Papers and correspondence of Robert George Spencer Hudson and the Palaeontological Association

The material consists of the papers of Hudson relating to the Association, which were in his charge, and additional papers supplied by other officers of the Association. There are correspondence, memoranda and reports on the formation, funding and early years of the Association and its journal, Palaeontology.

Hudson was born in Rugby and educated at the Lawrence Sheriffe School, Rugby and University College, London where he read geology, 1918-1920. He saw service with the army during the First World War. He was Assistant Lecturer, Lecturer and Professor of Geology, University of Leeds, 1922-1940, Geologist and Palaeontologist with the Iraq Petroleum Company, 1946-1958, and Professor of Geology, Trinity College, Dublin from 1961. Hudson's research interests were Carboniferous palaeontology, stratigraphy and sedimentation in the North of England, especially Yorkshire, and the geology and palaeontology of the Middle East. He was elected FRS in 1961.

The Palaeontological Association developed from the initiative of a group of young palaeontologists who had begun to meet at a Dining Club at the Gardenia Restaurant, London, early in 1955. Hudson was invited to join the group and played an important part in the early organisation and financing of the Association. An interim Committee was formed with Hudson as Chairman, and after a public discussion meeting on 30 January 1956 (also chaired by Hudson), the Inaugural Meeting was held on 27 February 1957. Hudson served as the first President of the Association, 1957-1959.

By section as follows: Correspondence and papers October 1956-March 1963, Reports and correspondence on manuscripts submitted for Palaeontology, Minutes, circulars and printed material. Index of correspondents.

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Printed catalogue of the papers and correspondence of Robert George Spencer Hudson, CSAC catalogue no. 66/4/79, 30 pp. Copies available from NCUACS, University of Bath.

Received for cataloguing in 1978-1979 by the Contemporary Scientific Archives Centre from Dr W.S. McKerrow, a founder member of the Palaeontological Association. Deposited in the Natural History Museum's Earth Sciences Library in 1979. Transferred to the Museum Archives in 1996.

Editorial files of the Palaeontological Association were deposited in the Natural History Museum in 1995 (available for research in 2005); financial and publication papers were deposited in the Natural History Museum in 1998 (also available in 2005). Five boxes. Local reference code PA.