Stories from the Smithsonian

Get to know the people who have shaped the Smithsonian since its founding in 1846, through their letters, diaries, oral histories, and photographs.

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Mary Anna Henry Image Gallery

Mary Anna Henry was the oldest of four children of Joseph and Harriet Alexander Henry. Joseph Henry was the first Secretary of the Smithsonian from 1846 to 1878, and the Henry family lived in the Smithsonian Institution Building or Castle from 1855 to his death in 1878. 

One of Joseph Henry's Daughters as a Child
One of Joseph Henry's Daughters as a Child
One of the three daughters of Harriet Alexander and Joseph Henry, physicist and first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution from 1846 to 1878. The Henrys had one son, William Alexander, born 1831, and three daughters, Mary Anna, born 1834, Helen Louisa, born 1836, and Caroline, born 1839, c. 1830s, by Unknown, card photograph, courtesy of Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 27C, SIA2012-7652 or 36792 or 2004-10351.
Joseph Henry's Daughter Caroline
Joseph Henry's Daughter Caroline
Portrait of Joseph Henry's daughter Caroline (1839-1920) as a child sitting on an ornate chair. Joseph Henry (1797-1878), physicist, was the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution from 1846 to 1878, c. 1842, by J. Good, carte de visite, courtesy Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 81, 82-3257.
Mary Henry, Daughter of Secretary Henry
Mary Henry, Daughter of Secretary Henry
Photographic portrait of Mary Anna Henry, daughter of first Smithsonian Secretary Joseph Henry (1846-1878), c. 1855, by Unknown, photographic print, courtesy Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 12, Folder: 5, 82-3258.
Joseph Henry's Daughters Caroline & Mary
Henry's Daughters Caroline & Mary
Joseph Henry's daughters Caroline (1839-1920) & Mary (1834-1903). Joseph Henry (1797-1878) was a physicist and the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution from 1846 to 1878. This photograph shows Caroline seated, resting her arm on a table, and Mary standing to her right, c. 1855, by Unknown, carte de visite, courtesy Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 81, 46638-G or MAH-46638G.
Joseph Henry's daughter Helen
Joseph Henry's daughter Helen
Portrait of Helen Louisa Henry (1836-1912), daughter of Harriet Alexander Henry and Joseph Henry. Joseph Henry (1797-1878), was a physicist and the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution from 1846 to 1878. This photograph is a profile of Helen's face, c. 1855, by Alexander Gardner, photographic print, courtesy Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 81, 46638-H or MAH-46638H.
Joseph Henry's Daughter Caroline
Henry's Daughter Caroline, 82-3254
Joseph Henry's daughter Caroline (1839-1920). Joseph Henry (1797-1878), was a physicist and the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution from 1846 to 1878, c. 1855, by R. W. Addis, carte de visite, courtesy of Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 81, 82-3254.
William A. Henry (?)
William A. Henry
Possibly William Alexander Henry (1832-1862) son of Harriet and Joseph Henry (1797-1878), physicist and first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution from 1846 to 1878, c. 1855, by Unknown, photographic print, courtesy Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 12, Folder: 3, 82-3190.
Valentine to Mary Henry
Valentine to Mary Henry
A valentine sent to Mary Henry from an unknown suitor. He includes a love poem and signs the note "Valentine." Transcript of poem: "To Mary Henry/Oh, were I a bird that could sing all the day,/I would fly to her bower to carol my [lay?]!/Or were I a breath of the soft scented air,/I would waft all my sweets to her bower so fair!/Or were I a thought could awaken a smile,/I would rest on her lip all her woes to beguile./I would make my bright throne in her sorrowing heart,/And each impulse that grew should its pleasures impart./Oh, were I a strain of some melody sweet,/I would steal to her chamber her slumber to greet./Or were I a dream could recall to her mind/The pleasures and joys she has long left behind./I would [hover?] around in the stillness of night  and her visions of sleep should be joyously bright./I would kiss from her cheek every envious tear,/and guard her fond bosom from sorrow and fear./"Valentine,"" c. 1850s, by Unknown, document, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7001, Box 58, Folder: 1, SIA2012-2990 and SIA2012-2991.
Henry Apartments in Smithsonian Institution Building
Henry Apartments in SIB, MAH-46638C
The first Secretary of the Smithsonian, Joseph Henry (1846-1878) and family lived in the East Wing of the Smithsonian Institution Building.  The Music Room of the Henry apartments is furnished with Rococo Revival and wicker furniture. The bust of George Washington can be seen on the far right, 1862, by Titian Ramsay Peale, photographic print, courtesy Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 31A, Folder: 18, 46638-C or MAH-46638C.
Henry Apartments in Smithsonian Institution Building
Henry Apartments in SIB, 3253
Interior of the Smithsonian Institution Building or Castle, of the apartments of the first Secretary of the Smithsonian, Joseph Henry (1846-1878) and family, c. 1862. The view is of the parlor, from the dining room. The music room is also visible, 1862, by Titian Ramsay Peale, photographic print, courtesy Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 31A, Folder: 18, 3253 or MAH-X3253.
Henry Apartments in Smithsonian Institution Building
Henry Apartments in SIB, MAH-X3252
Interior view of the Smithsonian Institution Building, now known as the Castle, showing the Music Room, looking south, of the apartments of Secretary Joseph Henry (1846-1878) and family. In this photograph a piano is against the back wall to the right, a bust of George Washington is in the corner of the room and a sofa to the left, 1862, Titian Ramsay Peale, photographic print, courtesy Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 31A, Folder: 18, 3252 or MAH-X3252.
Henry Family at East Door of Castle
Henry Family at East Door of Castle
Secretary Joseph Henry (1846-1878) with his wife Harriet and three daughters, Caroline, Mary and Helen, standing in the east doorway to the Smithsonian Institution Building, c. 1862. Henry was the first Secretary of the Smithsonian, and he and his family resided in the east wing of the Smithsonian Institution Building, 1862, by Unknown, photographic print, courtesy Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 12, Folder: 3, SA-203 or sa-203.
Henry Family on the Smithsonian Grounds
Henry Family on the Smithsonian Grounds
Joseph Henry, first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1846-1878), and his wife, Harriet Alexander Henry, and their daughters Caroline, Helen and Mary, who are holding croquet mallets, seated on the grounds of the Smithsonian Institution Building, 1865, by Titian Ramsay Peale, photographic print, courtesy Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 12, Folder: 3, 2002-12181.
National Academy of Sciences Meeting, Smithsonian Institution Building
National Academy of Sciences Meeting, 1874
Meeting of the National Academy of Sciences in the Mineral Hall, West Wing, Smithsonian Institution Building, "Castle," April 1874. Joseph Henry, the first Secretary of the Smithsonian (1846-1878) is seated at the head of the room behind a small table, by Unknown, April 1874, photographic print, courtesy Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 28, Folder: 22.
Mary Henry's Studio in East Range, Smithsonian Institution Building
Mary Henry's Studio in East Range, SIB
Studio of Mary Henry, daughter of Joseph Henry, first Secretary of the Smithsonian (1846-1878), in the East Range, of the Smithsonian Institution Building, Castle, c. 1878. The room is filled with paintings, sculptures, easels, a spinning wheel, chairs and tables, 1878, by Thomas W. Smillie, stereo view, courtesy Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 31A, Folder: 18, 1237 or MAH-1237.
Bedroom of Henry Apartments, Smithsonian Institution Building
Bedroom of Henry Apartments, SIB
A second bedroom of the Henry apartments in the Smithsonian Institution Building, "Castle" was in the southwest corner of the  East  Wing.  The first Secretary of the Smithsonian Joseph Henry (1846-1878) and his family lived in the Smithsonian Institution Building, c. 1878, by Thomas W. Smillie, stereo view, courtesy Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 31A, Folder: 18, 1238 or  MAH-1238.