John Kendall Papers
Source Collection
University of North Alabama Archives and Special Collections, John V. Kendall Papers, Collier Library.
Description
Document describing the contents of the John Kendall Papers.
Memoir Abstract
The John V. Kendall Memoir is a recollection of the Civil War era written in approximately 1902 that describes the experiences of a private in the Tenth Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. Throughout the memoir, Kendall discusses integral aspects of the life of a union soldier, such as drills, marches, and battlefield affairs. In addition, he intersperses his explanation of daily life with descriptions of key events surrounding the removal of the Sioux from Minnesota, and surrounding territories, with his own constant migration with the army. His specific attention to westward movements along the Mississippi River, as well marches through the area between Montgomery, AL and Nashville, TN, allows the work to develop understanding of the geographic effects of marches on individual soldiers. Despite the manuscript’s primary focus, on the affairs of war, recognition of contrasting events such as westward expansion and the Homestead Act, accompanied by mention of Kendall’s family life, allows the memoir to offer a more extensive glimpse of life during the period ranging roughly from 1861-1890.
Transcript
To maintain authenticity, the transcript retains all grammatical and spelling errors found within the original document. In addition, the transcript includes the diagrams found in the original document converted to readable word tables with alt text available.
Drawings
Kendall’s memoir is accompanied by fourteen unlabeled colored pen or pencil illustrations, which offer a glimpse of various locations mentioned throughout the memoir.
Donation Information
The memoir and its accompanying illustrations were donated to the University of North Alabama Archives by Ms. Georgia Rink on February 6, 2024, in memory of her mother Ms. Christine E. Goldman-Oyama. Ms. Goldman-Oyama’s discovery of the memoir in a box of salt and pepper shakers purchased for $1.00 in a mid-1970s Phoenix, AZ garage sale is a testament to the enduring quality of the memoir. The UNA Archives are grateful to Ms. Rink for agreeing to share this piece of Civil War history with the wider public.
Date Created
4-6-2026
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Kendall, John V., "Collection Information" (2026). John Kendall Papers. 1.
https://roar.una.edu/kendall_papers/1
Rights
These materials are provided for educational and scholarly purposes, and reproduction of items beyond that allowed for fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. The nature of historical archival collections means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine. Whenever possible, information is provided about copyright owners and restrictions on materials; however, the responsibility for determining the appropriate use of an item ultimately resides with the patron. The staff is unaware of any copyrights in the digital collections; however, there is a possibility that items may have copyrights associated with them that we were unable to identify. If you are aware of such copyrights, please inform the staff.
