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Guide to the Annette Starr Bruce Hudson Papers
MS 47
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Title: Annette Starr Bruce Hudson papers
Dates: ca. 1860s-2002
Bulk Dates: 1950-1963
Collection number: MS 47
Creator:
Hudson, Annette Starr Bruce.
Creator:
Starr, Henry, 1899-1962.
Collection Size:
5.75 linear feet
(7 boxes + 2 oversized boxes)
Repository:
African American Museum amp; Library at Oakland (Oakland, Calif.)
Oakland, CA 94612
Abstract: The Annette Starr Bruce Hudson papers consist of photographs, correspondence, brochures, programs, newspapers clippings, awards,
and ephemera documenting her career as an instructor of dance, modeling and charm classes.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.
Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating.
Permission to publish from the Annette Starr Bruce Hudson Papers must be obtained from the African American Museum amp; Library
at Oakland.
Annette Starr Bruce Hudson papers, MS 47, African American Museum amp; Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland,
California.
Processed by Sean Heyliger, 08/03/2013.
Biography / Administrative History
Annette Starr Bruce Hudson (1920-2002) was born on March 16, 1920 to Elmer G. and Marguerite Starr in Oakland, California.
After the death of her mother at age 7, she was largely raised by her grandmother, Mary A. Starr in Oakland, California. She
attended Golden Gate Junior High School and University High School graduating in 1939. She worked as a waitress during the
Golden Gate Exposition in 1939 before eventually teaching charm and etiquette classes at DeFremery Recreation Center in West
Oakland beginning in 1950. After graduating from the Merle Norman Institute in 1953, she opened a Merle Norman Studio selling
cosmetics and perfumes. In 1954, she opened a charm and modeling studio, Annette's Studio of Transformation, in Berkeley,
California, which trained hundreds of graduates each year in personality development, voice and diction, wardrobe, modeling,
makeup, hairstyling, figure control, visual poise, and social grace. In the 1950s, Hudson also wrote the social event column,
People!, Places!, and Things!, for the African American newspaper
The California Voice.
In 1960, Hudson moved to Los Angeles where she worked as a Public Relations officer at the performing arts center, Studio
West, and then served as the Regional Executive Director of the American Cancer Society, Los Angeles County Branch. She married
funeral director Luther Hudson in 1970 and remained active in civic and community organizations, including the Church of Christian
Fellowship and the NAACP and until her death in 2002.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Annette Starr Bruce Hudson papers consist of photographs, correspondence, brochures, programs, newspapers clippings, awards,
ephemera, fashion designs documenting her career as an instructor of dance, modeling and charm classes. The papers are organized
into four series: Annette Starr Bruce Hudson, Henry Starr, Elmer G. Starr, and Assorted printed material. A majority of the
papers are photographs related to Hudson's work as a charm class instructor at DeFremery Recreation Center and Annette's Studio
of Transformation in Oakland, California in the 1950s. The Annette Starr Bruce Hudson series is organized into biographical
material, professional activities, and photographs. Biographical material includes a funeral program from Hudson's service
and Hudson's high school yearbook, junior high newsletter, and report card. Professional activities include a brochure for
Annette's Studio of Transformation, assorted charm class and fashion show programs, a file related to Hudson's work as a public
relations officer for Studio West in Los Angeles, California, and newspaper clippings related to her charm classes and a file
of newspaper clippings of her
People! Places! And Things! column in the
The California Voice. Photographs are arranged into seven sub-series: Charm and modeling classes, Merle Norman Cosmetics, Photograph album, Starr
family photographs, Los Angeles, Tom Bradley, and Assorted.
The Henry Starr series includes Browning & Starr concert programs in the United States and Europe, Henry Starr's high school
diploma, newspaper clippings documenting his music career, and 34 photographs. The Elmer G. Starr series includes Starr's
address book and an inscribed 1945 brochure of A real box office Snow musical marine movie stars. The assorted printed material
series has an assortment of WPA and Golden Gate Exposition musical and theater programs from the 1940s, masonic programs,
two sketches of a man and a woman, an assortment of inspirational poems and quotations, business cards, and a scrapbook containing
handbills and business cards of African American vaudeville performers.
Series I. Annette Starr Bruce Hudson
Series II. Henry Starr
Series III. Elmer G. Starr
Series IV. Assorted photographs
Series V. Assorted printed material
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Hudson, Annette Starr Bruce.
Bradley, Tom, 1917-1998.
Starr, Henry, 1899-1962.
Starr Family.
Annette’s Studio of Transformation (Berkeley, Calif.).
Church of Christian Fellowship (Los Angeles, Calif.).
Merle Norman Cosmetics--History.
Etiquette for women--History--20th century.
Etiquette--Study and teaching.
Models (Persons)--United States--History--Pictorial works.
Models (Persons)--Vocational guidance.
African Americans--California--Berkeley.
African Americans--California--History--20th century.