Hudson (Darril) Papers, circa 1940-2019

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Summary

Title:
Darril Hudson papers
Dates:
circa 1940-2019
Creators:
Hudson, Darril
Abstract:
Extent:
17 linear feet (12 cartons. 1 medium oversize box)
Language:
Preferred citation:

Darril Hudson papers. GLBT Historical Society

Background

Scope and content:

The papers of Darril Hudson (1931-2014) document his life and travels with his partner of 35 years, Peter Boesch. The collection includes detailed handwritten and typed personal journals and scrapbooks, personal audiovisual recordings (home movies), photographs and slides, correspondence, receipts from travels and other papers. Hudson moved to the San Francisco Bay Area from Oklahoma as a child. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in International Relations and later earned a master’s degree and doctorate from the London School of Economics. He served as an officer with the US Army Counterintelligence and later became Professor of Political Science at Cal State East Bay. Darril and Peter moved to San Francisco in the 1960s from London. They traveled extensively throughout their life together, until Boesch’s death in 1995.

Biographical / historical:

As a child, Darril Hudson (1931-2019) and his family left Oklahoma and settled in Oakland, California. Eventually his family moved to the East Bay suburbs of Walnut Creek and Darril graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in International Relations. Later he earned a master’s degree and doctorate from the London School of Economics. Darril also served as an officer with the US Army Counterintelligence and later became Professor of Political Science at Cal State East Bay. During one of his visits to Europe Hudson met his partner Peter Boesch (1938-1995) in London who was working in hotel hospitality. The two moved to San Francisco in the 1960s and were together for 35 years. Darril and Peter traveled extensively throughout their life (including annual trips to Germany and France), until Boesch’s death in 1995. The two were avid opera and theater goers and Hudson actively attended Holy Innocents Episcopal church in San Francisco. In their later years Hudson and Boesch shared a partner, David Chick (1942-1997) who was originally from New Hampshire and resided in Santa Rosa until his death. Near the end of his life he learned that he was HIV positive. Chick had a passion for gardening and the outdoors, paving the way to become a leader in the Redwood Association of Men, (a social club for gay men in Sonoma County) organizing garden visits throughout the region.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Thomas Mulvihill as Trustee of the Darril Hudson Revocable Trust and the Peter Boesch Revocable Trust, August 2021.

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid created by GLBT Historical Society staff.
Date Prepared:
circa 1940-2019
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:55 p.m.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Copyright to material has been transferred to the GLBT Historical Society, with the exception of the book "Until the New Wine in Heaven." Copyright to the book is retained by the donor. All requests for reproductions and/or permission to publish or quote from material must be submitted in writing to the GLBT Historical Society Archivist.

Preferred citation:

Darril Hudson papers. GLBT Historical Society

Location of this collection:
989 Market Street, Lower Level
San Francisco, CA 94103, US
Contact:
(415) 777-5455
reference@glbthistory.org
Website