Downtown in Knoxville in Knox County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Earl O'Dell Henry

(1911-1945)

Photographed By Tom Bosse, April 15, 2023

1. Earl O'Dell Henry Marker

Inscription.

Earl O'Dell Henry. Immature Red-tailed Hawk, 1944 Tempera on Board, 13 5/8 x 16 inches. Earl Henry, a local naturalist and taught artist, is often better known as the Knoxville dental officer who perished on the ill-fated USS Indianapolis at the end of World War II., After his boyhood discovery of vividly illustrated wildlife cards found inside Arm and Hammer Baking Soda boxes, Earl began drawing birds. His wooden bird carvings drew acclaim while studying at Knoxville High School. He developed the art of taxidermy while a junior member of the East Tennessee Ornithological Society and that expertise informed his painting of birds., After studying dentistry in Memphis, Henry returned to Knoxville and set up practice across the street from here in the Medical Arts Building. In 1942, he joined the the U.S. Navy, serving on active duty initially at the Naval Hospital at Parris Island in South Carolina. There, he honed his artistic ability using tempera paints on boards, and later incorporating detailed background landscapes, reminiscent of the style of John James Audubon, providing richer and more sophisticated natural settings., Cmdr. Henry lost his life at sea at age 33. He died on July 30, 1945 aboard the USS Indianapolis shortly after the vessel delivered uranium for the first atomic bomb used in World War II. The ship was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine and sank within 12 minutes. Henry was not among the survivors. He was one of two Knoxvillians on the ship - the other being Knoxville Journal photographer Kasey Moore. Two of Henry's final works, "Kentucky Cardinal" and "American Eagle in the Pacific" were painted aboard ship in 1944 and his artistic legacy remains part of the ongoing story of the USS Indianapolis., Examples of Earl Henry's artwork and mounted birds are on display locally at Ijams Nature Center. Read more about Earl Henry and other Knoxville naturalists from the past at: knoxvillehistoryproject.org/naturalists/, Downtown Art Wraps are coordinated by the Knoxville History Project, an educational nonprofit with a mission to research and promote the history and culture of Knoxville. , Discover other Art Wraps and learn more at knoxvillehistoryproject.org, Photo: Courtesy of Earl Henley .

Immature Red-tailed Hawk, 1944
Tempera on Board, 13 5/8 x 16 inches
Earl Henry, a local naturalist and taught artist, is often better known as the Knoxville dental officer who perished on the ill-fated USS Indianapolis at the end of World War II.

After his boyhood discovery of vividly illustrated wildlife cards found inside Arm & Hammer Baking Soda boxes, Earl began drawing birds. His wooden bird carvings drew acclaim while studying at Knoxville High School. He developed the art of taxidermy while a junior member of the East Tennessee Ornithological Society and that expertise informed his painting of birds.

After studying dentistry in Memphis, Henry returned to Knoxville and set up practice across the street from here in the Medical Arts Building. In 1942, he joined the the U.S. Navy, serving on active duty initially at the Naval Hospital at Parris Island in South Carolina. There, he honed his artistic ability using tempera paints on boards, and later incorporating detailed background landscapes, reminiscent of the style of John James Audubon, providing richer and more sophisticated natural settings.

Cmdr. Henry lost his life at sea at age 33. He died on July 30, 1945 aboard the USS Indianapolis shortly after the vessel delivered uranium for the first

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atomic bomb used in World War II. The ship was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine and sank within 12 minutes. Henry was not among the survivors. He was one of two Knoxvillians on the ship - the other being Knoxville Journal photographer Kasey Moore. Two of Henry's final works, "Kentucky Cardinal" and "American Eagle in the Pacific" were painted aboard ship in 1944 and his artistic legacy remains part of the ongoing story of the USS Indianapolis.

Examples of Earl Henry's artwork and mounted birds are on display locally at Ijams Nature Center. Read more about Earl Henry and other Knoxville naturalists from the past at: knoxvillehistoryproject.org/naturalists/

Downtown Art Wraps are coordinated by the Knoxville
History Project, an educational nonprofit with a mission to
research and promote the history and culture of Knoxville.

Discover other Art Wraps and learn more at
knoxvillehistoryproject.org

Photo: Courtesy of Earl Henley

Erected by Knoxville History Project.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Knoxville History Project - Downtown Art Wraps, and the Lost at Sea series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is July 30, 1945.

Location.

Photographed By Tom Bosse, April 15, 2023

2. Earl O'Dell Henry Marker

35° 57.629′ N, 83° 55.157′ W. Marker is in Knoxville, Tennessee, in Knox County. It is in Downtown. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street SW and Locust Street, on the right when traveling east on Main Street SW. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 602 Main St SW, Knoxville TN 37902, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Albert Milani (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); First Baptist Church (about 400 feet away); James Park House (about 400 feet away); Russell Briscoe (about 500 feet away); Lizzie Crozier French and GFWC Ossoli Circle (about 500 feet away); Charles Krutch (about 500 feet away); Lawson McGhee Library (about 700 feet away); Mecklenburg Place (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Knoxville.

Also see . . .
1. Earl O. Henry. (Submitted on May 2, 2023, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)
2. Earl Henry Bird Prints. (Submitted on May 2, 2023, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)
3. Indianapolis (CA-35). (Submitted on May 2, 2023, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 2, 2023, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 48 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 2, 2023, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.