents includes The Diary of Priscilla Kirk Townsend 1848-1861, published in 2011; A collection of Townsend Family Letters, Diaries, and Documents 1776“1957 Volume 2, published in 2015; and The Townsend Sisters of The Townsend Family, Volume 3, Parts I-VI, published in 2018. A second edition of The Townsend Family Letters Volume I is now available in two parts. A second edition of the Diary of Priscilla Kirk Townsend is also now available. This primary source material is of special interest for researchers, as well as those interested in Quaker history and in Women™s Studies, especially 19th century women.

     Dana has written and illustrated four non-fiction books for young readers: All About Us in the Middle East, and More About Us in the Middle East, published in 2012, relate the adventures of an American family living in the Middle East in the late 1960s. Translated in French by Olivier Delers, Ph.D., these books are also now available in an English-French format.

    All About Us in Lebanon relates the adventures of an American family living in Beirut, Lebanon in the late 1960s. Loving Lebanon introduces the geography, history, and mosaic of the Lebanese people. Both All About Us in Lebanon and Loving Lebanon have been translated into French. Thus the two books will be available in both English and French formats.

     Born in Columbus, Georgia, Dana grew up in San Antonio, Texas. With her parents and sister, she spent many summers in Virginia, her father™s home state, and has been a permanent resident of Virginia since 1979. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas and a Master of Liberal Arts degree from the University of Richmond. She is the mother of three sons and a daughter. Since 1984 she has lived in Richmond with her husband, Robert King.