SA4/2465/208 - Notebook of Tom Henderson with 'Note of Vessels Wrecked or Stranded in the Parish of Dunrossness'

Tom Henderson was born in 1911 at Spiggie, Dunrossness, Shetland, to a crofting, fishing and mercantile family. As a young man he became a merchant mariner. In 1941 his ship was torpedoed and he returned to Shetland. There followed several years of ill-health when he was confined to bed at home. It was during his recovery that Henderson developed what was to be a life long interest in the history, culture and natural history of Shetland. He contributed articles and stories to various publications and developed a noted literary talent. Active in local affairs, he was a County councillor from 1952 and served as Council convener in the 1960s. During this time Henderson was also proprietor of Henderson's Hotel at Spiggie. On his retiral from the council he became the curator of Shetland County Museum a post which he held until 1978. While at the museum he greatly expanded its collections and ensured that it attracted widespread local and national recognition. He was a Justice of the Peace and a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and was awarded an MBE in 1977. He died in 1982. See the biography of him by Laughton Johnston, The Seaman who founded a Museum (2021).