Henderson, John, 1860-1924, Director, Glasgow School of Art, Scotland

John Henderson, son of the painter Joseph Henderson, was born in Glasgow in 1860. He was a pupil at Glasgow School of Art under Robert Greenlees and then studied for an MA at the University of Glasgow. Henderson was a landscape and portrait painter and first exhibited at the Royal Glasgow Institute in 1884. He was a member of the Council of the Royal Glasgow Institute, assisted at the Glasgow International Exhibitions of 1901-1911 and was a Governor of Glasgow School of Art from 1906-1918.

He was appointed director of Glasgow School of Art in 1918, initially on a temporary basis, having been acting director in 1914 when Francis Newbery was ill. Under his directorship the School formed stronger links with Glasgow University, and the Architecture Degree Course was introduced in 1924, leading to the School being recognised as a university teaching institution. Henderson was also involved in art education secondary schools. He died suddenly in 1924.

Henderson's father, Joseph, was a significant figure in the Glasgow artistic communitee. He was a Governor of Glasgow School of Art and had been privy to all the business surrounding the building of the new School.

Henderson's brother, also called Joseph, was an artist and graduate of Glagow University. He was also a Governor of Glasgow School of Art.

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1906-1918: Governor of Glasgow School of Art

1918-1924: Director of Glasgow School of Art

List of sources for the biographical information:

Ferguson, H., Glasgow School of Art: The History, first ed, (Glasgow, The Foulis Press of Glasgow School of Art, 1995)

Authority record created according to the National Council on ArchivesRules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names (NCA Rules)1997 and International Council on Archives: Ad Hoc Committee on Descriptive StandardsInternational Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families (ISAAR)CPF1995.

Personal name authority record compiled for the GASHE project by John O'Brien, Glasgow University Archive Services, 26 July 2002