Kenneth Hudson
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Hudson OBE, MA, FSA (4 July 1916 – 28 December 1999) was an industrial archaeologist, museologist, broadcaster and author.
and educated at the Lower School of John Lyon (now The John Lyon School) in Harrow and at University College London
. He joined the adult education
staff of the University of Bristol
in 1947, moving to the BBC
in Bristol
in 1954 as a radio talks producer and industrial correspondent. In 1966 he joined the staff of Bristol College of Science and Technology (which later became part of the University of Bath
).
scene and one of the pioneers of industrial archaeology
in the 1960s, a broadcaster and the author of numerous books. In 1963 he wrote one of the first books on the subject, Industrial Archaeology: An Introduction, and in 1965 his Industrial Archaeology of Southern England. He was the first editor of the Journal of Industrial Archaeology in which, with others, he produced an annual review of the rapidly growing literature. In 1972 he published his book on Building Materials in the Longmans IA series, and in 1979 he co-wrote, with Julian Pettifer
, Diamonds in the Sky, the result of historical research on the social history of air travel for the BBC television series of the same name.
The latter part of his career was largely devoted to work on museums, producing gazetteers such as the classic Cambridge Guide to Museums of Britain and Ireland (1987) on which he collaborated with Ann Nicholls.
He founded National Heritage, the UK museums action movement,in 1974 with John Letts and then the Museum of the Year Award. Subsequently he created the European Museum of the Year Award
and the European Museum Forum
, both aimed at stimulating the international interchange of ideas and creating networks of inspiration.
was opened on 4 July 2007. Part of the exhibition is the result of contact with ten historical societies which each submitted four images and 100 words of text they felt best described their area. Other exhibits include the cabinet-making industry in the city and local inventors. Kenneth Hudson was one of the original trustees of the museum.
Early career
He was born in HarlesdenHarlesden
Harlesden is an area in the London Borough of Brent, northwest London, UK. Its main focal point is the Jubilee Clock which commemorates Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee....
and educated at the Lower School of John Lyon (now The John Lyon School) in Harrow and at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
. He joined the adult education
Adult education
Adult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults. Adult education takes place in the workplace, through 'extension' school or 'school of continuing education' . Other learning places include folk high schools, community colleges, and lifelong learning centers...
staff of the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
in 1947, moving to the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
in 1954 as a radio talks producer and industrial correspondent. In 1966 he joined the staff of Bristol College of Science and Technology (which later became part of the University of Bath
University of Bath
The University of Bath is a campus university located in Bath, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966....
).
Later career
He was one of the most prominent personalities on the European museumMuseum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
scene and one of the pioneers of industrial archaeology
Industrial archaeology
Industrial archaeology, like other branches of archaeology, is the study of material culture from the past, but with a focus on industry. Strictly speaking, industrial archaeology includes sites from the earliest times to the most recent...
in the 1960s, a broadcaster and the author of numerous books. In 1963 he wrote one of the first books on the subject, Industrial Archaeology: An Introduction, and in 1965 his Industrial Archaeology of Southern England. He was the first editor of the Journal of Industrial Archaeology in which, with others, he produced an annual review of the rapidly growing literature. In 1972 he published his book on Building Materials in the Longmans IA series, and in 1979 he co-wrote, with Julian Pettifer
Julian Pettifer
Julian Pettifer OBE is a British television journalist. He was President of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and is Vice President of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts...
, Diamonds in the Sky, the result of historical research on the social history of air travel for the BBC television series of the same name.
The latter part of his career was largely devoted to work on museums, producing gazetteers such as the classic Cambridge Guide to Museums of Britain and Ireland (1987) on which he collaborated with Ann Nicholls.
He founded National Heritage, the UK museums action movement,in 1974 with John Letts and then the Museum of the Year Award. Subsequently he created the European Museum of the Year Award
European Museum of the Year Award
The European Museum of the Year Award , established in 1977, is presented each year by the European Museum Forum , under the Council of Europe...
and the European Museum Forum
European Museum Forum
The European Museum Forum is a museum organization under the Council of Europe. It is an independent, non-profit-making charity, registered in the United Kingdom and founded in 1977....
, both aimed at stimulating the international interchange of ideas and creating networks of inspiration.
The Hudson Gallery, Museum of Bath at Work (UK)
The Hudson Gallery at the Museum of Bath at WorkMuseum of Bath at Work
The Museum of Bath at Work is at Camden Works, Julian Road, in Bath, Somerset, England.This museum was established in 1978 to present the commercial development of Bath over the last 2000 years and includes displays on four floors. The main exhibit is the reconstruction of an engineering and...
was opened on 4 July 2007. Part of the exhibition is the result of contact with ten historical societies which each submitted four images and 100 words of text they felt best described their area. Other exhibits include the cabinet-making industry in the city and local inventors. Kenneth Hudson was one of the original trustees of the museum.
Books
- English Letter Writers Exeter: Wheaton and Co. (1951)
- Shakespeare and the Classroom with a foreword by Bernard Miles. Heinemann (1954)
- Industrial Archaeology: an Introduction John Baker (revised and reprinted 1966)
- The Industrial Archaeology of Southern England Newton Abbot: David & Charles (revised and reprinted 1968)
- An Awkward Size for a Town: Study of Swindon at the 100,000 Mark Newton Abbot: David & Charles (1967) hardcover, 212 pages ISBN 0715341103, ISBN 978-0715341100
- A Handbook for Industrial Archaeologists John Baker (1967)
- Towards Precision Shoemaking Newton Abbot: David & Charles (1968)
- Men and Women: Feminism and Anti-Feminism Today Newton Abbot: David & Charles (1968) hardcover, 212 pages
- The History of English China Clays - Fifty Years of Pioneering and Growth Newton Abbot: David & Charles (1969) hardcover, 192 pages ISBN 0715346555, ISBN 978-0715346556
- Industrial Archaeologist’s Guide 1969-70 (with Neil CossonsNeil CossonsSir Neil Cossons OBE FSA FMA is Pro-Provost and Chairman of the Council of the Royal College of Art, of which he has been a Governor since 1989. From 1986 to 2000 he was the Director of the Science Museum, London, UK, the National Museum of Science & Industry...
) Newton Abbot: David & Charles (1969), new edition 1971 - Working to Rule Bath: Adams and Dart (1970)
- The Place of Women in Society Ginn (1971)
- The Fashionable Stone Bath: Adams and Dart (1971)
- A Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of Europe Bath: Adams and Dart (1971)
- Towards a Welfare State Ginn (1971)
- Building Materials Longman (1972)
- Air Travel: a Social History Bath: Adams and Dart (1972)
- Patriotism with Profit: British Agricultural Societies in the 18th and 19th centuries Hugh Evelyn (1972)
- The Directory of Museums (with Ann Nicholls) 1st edition, Macmillan (1975)
- ’Exploring our Industrial Past Hodder and Stoughton (1975)
- A Social History of Museums Macmillan (1975)
- The Industrial History of Europe Japanese edition, Tokyo (1975)
- The Bath and WestBath: Adams and Dart (1976)
- The Archaeology of Industry, drawings by Pippa Brand, The Bodley Head (1976)
- A Pocket Book for Industrial Archaeologists John Baker (1976)
- The Businessman in Public Associated Business Programmes (1976)
- The People and Pleasures of Bath Michael Joseph/The Folio Society (1977)
- The Dictionary of Diseased English Macmillan (1977)
- The End of Gin and Tonic Man: a Future for Public Relations Wilton House Publications (1977)
- Museums for the 1980s: a Survey of World Trends Macmillan/UNESCO (1977)
- Exploring Cathedrals Hodder and Stoughton (1978)
- Food, Clothes and Shelter John Baker (1978)
- The Jargon of the Professions Macmillan (1978)
- The Language of Modern Politics Macmillan, reprinted Papermac (1978)
- Street Furniture The Bodley Head (1979)
- Tragedy on the High Seas: a History of Shipwrecks (with Ann Nicholls) New York: A and W Publishers (1979)
- A History of Shipwrecks (with Ann Nicholls) Macmillan (1979)
- World Industrial Archaeology Cambridge University Press (1979)
- Archeologia dell’Industria Translated by Bruno Granada from The Archaeology of Industry Rome: Newton Compton (1979)
- Diamonds in the Sky: a Social History of Air Travel (with Julian PettiferJulian PettiferJulian Pettifer OBE is a British television journalist. He was President of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and is Vice President of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts...
) The Bodley Head for the BBC (1979) - Where We Used to Work John Baker (1980)
- The Good Museums Guide Macmillan (1980), revised and reprinted 1982
- The Shell Guide to Country Museums Heinemann (1980)
- Farm Furniture The Bodley Head (1982)
- Waterside Furniture The Bodley Head (1982)
- Behind the High Street The Bodley Head (1982)
- Pawnbroking: an Aspect of British Social History The Bodley Head (1982)
- Help the Aged: Twenty-One Years of Experiment and Achievement The Bodley Head (1982)
- The Language of the Teenage Revolution Macmillan (1983)
- The Dictionary of the Teenage Revolution and its Aftermath Macmillan (1983)
- The Dictionary of Even More Diseased English Macmillan (1983)
- Industrial History from the Air Cambridge University Press (1983)
- Clues to Yesterday’s Transport The Bodley Head (1984)
- Churchyards and Graveyards The Bodley Head Children's Books (1984) hardcover 48 pages ISBN 0370305434, ISBN 978-0370305431
- The Directory of Museums and Living Displays (with Ann Nicholls) 3rd Edition, Macmillan (1985)
- Museums of Influence Cambridge University Press (1987)
- The Cambridge Guide to the Museums of Britain and Ireland (with Ann Nicholls) Cambridge University Press (1987), revised paperback edition (1989)
- The Cambridge Guide to the Historic Places of Britain and Ireland (with Ann Nicholls) Cambridge University Press (1989)
- 1992: Prayer or Promise? The opportunities for Britain’s museums and the people who work in them HMSO for the Museums and Galleries Commission (1990)
- The Cambridge Guide to the Museums of Europe (with Ann Nicholls) Cambridge University Press (1991)
- Museums: Treasures or Tools? Strasbourg: Council of Europe (1992)
- New Museums in Europe 1977-93 edited by Massimo Negri; text by Kenneth Hudson Milan: Mazzotta (1993)