Alice Hudson (March 17, 1947 – November 6, 2024) was an American librarian and cartographic curator who served as the chief of the Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division at the New York Public Library from 1981 to 2009. She co-founded the New York Map Society in 1977 and contributed to the preservation, curation, and accessibility of historical maps.
Alice Hudson | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 17, 1947 Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | November 6, 2024 (aged 77) New York City, U.S. |
| Education | Middle Tennessee State University Vanderbilt Peabody College |
| Occupation(s) | Librarian, cartographic curator |
| Employer | New York Public Library (1970–2009) |
Early life
editHudson was born on March 17, 1947, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.[1] Her father, George Hudson, worked as an electrician at the Y-12 National Security Complex, while her mother, Eva Hudson (née Borgers), was a teacher.[1]
As a teenager, Hudson worked at the Donnell Library Center in Manhattan as a page.[1] She initially planned to pursue a career as a United Nations translator. However, after completing a degree at Middle Tennessee University and earning a Master of Library Science at Vanderbilt Peabody College, her academic interests shifted toward geography, which she credited to a required course during her studies.[1]
Career
editIn 1970, Hudson joined the New York Public Library (NYPL) Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division.[1] By 1978, she had been promoted to assistant chief, and in 1981, she became the division's chief, a position she held until her retirement in 2009.[1][2]
In 1977, Hudson helped establish the New York Map Society, a group focused on cartographic study and education.[1][2] During her tenure at the NYPL, the map collection expanded, growing to include more than 400,000 maps and 24,000 atlases.[1] She organized various exhibitions, including one at the Boston Public Library from 2015 to 2016 that highlighted historical contributions by women to the field of mapmaking.[2][3]
Hudson contributed to projects such as The Historical Atlas of New York City and co-curated the exhibition "Heading West/Touring West" in 2001.[1] She also played a role in mentoring scholars and students, teaching courses on cartography and map librarianship at institutions like Pratt Institute.[1][2]
Among the recognitions she received was the Sloan Public Service Award in 2001, presented by the Fund for the City of New York.[2] Additionally, the New York Map Society inaugurated the Alice Hudson Award in 2018, which acknowledges achievements in geography and mapmaking by students at Hunter College.[2]
Personal life
editHudson had a nephew and a grandniece.[1] She died on November 6, 2024, in Manhattan from complications related to kidney disease.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Roberts, Sam (November 29, 2024). "Alice Hudson, Librarian Who Built a Trove of Historic Maps, Dies at 77". New York Times. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
- ^ a b c d e f "Hall of Fame". New York Map Society. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
- ^ Bliss, Laura (2016-03-22). "The Forgotten History of Female Mapmakers". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2024-11-30.