32 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1923. 



friend, a constant contributor, and an indefatigable worker on its 

 collections. The members of the scientific staff and other employees 

 of the Museum and Institution gathered in the auditorium on 

 January 8, 1923, to pay respect to their colleague, and adopted resolu- 

 tions expressive of their deep sense of loss. The flags on the Museum 

 buildings were flown at half staff until after the funeral. 



Mr. Henderson, from an early age, showed great interest in science. 

 This, even though he was urged to enter the field of diplomacy, led 

 him more strongly toward those subjects which furnish the ground- 

 work of a scientific career. Shortly after leaving Harvard with the 

 degree of A. B., he undertook his first West Indian Expedition to the 

 Island of Jamaica in quest of land mollusks, and this was followed 

 by many other trips to the Greater and Lesser Antilles, the last of 

 which occurred during the past year. All these expeditions had for 

 their object the gathering of material for monographs upon the 

 wonderful fauna of the region. 



Simultaneously, with this in view, he began collecting marine 

 mollusks, first with the yacht Doris, in the Gulf of Maine. This was 

 soon replaced by the larger yacht EoUs, kept in commission until 

 very recently. Thus he collected more material than had been se- 

 cured by all previous expeditions, and these collections are now in 

 the U. S. National Museum awaiting report. 



His first paper on mollusks was published in 1894 and the suc- 

 ceeding years show contributions in various journals and in the 

 publications of the U. S. National Museum. By this sudden death 

 in the 53d year of his age a career of great promise was cut short. 

 The work already accomplished, nevertheless, has secured for him a 

 place among American scientists which will keep his memory green 

 through future generations, when work of less significance will 

 have been forgotten. It can thus justly be said that brief as was his 

 service to science, it was eminently worthwhile. 



Succeeding his father, the late Senator Henderson, as Regent of 

 the Smithsonian Institution in the year 1911, Mr. Henderson brought 

 to the office of Eegent a keen, sympathetic and broad interest in all 

 the work of the Institution ; a willingness to devote time and thought 

 to its affairs, and a wisdom in council that combined to make his 

 services of rare value. During the past year he served upon the 

 Executive Committee of the Board of Regents. His personal charm 

 and unassuming helpfulness endeared Mr. Henderson to every one. 



