"Paul-Samuel-Henderson" (October 10,1899-May 24,1988)

Was an African American photojournalists for the Baltimore Afro-American newspaper from

1929-1960.He became well known for taking pictures of large groups and distant objects atop a ladder he carried.Paul primarily photographed people,including church groups,politicians,graduations,local college and university groups,weddings,events during the African-American Civil Rights Movement,and more.He was a member of the NAACP,a vestryman at St.James Church,charter member of the Druid Hill Avenue Neighborhood Club, assistant treasurer of a local Frontiers International Club,and supported the The Salvation Army.

Paul was born in Springfield,Tennessee and was the youngest of four children to Ike A.& Annie L.Henderson.At age 18 he registered for the World War I draft on September 12,1918 while working as a bricklayer for a steel company in Gary,Indiana.In 1920 his profession changed to driver  for a laundry in Gary.At some point during his residence in Gary,he attended the School for Professional Photography.

After leaving Indiana,Paul worked for a newspaper in Roanoke,Virginia.He moved to Baltimore in 1929 and became what the Baltimore Afro-American newspaper called their first photographer.Paul used a large format  view camera to produce glass negatives,and eight by ten inch and four by five inch acetate negatives.

Paul documented racial segregation and early civil rights protests as community members of the Baltimore City's African-American population.Paul photographed  NAACP Baltimore Branch president  Lillie Carroll Jackson,Baltimore City Mayor and Maryland State Govenor Theodore Mckeldin,Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall  when he was a lawyer for the NAACP,journalist and publisher Carl Murphy,businesses and people along Pennsylvania Avenue,which was a main artery for African American culture and life in Baltimore and much more.

Paul bequeathed his photograph and object collection to the Peale Museum.When the Peale closed its doors in 1997,the collection was transferred to the Maryland Historical Society.

In 1930,he married schoolteacher and "prominent society girl"Elizabeth Johnson.Elizabeth was a graduate of Douglass High School and Coppin Normal for Teachers (now Coppin State University) in Baltimore whose career flourished in the Baltimore City Public School system.Paul & Elizabeth had no children.

In 1966 Paul became so gravely ill that on January 22,the Baltimore Afro-American printed a premature obituary for him.In the same issue,the newspaper ask readers for prayers for Paul who had been in Hopkins Hospital for the past week.In April 1966,the newspaper's Bettye M.Moss updates readers in her column about Paul's condition,stating that he is able to be "up and about"at the Bolton Hill Nursing Home at Lafayette Avenue and John Street in Baltimore.By June the Afro-American reports that John is back at at 1925 Druid Hill Avenue in Baltimore.

Paul died at Union Memorial Hospital after a reported with long term illness.Services were held at St.James Episcopal Church at Lafayette and Arlington avenues.He had outlived his wife Elizabeth,who passed away in 1982.His obituary stated that he was survived by his brother,Willard Henderson,who lived in Tampa,Florida.