Hudson Family Papers, 1825-1865
General International Standard for Archival Description
Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
Finding aid exported into EAD from InMagic DB/Textworks 7.01. Encoded by Margaret Jessup and Jennifer Smar. 2006-04-07
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Hudson Family Papers
Creation of Hudson Family Papers
Time of Creation of Hudson Family Papers
Hudson family
Biographical History for: Hudson Family Papers
Biographical Note Erasmus Darwin Hudson, Sr. was born December 15,1806 in Torringford (now part of Torrington), Connecticut, to Daniel and Rhoda Fowler Hudson. He studied medicine with Dr. Remus M. Fowler in New Marlboro, Massachusetts, and continued his studies at Berkshire Medical College (Pittsfield, Massachusetts), a branch of Williams College, where he received his M.D. in 1827. That same year Hudson married Martha Turner, daughter of Deacon Isaac and Martha Humphrey Turner of Marlboro, MA. They had two sons, Erasmus Darwin , Jr. (1843-87) and Daniel Wyatt. He had a private medical practice in Bloomfield, CT in 1828 to 1833 and worked as a physician and surgeon at the Connecticut State Emigrant Hospital. During that time, he became involved in temperance advocacy, philanthropic work and the Connecticut Anti-Slavery Society, later as the Society's lecturing agent (1838-39) and as the National Anti-Slavery Society's general agent (1839-50). . In 1850 Hudson became a general and orthopedic surgeon in Springfield, Massachusetts, then in New York City through 1880. During the Civil War Hudson served on the Commission from the Surgeon General of the United States Army for the treatment of wounded soldiers in need of amputation and resection at a number of military hospitals. During this time he invented an orthopedic apparatus for which he received awards. Erasmus Darwin Hudson died of pneumonia on December 31, 1880 in Riverside, Greenwich, Connecticut. [source: Inventory to Hudson Family Papers, compiled by Laurie B. Gaus, UMASS-Amherst Archives and Manuscripts October 1983]
Scope and Contents of the Collection The Hudson Family Papers relate primarily to physician, abolitionist, and social reformer Erasmus Darwin Hudson, Sr. His correspondence (1825-65) to and from family and friends includes commentary on anti-slavery and Civil War era events and personalities. Notable correspondents or individuals mentioned include abolitionist and women's rights advocate Abigail Kelley Foster, social reformers Parker Pillsbury and Wendell Phillips, and clergyman Theodore Parker. Other items of interest are E.D. Hudson Sr.'s address "Intemperance" (1828), a manuscript and typescript of his journal, "Anti-Slavery Campaign" (1842-43), and E.D. Hudson, Jr's 1864 address, "Conquest Through Self Conquest."
Abolitionists--United States--Biography--Sources
lcsh
Anti-slavery movements--United States--History--Sources
Social reformers--United States--Biography--Sources
Family--United States--History--19th century--Sources
Pillsbury, Parker, 1809-1898
lcnaf
Foster, Abigail Kelley, 1810-1887
Hudson, Erasmus Darwin, 1806-1880
Phillips, Wendell, 1811-1884
Parker, Theodore, 1810-1860
American Anti Slavery Society
Northampton Association of Education and Industry
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives
series
SERIES I. CORRESPONDENCE
Contents
Hudson, Daniel Wyatt
Photograph n.d.
To parents and brother 1851, 1852, 1854
Hudson, Erasmus Darwin, Jr. to parents n.d.
Hudson, Erasmus Darwin, Sr.
To Erasmus Darwin, Jr. (son) 1859-64
To Martha Turner Hudson (wife) 1855-59
Hudson, Fowler to parents 1851-58
Hudson, Martha to E.D. Hudson 1855, n.d.
Miscellaneous Hudson family correspondence 1843, 1869, n.d.
Correspondence to E.D. Hudson, Sr.
Bawditch, William 1855
Church, Jefferson 1855, 1858-64
Fowler, R.M 1856, 1869, 1870
Parker, Theodore n.d.
Phillips, Wendell n.d.
Seymore, Flora n.d
Wright, Henry C. 1853, 1855
Kossuth, Lajos to Benjamin Palmer 1852
SERIES II. WRITINGS
Hudson, E.D., Sr.
Temperance address and notes 1867
Journal: partial transcript (two copies) 1842-43
Original manuscript of journal, "Anti-Slavery Campaign" 1842-43
Transcripts of letters to and about E.D. Hudson 1825-41, 1848
Hudson, E.D., Jr.: commencement essay manuscript July 1864