Historic Reporter Journal Stains Analyzed by Lab

North Dakota historians confirm journal markings from a Battle of the Little Bighorn correspondent are not blood.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Historical

Gouache-painted illustration of a weathered, open parchment notebook with dried brown stains resting on a wooden surface, evoking historical research. — The North Dakota State Historical Society confirmed that stains on a historic journal belonging to reporter Mark Kellogg are culinary, not blood. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The North Dakota State Historical Society has confirmed through crime lab testing that stains on a historic journal belonging to reporter Mark Kellogg are not blood. Kellogg, who worked for the Bismarck Tribune, was the first reporter to die in a military conflict while covering General Custer.

Why it matters

Archivists sought to verify if the marks on the pages were blood from the Battle of the Little Bighorn, where Kellogg died in the late 1800s. Identifying the true nature of these historical artifacts provides a clearer, fact-based understanding of the conditions faced by correspondents on the frontier.

Laboratory testing of the handwritten journal identified the stains as coffee, whiskey, and red wine. These results refute the long-held suspicion that the markings on the pages were biological blood evidence from the battlefield.

The players

Mark Kellogg

He was a journalist for the Bismarck Tribune who covered General Custer and is recognized by the Associated Press as the first reporter killed in a conflict.

North Dakota State Historical Society

This organization maintains state historical records and artifacts, including the personal papers of notable figures in North Dakota history.

The details

The North Dakota State Historical Society submitted the journal to the state crime lab to analyze mysterious markings that archivists had long suspected were blood. The analysis proved the stains were simply culinary remnants from a journalist who traveled with troops toward Montana.

Late 1800s: Mark Kellogg covered military stories for the Bismarck Tribune.
October 21, 2026: The North Dakota State Historical Society announced the forensic test results.

Culture Shift

This forensic examination highlights a growing trend of applying modern crime-lab technology to authenticate and demystify artifacts from the Battle of the Little Bighorn. By stripping away century-old myths, historians are moving toward a more literal, evidence-based interpretation of the past.

Residents and history enthusiasts can now view the journal with the understanding that its stains reflect the daily life of a 19th-century frontier reporter. This clarification allows the public to focus on the significance of Kellogg's written work rather than its physical condition.

The takeaway

Using advanced forensic testing to analyze historical objects can effectively dispel long-standing misconceptions about the past. Such investigations remind us that physical evidence should be verified through science rather than relying solely on historical speculation.