The collection consists of about eight hundred jazz and popular compositions arranged for
studio recordings and radio or television programs. There are arrangements for full
orchestra, large and small jazz ensembles, and some brief sketches. Forty-one of the works
are original compositions by Henderson, including some commercial jingles, and short
arrangements for station breaks or television cues. Several of the pieces are unpublished.
Many of the arrangements were for NBC radio shows such as The Ethel Merman Show, The Henry
Morgan Show, The Steve Allen Show, Serenade to America, U.S. Steel Hour; and television
programs such as the Tonight Show, and Academy Awards and Emmy Awards shows. Many of the
arrangements in the collection are by other notable jazz musicians such as Deane Kincaide,
Tommy Newsom, Zito Torrie, Doc Severinsen, Pete Rugolo, Fletcher Henderson and Neal Hefti.
Several of the pieces in the collection can be heard on albums by popular vocalists or under
his own name. Some noteworthy items from the collection include an arrangement by Tommy
Newsom of "Hello Dolly!" for a 1964 Benny Goodman recording; score and parts for the Tonight
Show theme that includes the original 2-bar drum intro; an arrangement of "Weather man" by
Fletcher Henderson; several unpublished original compositions by Skitch Henderson; Several
works have exhibit numbers attached to them, apparently having to do with the litigation in
New York over tax evasion charges in 1974. The sound recordings consist of nine 16-inch
transcription discs dating from 1946 to 1948. A number of the recordings are performances of
arrangements in the collection.