About Me

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”

—Maya Angelou (1928–2014), American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist

Reinvention is the name of my game.

I started my latest reinvention on January 1, 2023, after retiring from the second of two long and rewarding careers. Since then, I have focused much of my energy on what has always mattered enormously to me: research, teaching, writing, and the life of the mind.

So far, reinvention suits me just fine.

SCHOLAR

Scholarship has been one of the great continuities of my life.

I am widely known for my work on American writer Mary E. Wilkins Freeman. My The Infant Sphinx: Collected Letters of Mary E. Wilkins Freeman was published in 1985 and praised by The Journal of Modern Literature as “the most complete record to date of Freeman’s life as writer and woman.”

Nearly forty years later, I returned to Freeman with my edition of Green Mountain Stories (Onion River Press, 2023). Originally published as A Humble Romance and Other Stories in 1887, the collection appeared under the title Freeman herself had intended for it.

I am now at work on Dolly: Life and Letters of Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, a two-volume project that returns me to research I began more than forty years ago:

Volume I: The New England Years (1852–1901)
Volume II: The New Jersey Years (1902–1930)

Then came Alexander Gordon.

My research into a series of pseudonymous essays published in the South-Carolina Gazette in 1753–1754 led me to identify their previously unknown author as Alexander Gordon, a Scottish antiquarian, Egyptologist, playwright, artist, scholar, and colonial administrator.

That research became Unmasking The Humourist: Alexander Gordon’s Lost Essays of Colonial Charleston, South Carolina (Luminare Press, 2025), the first complete publication of The Humourist in more than 270 years and the definitive edition of the essays.

In fact, The Wired Researcher began as a way of sharing the discoveries, detours, frustrations, and sheer exhilaration of the research that eventually became Unmasking The Humourist.

The book may be finished, but my work with Gordon isn’t. I want his newly recovered voice to become part of the larger conversation about colonial American literature—and, especially, to find its way into the classroom.

PROFESSOR

Teaching was the second of my two long careers—and one of the defining experiences of my life.

For twenty-three years, I was Professor of English at Laurel Ridge Community College (formerly Lord Fairfax Community College) in Middletown, Virginia. I taught more than 7,000 students in courses ranging from American, Southern, and Appalachian literature to creative writing, composition, memoir, and technical writing.

One student once wrote:

“Dr. Kendrick could excite a stone to write.”

I’ve never forgotten that.

In 2008, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia named me one of the Commonwealth’s outstanding faculty members. I later received the Virginia Community College System Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence, served as a Chancellor’s Professor, and became the first recipient of the Susan S. Wood Professorship for Teaching Excellence.

Before entering the classroom, I spent twenty-five years at the Library of Congress, where I received the Library’s Distinguished Service Award.

Two careers. Nearly half a century.

Retirement ended my classroom career. It did not end my desire to teach.

That may be why so much of what I do now—whether recovering a forgotten writer, writing an essay, giving a talk, or creating materials for other instructors—still seems to find its way back to the classroom.

WRITER

And somewhere along the way, The Wired Researcher changed.

A blog that began with scholarly research became something larger: a place where I could write about whatever caught my attention, troubled me, delighted me, made me laugh, or made me wonder.

Those essays eventually became four collections of creative nonfiction, all published by Luminare Press:

  1. In Bed: My Year of Foolin’ Around (2023)
  2. More Wit and Wisdom: Another Year of Foolin’ Around in Bed (2024)
  3. The Third Time’s the Charm: Still Foolin’ Around in Bed (2025)
  4. In Bed and Up to No Good: Foolin’ Around by Choice (2026)

I write about Appalachian roots and gardens, education and artificial intelligence, grief and love, aging and sexuality, spirituality and mortality, dogs and dust bunnies—and whatever else wanders through the door and refuses to leave.

The subjects change. What I’m after doesn’t.

I want to look closely. Ask questions. Tell the truth as I see it. Find the humor when it’s there. And remain open to the possibility that tomorrow I may see things differently.

WHERE I COME FROM

My dad was a West Virginia coal miner. My mother was a Pilgrim Holiness minister during my early childhood. I grew up in the coal camps of southern West Virginia and became the first person in my family to attend college.

I earned my B.A., cum laude, from Alderson-Broaddus College and my Ph.D. in American Literature from the University of South Carolina.

Today I live and write in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley with my partner Gary and our dog Ruby. We’re surrounded by mountains, woods, gardens, books, and more projects than any sensible person should undertake.

But sensible has never interested me nearly as much as curious.

And I’m still reinventing.

22 thoughts on “About Me”

  8. Pingback: Slaves Waiting for Sale | With Good Reason Radio

  9. I was looking for some blank paper and picked up an old ruled notebook from my LFCC classes. All the course subjects had been torn out long ago…except yours. I reviewed my entire Eng Lit course notes, where I came across one of my very favorite quotes.
    “It is very easy to string intelligent words together to say how things should be done. The hard part is to live by those words.”
    BRENT KENDRICK
    October 30, 2002
    0920
    A timeless, and universal quote that I have used more than once.
    You were instrumental in my success as a published (PAID- rare for us) RN writer, and I thank you for it.
    Like you, I am also retired after a glorious 45 year career.
    I wish you all good things.

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    • Pat,

      I can’t begin to tell you what a joy it is to hear from you after all these years!

      It goes without saying that I am thrilled that you kept my comment and that it is immortalized here!

      More, however, I am so pleased that the comment has meant so much to you down through the years.

      You may not believe it, but I remember you well. Here’s proof! You were in my ENG 241 class–Survey of American Literature I. You will recall, I am sure, when we were discussing the friction between John Winthrop and Anne Hutchinson. We were reading a passage from his journal where he commented that “She brought forth not one, but thirty monstrous births or thereabouts.”

      I challenged the class to find out the medical name of her condition. Either on the spot or at our next class meeting, you informed us that her condition was a rare one called a HIDATIDIFORM MOLE. Year after year I have credited you! I am so glad to have the opportunity to thank you once again!

      I am so happy that you are paid and published! Bravo!

      Thanks, Pat, for reaching out to me as you have done. It has made my day! Be blessed!

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  10. Congrats on the books; I am so happy you are keeping busy, but I am in VT now and I would have loved to see you so I am happy I found your blog. Now at least I get to see the wonderful things you are doing.

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  11. Congratulations on all your accomplishments since leaving the Library of Congress. Believe it or not, I’m still working here and I’ve been asked to give a presentation on the Pre-56 Imprints which are now shelved in dark corners of the stacks. Do you still have copies or ‘a copy’ of your training manual? I kept it for years and suddenly I’m unable to find it. There is renewed interest in the Pre-56. All the best, Nanette Gibbs ngib@loc.gov

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    • Nanette,

      What a joy it is to hear from you after all these years!

      How blessed we were to be part of the NUCPP, Pre-1956 Imprints, indeed the bibliographical wonder of the world!

      I’m not sure whether I kept the training manual. I’ll look in my files and get back to you in a day or two.

      Again, your message has made my day!

      With fond memories–

      Brent

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      • You were definitely the gold standard and I’ll always remember how patient you were with me. I went on to use these skills often in defense of the due diligence one must dedicate themselves to with intended goal that we identify the best cataloging. I often teach in 139B Jefferson and the room remains the same although there are large tv monitors in there, desks, etc. I’m now in the Latin American, Caribbean and European Division after several years in CRS, Business and 22 years teaching IB and AP classes when I left the Library so I could have the same schedule when both of our children, Diana and Thomas were in school. I returned about 8 years ago! Diana also works at the Library and Thomas is with the Gary Sinise Foundation helping veterans and their families. You can google both of them.

        Thank you for reconnecting with me.

        Nanette

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      • Good morning, Nanette!

        “The gold standard.” What a compliment you pay me. Thank you so much. I agree: I continue to use the skills that I learned then as well, and I have quite the reputation for being the demon researcher. If it’s out there, I will find it!

        You have had a wonderful career path, and I salute you. Also, you must be incredibly proud of Diana and Thomas! I think it’s wonderful that you are back at the Library. I wish I had known. You might have been able to attend my talk in Rare Books back in April! The Library of Congress will always hold a special place in my heart.

        I have looked and looked, but I cannot find the training manual. No doubt, it is squirreled away in a box somewhere, especially since I keep everything. If I find it, I will let you know!

        Again, it’s great to hear from you!

        Best–

        Brent

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      • Dear Brent,
        I’m actually afraid to go up to the 5th floor of our house to look for the manual. I’ll give it a try today as it is cooler (it’s the only room where we have never been able to cool). I can’t believe you were here in April. I’m in the Latin American, Caribbean and European Division just down the hall. Both John and I would have come running!
        Please stay in touch and I know John would enjoy seeing you again. Bye the way, Diana has worked at the Library for 18 years! I think you would enjoy her website: http://www.the-harpist.comhttp://www.the-harpist.com
        All the best,
        Nanette

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      • Hi, Nanette!

        Diana is incredibly talented, and in her, I see you from years ago!

        Good luck finding the manual. If I find mine, I’ll let you know!

        I hope that you stay in touch as well. Follow my blog! Also, here’s my email: brentlkendrick@gmail.com

        All the best to you and John and your children–

        Brent

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  13. Dear Breant,

    My name is Vitoria Alves, and I am a master’s student in Translation Studies at the Federal University of Ceará (UFC), in Brazil. My research focuses on producing an annotated translation of Freeman’s short story A New England Nun. This project is a continuation and deepening of research that I began during my undergraduate studies, when, by a fortunate coincidence, I happened to discover Freeman. Since then, just like you, I have become increasingly fascinated by the author’s life and work.

    Throughout my research, I have come to the conclusion that Freeman has not received as much recognition in Brazil, partly because of the limited circulation of her works in translation. Unfortunately, I have been having difficulty finding recent scholarship by contemporary specialists discussing Freeman and her work today. That is why discovering your blog felt like finding a treasure!

    If you are available and willing, I would be very grateful for the opportunity to discuss some of the questions and concerns that have emerged throughout my research. I will also send you an email with the same message, in case you would be interested in contributing to my research.

    I believe that more people should have the opportunity to discover this wonderful author and, consequently, to learn about the work you have so devotedly done to keep her memory alive.

    I sincerely hope to hear from you.

    Best regards,
    Vitoria Alves

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    • Vitoria,

      What a wonderful message to receive! I’m delighted that you discovered Freeman—and especially delighted to learn about your work on “A New England Nun.”

      I would be very happy to help in any way I can. I’ll respond more fully to your email. And thank you for finding your way to my blog!

      Again, many thanks!

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