D.J. Henderson Papers

Collection

Identifier: MG Nwk DJ Henderson-(Fileroom)

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

In addition to personal correspondence and papers, the collection reflects the breadth of the Hendersons’ interests with materials on engineering, the preservation of their house, and many organizations with which they were involved.

A copy of an earlier inventory of the collection can be found in Box 10.

Dates

1936 - 1994
Majority of material found within 1970s & 1980s

Creator

Henderson, Dorland J., 1898-1996 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Open to the public. Photocopying of materials is limited and no materials may be photocopied without permission from library staff.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers wishing to publish, reproduce, or reprint materials from this collection must obtain permission.

Biographical / Historical

Born in 1898 in Indiana, Dorland J. Henderson earned a degree in electrical engineering from Purdue. From 1932 he worked for the New Jersey Department of Transportation in various capacities, overcoming discrimination to retire in 1970 as Director of Traffic Engineering. A key project was the Route 72 bridge spanning Stafford Township and Long Beach Island, named for him in 2000, which made use of low level lighting. After retiring, he consulted on movable bridges until 1978. Elizabeth (Betty) Henderson, from Michigan, was educated as a social worker and worked for some time in the East Orange schools. She was also an accomplished weaver.

In 1954, the Hendersons purchased the run-down 18th-century Sydenham farmhouse on Old Road to Bloomfield adjacent to Branch Brook Park in the North Ward of Newark and over the decades painstakingly restored it. Both Hendersons took an active interest in preservation, education, and the city of Newark, especially in the North Ward area around their home.

Extent

6.59 Linear Feet (11 Hollinger boxes and 2 Paige boxes )

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by subject using folder headings from D.J. Henderson. Additional headings have been created for materials that were not in folders, such as personal correspondence. The original folder order of the complete collection is unknown; therefore, folders have been grouped with related subjects to simplify access.

Within some boxes, folders are ordered alphabetically. The contents of some folders tend to be chronological or reverse chronological, but no attempt has been made to correct the order. Some loose papers that were donated separately are filed in the related folders. The few dozen photographs in the collection have been sleeved, but were not separated in their own box.