MS 3525 Miscellaneous correspondence re. English-Maya, Maya-English Dictionary completed in 1866 by Rev. Henderson, and a transcript of the Berendt copy of the Motul Dictionary

Scope and Contents

Also includes one photograph of Reverend Henderson.

Biographical / Historical

History: 1887: Henderson Dictionary sent by Hernandez Fowler of Belize, to Cyrus Thomas of the Bureau of American Ethnology for eventual publication. 1900: Dictionary sent to Mr Andomaro Molina of Merida, Yucatan, for revision (along with portions of a transcript of the Motul). 1910: Molina died. 1912: State Department reported the six volume dictionary in the possession of Luis Molina (son of Andomaro). Molina at that time refused to return the Manuscript. 1930: Franz Blom attempted to locate the Manuscript without success. 1962: Victor E. Molina (grandson of Andomaro) contacted the Smithsonian for the purpose of selling the Henderson Dictionary. 1963: Dr Robert Laughlin attempted to convice Molina that the dictionary was originally the property of the Bureau of American Ethnology, again without success. 1964: The Henderson Manuscript was purchased by Dr Ignacio Bernal and placed in the library of the National Museum of Anthropology and History in Mexico City. 1972: A photographic copy of the entire six volume dictionary was made by Dr James Rauh and deposited in National Anthropological Archives.