Mary Henry

alt=Card photograph of a young woman in black and white. Below the photo the name "Mary Anna Henry" is handwritten. Mary Anna Henry (1834 – 1903) was an American diarist noted for her documentation of Washington, D.C. in the years before, during, and after the American Civil War. Her diary is noted for its level of detail and is now used to teach the history of the Civil War.

Diary From 1858 to 1868, Henry kept a diary that included her experiences within the Smithsonian building, news reports of major Civil War battles, observations of troop movements, and attitudes of the people of Washington, D.C. Henry also wrote a detailed account of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and his funeral.

In her life in Washington, DC, Henry met with powerful social, political, and both military leaders and soldiers. Due to her father's position, Henry also greeted and entertained scholars and scientists visiting the Smithsonian Castle.