Bradford T. Hudson collection of historical marketing

Collection

Identifier: BC-2023-141

Staff Only

Dates

Creation: 1852-2016

Scope and Contents

This collection contains marketing materials from the hospitality and travel industries assembled by brand heritage scholar Bradford Hudson. Included are advertisements, brochures, maps, menus, stationery, timetables, and trade cards. While hotels are the most heavily represented industry, there are also materials from airlines, cruises, food and beverage suppliers, railroads, restaurants, and travel agencies, as well as general tourist information from cities, national parks, and other attractions. Content documents companies throughout North America and Europe, with a particular focus on Boston and New England.

Creator

Hudson, Bradford T. (Collector, Person)

Language of Materials

Predominantly in English, with some materials in Dutch, French, German, Hungarian, and Italian.

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

These materials are made available for use in research, teaching and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. The original authors may retain copyright to the materials.

Biographical note: Bradford Hudson

Bradford (Brad) Hudson earned his BA in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania (1984), master of professional studies in Hotel Administration from Cornell University (1993), and PhD in Business History from Boston University. Hudson served in a variety of consulting and managerial positions, including the TQM Group (1993-1994), Brandpoint.com (1996-1998), Bay Hospitality (1998-2000), and as an independent consultant (1994-2002). He became a professor in the School of Hospitality Administration at Boston University in 2005, and then moved to the Carroll School of Management at Boston College in 2013. At Boston College, Hudson has taught courses in Marketing Principles, Applied Marketing (strategy) and Heritage Marketing, and also served as faculty coordinator for the Marketing Minor program and the Marketing Principles course. His primary field of study is brand heritage, which combines marketing and business history.

Sources:

“Bradford Hudson,” Boston College Carroll School of Management. https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/schools/carroll-school/faculty-research/faculty-directory/bradford-hudson.html. Accessed January 18, 2024.

“Bradford T. Hudson CV”, Boston College. https://www.bc.edu/content/dam/bc1/schools/carroll/faculty/PDFs/Hudson,%20Bradford%20CV.pdf. Accessed January 18, 2024.

Extent

21.66 Linear Feet (24 containers)

Additional Description

Abstract

Collection containing marketing materials from the hospitality and travel industries from the twentieth century assembled by brand heritage scholar Bradford Hudson. Included are advertisements, brochures, maps, menus, stationery, timetables, and trade cards.

Arrangement

Arranged in eight series by industry: I. Airlines; II. Cruises; III. Destinations; IV. Food and beverage; V. Hotels; VI. Railroads; VII. Restaurants; and VIII. Travel agencies.

There is some crossover between series due to overlapping activities, such as hotels, airlines, or travel agencies publishing maps of destinations; hotel-restaurants; and companies such as Canadian-Pacific, which own railways, hotels, airlines, and other industries.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Bradford T. Hudson, 2023.

Related Materials

Bette Arnold Collection of Bette's Rolls Royce Restaurant Materials, MS.2012.009, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Boston College collection of photographs of Ireland, MS.1986.092, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Greater Boston Area Materials, MS.2013.020, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

John Donnelly & Sons Records, MS.2012.004, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Michael Ehrmann collection of postcards of Massachusetts, Ireland, and Northern Ireland, BC.2022.006, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Processing Information

These materials constitute a portion of what the donor refers to as the Hudson Archive, and were described by the donor at the item level in a detailed spreadsheet. The items were originally housed in plastic sleeves with identification numbers. The processing archivist rehoused materials in archival folders, grouped by creator or distributor. Donor-assigned descriptions and subject assignments provided the basis for the archival series.