The Institution's mission is "to develop the extensive library and archival resources that will improve the
body of aquatic sports knowledge and to provide the informational services that will inspire the enrichment
of individual understanding".
The library and archival facility gathers, preserves
and makes available an extensive collection of
resources through a world-wide research system.
Current holdings, exceeding 31,000 discreet aquatic
sports items, are available via
computer/telecommunication networking to scholars,
students, researchers, aquatic sports enthusiasts
and the inquiring public.
The library materials collections, built through the last 38 years by purchase and contribution, includes:
several thousand monographs, four hundred and
twenty-four periodical titles, seven hundred special
interview cassettes, in excess of fourteen thousand
photographs, and five thousand vertical file items with
topics ranging from the Amateur Athletic Union
to the Y.M.C.A.
"The Henning" provides a
thorough record of four centuries of written, taped
and filmed aquatic sports.
Extraordinary treasures of the collection are found
in the R. Max Ritter Rare Book Room, with over
400 pre-1900 vintage volumes, 310 scrapbooks
with the pictures and memorabilia of the past
century, and 114 unique aquatic sports magazines.
The archival facility maintains and preserves the
handbooks, bulletins, circulars, newsletters, minutes
of diverse meetings, applications and verifications for
world records, proposals for alterations of rules
and laws, letters, programs and results of Olympic
Games and World Championships, as well as
manuscripts and publications of the organizations
which are the foundation of the world of aquatic
sport. These administrative bodies include:
- Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA)
- American Swimming Coaches Association
- College Swimming Coaches Association of America
- Commodore Longfellow Society
- International Academy of Aquatic Art
- National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association
- United States Masters Swimming
- United States Synchronized Swimming
- USA Diving
- USA Swimming
- USA Water Polo
The Henning Library offers the international aquatic
community a place to remember, to honor, and to learn.
