History

Henderson, named for Charles R. Henderson, one of the most forward-thinking and influential men on faculty in sociology at the University of Chicago in the 1890.s. Henderson graduated from the old University of Chicago in 1870, and for nineteen years he was a pastor, first in Terre Haute, Indiana, and then in Detroit, Michigan. He established a Department of Practical Sociology in the School of Divinity as well as held a full professorship in the Department of Sociology. Pierce Tower was formally an all-male dormitory. Henderson House was the last of the four houses in Pierce to succumb to coed living.

Culture

Henderson House is an extremely social house. Although the house culture is as ephemeral as its students (typically ~ 60% are first years), Henderson's house culture has been marked by an eclectic mix of seemingly disparate interests, including varsity and intramural sports, college bowl team, orchestra, choir, Off-Off Campus, and theater. Henderson is the 2005 Pierce Tower Sports Frolic champions and IM undergraduate residence coed football champions. The House mascot is the wombat, a large, burrowing marsupial from Australia. A generally fun-loving, laid-back bunch, Hendus (as Henderson residents are fondly nicknamed) are also committed to academics, and are strongly represented in the honors tracks.