The New York Map Society is pleased to share a recently published article in The Cartographic Journal highlighting the life and legacy of Alice Hudson—a founding member of NYMS, a Hall of Fame honoree, and longtime curator of the Map Division at The New York Public Library.
The article offers a thoughtful overview of Hudson’s remarkable career and her enduring contributions to cartography. During her tenure at NYPL, she helped shape one of the world’s leading public map collections while fostering a vibrant community of scholars, collectors, and enthusiasts.
A central theme of the article is Hudson’s pioneering work on Women in Cartography. Through her research and advocacy, she helped uncover and document the often-overlooked contributions of women mapmakers, significantly expanding and reshaping the historical record.
Beyond her scholarship, Hudson’s impact was deeply personal and institutional. She served as a mentor to generations of researchers and played a key role in building the collaborative networks that continue to define the cartographic community today. Her work exemplifies the spirit of connection and shared inquiry that remains at the heart of the New York Map Society.
We encourage members and friends of NYMS to read the full article and reflect on Alice Hudson’s lasting influence on our field and our community.