J. MILLARD TAWES, GOVERNOR                          1471

No. 32
(House Joint Resolution 29)

House Joint Resolution proposing a permanent memorial to Matthew
Alexander Henson.

The General Assembly of Maryland proposes that a permanent
memorial be erected to Matthew Alexander Henson, who was born
in Charles County and who accompanied Admiral Robert E. Peary
on the first trip to the North Pole.

Matthew A. Henson, Negro, was born August 8, 1866, near
Nanjemoy, Charles County, Maryland.

He left Charles County at an early age and went to work in a hat
store in Washington, D. C, where he met the then Robert E. Peary,
a young naval engineer, who persuaded young Henson to accompany
him on his explorations to locate the North Pole.

Henson accompanied Peary on seven Arctic trips, the last culmi-
nating in the discovery of the North Pole, April 6, 1909.

Peary, Henson and four Eskimos planted the U. S. Flag at the
North Pole—the first in the world to attain that distinction.

Peary, in his memoirs, has given most of the credit for his success
to Henson—because of his endurance, loyalty and Arctic skills.

April 6, 1949, the U. S. Department of Defense brought Henson
to Washington, D. C, and gave him a citation in the Pentagon for
his contributions to Arctic and Polar exploration.

In 1950, a movement was initiated by Hon. Mudd of Charles
County, Md., and Herbert M. Frisby of Baltimore City, to erect a
marker in his honor on the campus of the public school at Pomonkey,
Maryland. The project was never culminated.

April 6, 1954, President Eisenhower invited Mr. and Mrs. Matthew
Henson to the White House. He was commended by the President
of the United States for his bravery, courage and contributions to
Arctic exploration.

Mr. Henson has been honored by many organizations, civic bodies
and some scientific societies. He was the recipient of a Congres-
sional Medal and another from the Chicago Geographic Society.

Upon his death, the Maryland State Legislature which was in
session, passed resolutions lamenting his passing.

August 12, 1956, the U. S. Air Force flew Herbert M. Frisby,
Afro American Arctic Correspondent and Head of the Science De-
partment at Douglass High School, Baltimore, Maryland, over the
North Pole where he dropped a U. S. Flag and bronze plaque in
Mr. Henson's honor.

Explanation: Italics indicate new matter added to existing law.

[Brackets] indicate matter stricken from existing law.

CAPITALS indicate amendments to bill.

Strike out indicates matter stricken out of bill.