The Luther M. Hudson Papers include photographs, postcards, certificate of marriage, correspondence, funeral service program and guestbook, and newspaper clippings documenting the life and career of funeral home director Luther Hudson.

Funeral director Luther M. Hudson (1882-1972) was born on November 9, 1882 in Henry County, Missouri the youngest of seven children to Coleman C. and Martha Hudson. After graduating from Clinton High School, Hudson studied mortuary science at Worsham School in Chicago, Illinois and opened the Hudson Funeral Home at 853 8th Street in Oakland, California in 1915. He was one of the original founders of the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company, the largest black-owned insurance company in the western United States, contributing $15,000 to help it secure an insurance license in 1925 and served on the company’s board of directors until his death in 1972. Hudson owned and operated the Hudson Funeral Home for 29 years until the failing health of his wife forced him to sell the funeral home to Aramis Fouche in 1943 and move to Los Angeles, California. Hudson married charm school and etiquette instructor, Annette Starr Bruce, in Los Angeles in 1970.

.25 linear feet (1 box + 1 oversized box)

Permission to publish from the Luther M. Hudson Papers must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.

No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.