Hudson, Arthur Palmer, 1892-1978

Arthur Palmer Hudson (1892-1978) was a professor of English, 1930-1953, and executive secretary of the Curriculum in Folklore, 1950-1963, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Hudson was born in the Hesterville community of Attala County, Miss. He received his B.A. degree from the University of Mississippi in 1913. Thereafter he served as principal of Gulfport (Miss.) High School, 1913-1919, and superintendent of schools in Oxford, Miss., 1919-1920. In 1920 he received his M.A. degree from the University of Mississippi and began teaching in its Department of English. In 1925 he was awarded another M.A. from the University of Chicago, and in 1930 a Ph.D., with the Smith Prize for Graduate Research from the University of North Carolina. In 1930 Hudson accepted an appointment as associate professor of English at the University of North Carolina, where he taught English romantic literature as well as folklore. He remained at the University of North Carolina as a professor, Kenan professor, and Kenan Professor Emeritus, until his retirement in 1951. He also served as executive secretary of the Curriculum in Folklore at the University, 1950-1963.

Hudson's major publications were in the field of folklore and included Specimens of Mississippi Folklore (1928); Folksongs of Mississippi and Their Background (1936); Humor of the Old Deep South (1936); Folk Tunes from Mississippi (with George Herzog, 1937); two volumes of the Frank C. Brown Collection of North Carolina Folklore (with H. M. Belden, 1952); and Folklore in American Literature (with John T. Flanagan, 1958). Hudson also edited North Carolina Folklore, the Journal of the North Carolina Folklore Society, 1954-1963. He also served as the society's secretary-treasurer, 1946-1964.

Hudson was married to Grace Noah of Kosciusko, Miss., in 1916. They had three children, William Palmer, Margaret Louise, and Ellen Noah.

From the guide to the Arthur Palmer Hudson Papers, ., 1915-1966, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)