Acoustical Investigations of Joseph Henry as Viewed in 1940

Abstract

Joseph Henry's investigations in the field of building acoustics published in the Reports of the Smithsonian Institution, 1856, have received only scanty attention. A versatile and resourceful man, Henry conducted experiments and expressed himself in such a manner that his writings show a clear concept of the basic principles of auditorium acoustics. A review of Henry's publication will be presented and a comparison made with our present knowledge of acoustics. Since these investigations were carried out in the locality of the Smithsonian Institution, reference made to them at a Washington meeting may be of interest to members of the Society.