Guide to the Hudson (Luther M.) Papers
Sean Heyliger
African American Museum & Library at Oakland
659 14th Street
Oakland, California 94612
Phone: (510) 637-0198
Fax: (510) 637-0204
Email: aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org
URL: http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/locations/african-american-museum-library-oakland
© 2013
African American Museum & Library at Oakland. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Luther M. Hudson Papers
Collection number: MS 57
African American Museum & Library at Oakland
Oakland, California
- Processed by:
- Sean Heyliger
- Date Completed:
- 09/11/2013
- Encoded by:
- Sean Heyliger
© 2013 African American Museum & Library at Oakland. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Luther M. Hudson papers
Dates: 1900-1986
Collection number: MS 57
Creator:
Hudson, Luther M.
Collection Size:
.25 linear feet
(1 box + 1 oversized box)
Repository:
African American Museum & Library at Oakland (Oakland, Calif.)
Abstract: 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.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.
Access Restrictions
Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating.
Publication Rights
Permission to publish from the Luther M. Hudson Papers must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.
Preferred Citation
Luther M. Hudson papers, MS 57, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.
Processing Information
Processed by Sean Heyliger, 09/11/2013.
Biography / Administrative History
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.
Scope and Content of Collection
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. The papers
include 27 photographs of Hudson’s family and friends and the funeral service program and guestbook for Luther Hudson’s funeral
service in 1972. The papers also include a folder of newspaper clippings, correspondence, and a short biographical note collected
by the Eastbay Negro Historical Society related to the Hudson Funeral Home.
Arrangement
Series I. Luther M. Hudson
Series II. Hudson Funeral Home
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Hudson, Luther M.
Hudson Funeral Home (Oakland, Calif.).
Undertakers and undertaking—California.
Oakland (Calif.)--Social life and customs.
African Americans--California--Oakland--Biography.
Related Material
Annette Starr Bruce Hudson Papers, MS 47, African American Museum & Library at Oakland.
Luther M. Hudson
Physical Description: 5 folders + 1 oversized box
Series Scope and Content Summary
Includes Luther M. Hudson's marriage certificate to Ida Mosley, family photographs of Luther Hudson and Annette Starr Bruce
Hudson, programs and guestbook at Luther Hudson's funeral service, and a vertical file containing correspondence and newspaper
clippings on Luther Hudson.
Arrangement
Arranged by format.
Box 1:1
Luther Hudson dancing with wife, Annette Starr Bruce Hudson [001]
circa 1960s
Box 1:1
Exterior of Luther Hudson's house at 1141 S. Burnside Ave. Los Angeles, California [002]
circa 1960s
Box 1:1
Luther and Annette Starr Bruce Hudson with friends [003]
circa 1960s
Box 1:1
Luther Hudson standing on front steps of house holding a dog leash [004]
1971
Box 1:1
Luther Hudson and dog, Fritz, on front steps of house [005]
1971
Box 1:1
Luther Hudson, Annette Starr Bruce, and dog, Fritz, on front lawn [006]
1971
Box 1:1
Robert Gilmore and Luther Hudson outside of house at 1141 S. Burnside Ave. Los Angeles, California [007]
1971
Box 1:1
Luther Hudson sitting in chair reading a newspaper [008]
1972
Box 1:1
Luther Hudson standing outside in suit and hat [009]
circa 1970s
Box 1:1
Luther Hudson sitting in chair [010]
circa 1970s
Box 1:1
Annette Starr Bruce Hudson and mourners at Luther Hudson's funeral service [011]
1972
Box 1:1
Luther Hudson and Mrs. Luther Hudson standing next to table [012]
circa 1950s
Box 1:1
Luther Hudson and Mrs. Luther Hudson standing next to Chinese lantern [013]
circa 1950s
Box 1:2
Luther and Jane Hudson sitting at banquet table [colorized] [014]
1943
Box 1:2
Luther Hudson's hand in casket [015]
1972
Box 1:2
Luther Hudson's hand in casket [016]
1972
Box 1:2
Mourners at Luther Hudson's funeral service [017]
1972
Box 1:2
Luther Hudson in casket at funeral service [018]
1972
Box 1:2
Luther Hudson in casket at funeral service [019]
1972
Box 1:2
Luther Hudson's gravesite [020]
1972
Box 1:2
Luther Hudson's gravesite [021]
1972
Box 1:2
Casket at gravesite at Luther Hudson's funeral service [022]
1972
Box 1:2
Mourners standing beside casket at gravesite at Luther Hudson's funeral service [023]
1972
Box 1:2
Mourners standing beside casket at gravesite at Luther Hudson's funeral service [024]
1972
Box 1:2
Luther Hudson and man standing next to car [025]
circa 1940s
Box 1:2
Cabinet card portrait of brother of Luther Hudson [026]
1900
Box 1:2
Luther Hudson sitting in chair next to woman [color negative][027]
circa 1970s
Box OM5
Certificate of marriage, Luther M. Hudson and Ida Mosley
1908
Box OM5
Worsham Training School diploma
1915
Box 1:5
Eastbay Negro Historical Society vertical file
1955-1970
Hudson Funeral Home
Physical Description: 1 folder + 1 oversized box
Series Scope and Content Summary
Includes newspaper clippings, mailing advertisements, a calendar, and postcards of Hudson's Funeral Home.
Arrangement
Arranged by format.
Box OM5
Fouche’s Hudson Funeral Home calendar
1986
Box 1:6
Eastbay Negro Historical Society vertical file
1965 and undated
