With sad and heartfelt news to the members of HISTARCH, I want to announce
the passing of Mr. J. Paul Hudson of Williamsburg.  Mr. Hudson is well known
among historical archaeologists for his long tenure with the National Park
Service, particularly at Jamestown Island in Virginia.  He died on
Thanksgiving Day at the grand age of 90 in the Williamsburg Manor House
nursing home after about a year of failing health.

Mr. Hudson was born in Canyon City, Colorado and was raised in El Paso,
Texas.  He received both his BA and MA degrees from Stanford University.  He
was employed by the National Park Service for more than 40 years as a museum
curator/archeologist, and worked at Yosemite, Muir Woods, Washington's
Birthplace, and Morristown National Parks before spending his final 25 years
at Colonial National Historical Park at Jamestown.  He planned and installed
many exhibits, helped acquire furnishings for several historic houses,
curated millions of artifacts, and wrote four NPS publications as well as
numerous articles on glass, ceramics, history, and archaeology.  He
continued with his love of archaeology even after retirement by sharing his
vast knowledge with students and teaching classes for 12 years at the
College of William and Mary.  He received numerous awards including the
Professional Archeologist of the Year Award in 1982 from the Archeological
Society of Virginia and the 1982 Association for the Preservation of
Virginia Antiquities Historic Preservation Award.  He belonged to many
historical societies and organizations and was a Fellow at the Corning
Museum of Glass.

Mr. Hudson wife preceded him in death and he is survived by a son David and
his wife, a sister, a brother, and five grandchildren.  A celebration of his
life will be held tomorrow (Dec. 1st) at 3:30 p.m. at Bruton Parish
Episcopal Church, Duke of Gloucester Street, Williamsburg.  Interment will
follow in the Cremation Garden of the church.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to The Children's Hospital of
the King's Daughters, P.O. Box 2156, Norfolk, Virginia 23501 or to the
Sunday School Programs of Bruton Parish Church, Box PB, Williamsburg,
Virginia 23187.

During my early years in archaeology in Williamsburg, Mr. Hudson guided my
efforts to produce my first professional article on a 17th-century artifact
found in the Jamestown collections and other colonial Tidewater sites.  I
owe him a great deal of gratitude for his help, patience, and insight.  In
reference to J.C. Harrington, John Cotter, and J. Paul Hudson, fellow
archaeological curator and long-time friend Ms. Merry Outlaw stated, "One
thing you can say about those Jamestown Island guys, they definitely had
longevity on their sides!"

J. Mark Wittkofski