Henry, Robert Selph, 1889-1970
Biographical Note
Robert Selph Henry (1889-1970) was born in Clifton, Tennessee on October 20, 1889. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with an L.L.B. in 1910 and a BA in 1911. He served as a Captain of Field Artillery in WWI, and remained in the Army Reserve, rising to the rank of colonel, until his retirement in 1952. He worked for the newspaper in Nashville (1907-1913), served as secretary to the Governor of Tennessee (1913-1915), practiced as a lawyer in Nashville (1915-1921), and worked for the railroads, first as Director of Public Relations for the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway (1921-1928), then as Assistant to the Vice President of the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railrway (1928-1934), and lastly as as the Vice President of the Association of American Railroads (1934-1958).
Henry was also a historian of the Civil War and the railroads. He published several books including The Story of the Confederacy (1931), The Story of Reconstruction (1938), First with the Most Forrest (1944), and This Fascinating Railroad Business (1942). Henry also served as President of the Southern Historical Association (SHA; 1957).
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Robert Selph Henry Papers
Spanning 1861 to 1971, the Robert Selph Henry Papers consist of correspondence, subject files, photographs, and clippings concerning Henry's research on the American Civil War, focusing on the Confederacy and Nathan Bedford Forrest, and also railroad history. This collection also contains Henry's Southern Historical Association (SHA) and Association of American Railroads papers.