Henshaw, Henry W. (Henry Wetherbee), 1850-1930

Henry Wetherbee Henshaw (1850-1930) was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on March 3, 1850. Henshaw wanted to go to Harvard, but due to his health he was unable to go. He was invited to go on a voyage to the southern coast of Louisiana. That was where he began his career as a naturalist. He traveled to many places and became particularly interested in birds. He collected many unknown bird species in Arizona and made valuable observations. In 1880, he worked as an ethnologist at the Bureau of American Ethnology. He secured information for the Indians of the Pacific Coast States for the 1880 census. In 1883 he became a member of the American Ornithologists’ Union and served two terms as vice president. In 1894, Henshaw resigned from Bureau of American Ethnology due to his health and moved to Hawaii. There he became a photographer. In 1905, he returned to Washington and worked for the Bureau of Biological Survey as an administrative assistant, assistant chief, and chief. He continued to work until his health began to decline again. He died on August 1, 1930.

Smithsonian Institution Archives Field Book Project: Person : Description : rid_534_pid_EACP531

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