The Purposes and Goals of the Clan Henderson Society are focused in six (6) key areas:
- Culture: Foster Scottish culture and activities
- Games: Promote Scottish festivals and games
- Genealogy: Assist in Genealogical research
- Fellowship: Foster fellowship and friendship among kith and kin, and all clans
- History: Maintain and promote the history of the clan and Scotland
- Charity: Promote charitable and educational activities and maintain a scholarship fund for worthy individuals
Origins of the Society
Authorized to gather the clan in 1986 by Dr. John William Philp Henderson of Fordell, Chief of the Name and Arms of Henderson, a small group including Walter M.(Toby) Parrish Jr., and the following Hendersons, David S., George C., Kim, Claude A., Douglas C., Kyle, Charles, and Chris met on a hill side, under the trees at Grandfather Mountain and decided to organize the Clan Henderson Society of the United States. The day was Saturday, 9 July 1988.
The following day, this small and determined group were joined by Ken Henderson and Toby’s son, Andrew, as they took part in the Tartan Parade. In the afternoon, a business meeting was held; Toby Parrish and David S. Henderson were elected President and Vice President, respectively. Claude Henderson agreed to accept the office of Secretary and Treasurer and the rest is history.
Many other Hendersons have joined these founding members. They have dedicated many hours of labor to create and expand the Clan Henderson Society, first to add regions in Canada, then to spin off a Canadian society. Early activities included the establishment of a genealogical database and the Henderson archives at the Odom Library in Moultrie, Georgia. Members are kept current on activities by the quarterly newsletter, An Canach, which has grown to become a worldwide publication for the Clan‚ at times having an Australian and a United Kingdom edition as well.
Following The Gathering (of the Clans) 2009 in Edinburgh, Scotland, Alistair Henderson of Fordell, who had succeeded his father, to be the Chief of the Name and Arms of Henderson, proposed to the society leadership that they become the administrative arm of Clan Henderson. This mission includes raising Clan Henderson affiliates around the world, as it had done in the United States.
Growth of the clan can be represented not only by the almost 4000 member families, but also by eleven active regions in the U.S., our 501 c (3) status in the United States that includes a recognition program and an educational scholarship program for students of Scottish culture and heritage, and an intensive history and genealogy of the clan (a work in progress) that has gathered more information than previously concentrated in one publication. Volunteer family members have accomplished all of our progress.