Alexander S. Henderson (1859-1944) was a merchant in Patagonia, AZ. He owned a general merchandise store and was an investor in several mines throughout Patagonia and Santa Cruz County, CA. Henderson also made ventures in real estate in parts of Arizona and California. He married Eva Stevens on Dec 31, 1907.

The collection contains records pertaining to the A. S. Henderson General Merchandise Store in Patagonia from 1900 to 1940, such as inventories, correspondence, merchandise ads, ledgers, monthly account books, and bills. His mining interests are represented by correspondence with Josiah Bond, a mining engineer, and John F. Campbell, a mining company owner; legal papers; assay; ore reports; and notices of numerous mines in Santa Cruz County. There is also a photo album that depicts the mine building and personnel of the Black Bonanza Mine. His investments include mainly oil and gas leases in Texas. Personal items for him include correspondence, portraits, bank statements, health books, automobile information, and documents relating to his position on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors.

Additionally, there are materials pertaining to Eva Henderson, such as correspondence with pioneer relatives in Oklahoma, books, certificates, photos, and other items related to her educational and professional osteopath activities in Oklahoma and Arizona. Materials relating to Minnie Stevens in the collection include musical compositions, a diary, photos, and typescripts on Oklahoma land claim shanties.

Personal and business activities of Chinese merchants in Patagonia are documented by files of Woo Ben, Louis Kang, Sam Thomas, and Tom Wegin and include holograph notebooks and letters in Chinese, and printed items concerned with fortune-telling, literature, philosophy, and medicine. These materials were found in the leased section of the Henderson store.

Most material is in English, some in Chinese.