Collection Summary
Amos Kendall Papers
1835-1909
1835-1880
1835-1909
1835-1880
MSS28449
Kendall, Amos, 1789-1869
400 items
3 containers
1 linear foot
1 microfilm reel
English
Collection material in English
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Journalist and United States postmaster
general. Correspondence and other papers relating primarily to Kendall's work on behalf
of Cherokee claims and treaties and to the Magnetic Telegraph Co., of which he was
president.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845--Correspondence.
Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845.
Kendall, Amos, 1789-1869.
Marcy, William L. (William Learned), 1786-1857--Correspondence.
McLaughlin, James, 1842-1923--Correspondence.
Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872--Correspondence.
Wilkins, William, 1779-1865--Correspondence.
Organizations
Magnetic Telegraph Company.
Subjects
Cherokee Indians--Claims.
Cherokee Indians--Treaties.
Telegraph.
Occupations
Cabinet officers.
Journalists.
Acquisition Information
The papers of Amos Kendall, journalist and United States postmaster general, were
obtained by the Library of Congress through gift, purchase, and transfer, 1944-1966.
Processing History
The papers of Amos Kendall were arranged and described in 2009.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Amos Kendall is governed by the
Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The Amos Kendall Papers are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the
Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and
advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Microfilm
A microfilm edition of part of these papers is available on one reel. Consult a
reference librarian in the Manuscript Division concerning availability for purchase or
interlibrary loan. To promote preservation of the originals, researchers are required to
consult the microfilm edition as available.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information:
Container or reel number, Amos Kendall Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress,
Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1789, Aug. 16
Born, Dunstable, Mass.
1807
Completed secondary studies, Lawrence Academy, Groton, Mass.
1811
Graduated, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.Y.
1812
1814
Studied law, Groton, Mass.
1814
Moved to Kentucky; served as tutor in the household of Henry Clay
1816
Took charge of
Argus of Western America
, Frankfurt, Ky.
1818
Married Mary B. Woolfolk (died 1823)
1826
Changed political support from Henry Clay to Andrew Jackson
Married Jane Kyle.
1829
1837
Member of President Andrew Jackson’s inner circle of advisors, known
informally as the “Kitchen Cabinet”
circa 1830s
Edited and wrote for the
Globe
, a Jacksonian and Democratic organ published in Washington, D.C., and
founded
Kendall’s Expositor
1835
1840
Postmaster general
1843
Became agent for collection of claims against the government, including on
behalf of Cherokee Indians
1845
Entered business partnership with Samuel Finley Breese Morse
1857
Helped found Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, which later became
Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C.
1862
Helped found Calvary Baptist Church, Washington, D.C.
1869, Nov. 12
Died, Washington, D.C.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Amos Kendall (1789-1869) span the years 1835-1909, with the bulk from
1835 to 1880. The collection consists of correspondence and other papers relating
primarily to Kendall's work on behalf of Cherokee claims and treaties and to the
Magnetic Telegraph Company, of which he was president. Correspondents include Andrew
Jackson, James McLaughlin, William L. Marcy, Samuel Finley Breese Morse, and William
Wilkins. Includes biographical material relating to Andrew Jackson.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged in bound volumes of correspondence organized chronologically
and unbound files organized by type of material.
Container List
Available on microfilm. Shelf no. 17,664
Container
Contents
1
1
Bound correspondence
1
1
1835, May 13-1845, Sept.
1835, May 13-1845,
Sept.
2
1
1845, Sept.-1880, June 1
1845, Sept.-1880,
June 1
3
1
Unbound material
3
1
Correspondence, 1846-1866
1846-1866
3
Photocopies of correspondence and a newspaper,
the
Nashville Tennessean
, from the Tennessee State Library and Archives, 1842-1843,
1909
1842-1843,
1909
3
1
Treaties between the U.S. and the Chickasaw
Nation of Indians and the Cherokee Nation of Indians, 1834, 1866
1834,
1866