Matthew A. Henson Collection 5-1 to 5-2 Prepared by Ida E. Jones March 2016 Manuscript Material Beulah M. Davis Special Collections Morgan State University
Scope Note The Matthew A. Henson collection was amassed by Mrs. Lucy Ross Henson, widow of the explorer. Initially she presented the camera as a memorial to her husband, a native of Namjamoy in Charles County, Maryland to Morgan State University. Herbert M. Frisby, Morgan Professor and former Artic correspondent, made the presentation to Morgan on behalf of Mrs. Henson. Morgan Board of Trustee Dr. Carl Murphy accepted the donation on behalf of the institution. The collection primarily consists of items used by Henson during his expedition to the North Pole. Of note are his lantern slides which were generated from imaged photographed by Henson. Another unique set of items are the instruction manual written for Henson by co-discoverer Admiral Robert Peary.
Biographical Sketch August 8, 1866 Born Matthew Alexander Henson to Lemuel Henson and his second wife. He was his father s third child. 1868 Mother died. Father remarried to a widowed neighbor Nellie. This union augumented the number of children to 6. 1874 Lemuel Henson died. Stepmother Nellie becomes abusive. 1877 Henson leaves home at age 11. He ran away to Washington, DC after a severe beating. He finds work and shelter with Janey Moore a restaurateur who cares and employed him. 1878-1885 He learns to read and write and travels up and down the eastern seaboard taking on odd jobs. 1887 Lieutenant Robert Peary hired Henson as a valet for his scheduled travels of Nicaragua Canal. During this trip Peary learned about Henson s ability and training in seafaring that his presence was extremely beneficial and economical in ship operations. Peary promoted Henson to transit crew. 1890-1893 Henson and Peary remain connected and continue to explore together. They traveled to Greenland and mapped the north coast. The North Pole appealed to Peary who realized that trip would require funding, Peary started to fundraising. 1896-1902 Henson traveled around America and experiences virulent racism in the Deep South. 1906 Peary and his team attempted to access the North Pole to no avail. The make a new record for the farthest north. Peary named that location Henson Bay in tribute to Henson. February 22, 1909 Peary and his team depart on the USS Roosevelt along with 24 men, 130 dogs and supplies.
Biographical Sketch continued April 6, 1909 Henson is the first man to reach the North Pole during the artic expedition of Commander Robert Peary. Peary arrived 45 minutes later with the rest of the polar party. 1909-1911 Henson writes articles about his travels to the North Pole. He has lantern slides from images he photographed to accompany his lectures about his explorations. February 1912 June 5, 1924 June 6, 1939 Henson published his autobiography, A Negro at the North Pole. Henson conferred an honorary Master of Science degree from Morgan State College. Henson conferred an honorary Master of Science degree from Howard University. 1942 Herbert M. Frisby located the birth place of Henson in Nanjemoy, Charles County, Maryland. Frisby a Marylander was inspired by the life and legacy of Henson. 1947 Bradley Robinson published Dark Companion a biography of Henson. April 6, 1949 U.S. Department of Defense honored Henson with a citation for his contribution to the discovery of the North Pole. 1950 Dillard University, New Orleans, names its new gymnasium Henson Hall in honor of Henson. February 9, 1953 The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People presented the Explorers Club with a bronze bust of Matthew Henson by John LaFarge during the ceremony at Wendle Wilke Memorial Building in New York City.
Biographical Sketch continued April 6, 1954 Henson is commended by President Dwight D. Eisenhower for his contributions to the discovery of the North Pole. March 9, 1955 Henson dies in New York from a cerebral hemorrhage at age of 88. He is buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York. Information collected from: http://www.matthewhenson.com/chronology.htm
Container List Box Folder 5-1 A Negro Explorer at the North Pole, [ex library] first edition signed by Henson. 1912 Saw wrapped Jack knife wrapped Ice Pick wrapped Kodak camera case. Leather, folding pocket camera with note card used by Henson in successful North Pole expedition. April 6, 1909 Kodak camera No. 1A folding pocket camera Latern slides. Henson had slides made from images he photographed at the North Pole. Box 1 8 images, one image cracked Box 2 9 images several unframed Artic gloves worn by Henson, they are signed April 6, 1909 Badge [colored metal] Henson presented from Colored Commercial Association of Chicago. Photographs 1 Dr. Herbert Frisby & Company at Morgan in Soper 2 Memorial and Dedication unveiling tablets 3 Henson & Comp. Portrait N.P. 1 Folding Pocket Camera manual
Container List Box Folder 5-1 Instruction manual for Henson, including diagrams, instructions written by Admiral Peary and given to Henson to follow in connection with the fourth trip to the North Pole. Signed by Peary Lecture notes of North Pole exploration. This item contains initial discovery as well as documents earlier attempts by others. 5-2 Ceramic cask of Henson 1866-1955 Oversize Master of Science degree from Morgan College June 5, 1924