Men passionately desire to live after death, but they often pass away without noticing the fact that the memory of a really good person always lives. It is impressed upon the next generation, and it is transmitted again to the children. Is that not an immortality worth striving for?
—Peter Kropotkin
Ivan Hudson, Gleeson Librarian Emeritus, and a cherished member of the University of San Francisco community, passed away on September 23, 2024, at the age of 86. A librarian and anarchist, his life was a testament to the power of curiosity, service, and the pursuit of knowledge.
Born on a farm in Iowa during the Great Depression, Ivan’s journey was one of growth and exploration. His wife Ellen Carlin relates that “although Ivan liked cows he did not like farming. So once he graduated High School he enlisted in the Air Force, serving for 4 years being stationed in Japan among other places.”
A Life of Learning and Service
Ellen relates that Ivan’s quest for knowledge led him to the vibrant atmosphere of UC Berkeley in the 1960s, where he “joined the ranks of the flower children” and became involved in the Free Speech Movement. His love for literature blossomed into a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, followed by a Master’s in Library Science, because “in addition to cows, Ivan liked books as well.”
Ivan’s career as a librarian was marked by dedication and excellence. He worked at the prestigious New York Public Library before finding his home at the University of San Francisco’s Gleeson Library. Here, he served in various roles from 1968 to 1997, including Government Documents Librarian, Reference Librarian, and ultimately retiring as Head of the Reference Department.
A Mentor and Colleague
Colleagues remember Ivan fondly for his professionalism, wit, and unique character. Joe Garity, Librarian Emeritus, recalls:
In 1991, Ivan hired me as a brand new reference librarian and he was a very good mentor, teaching me skills I used for the rest of my career. He had a quirky sense of humor that I really enjoyed, and we shared a love of history and politics. We both used to watch CSPAN’s Booknotes show on Sunday nights, and there’s not many people in that exclusive club. He was a good librarian and more importantly, a good man.
Vicki Rosen, Librarian Emerita, paints a vivid picture of Ivan’s practical approach to librarianship:
I’ll always remember Ivan in his Birkenstocks—before they became trendy. Pre-internet Reference Librarians were on their feet all day: walking to and from the lobby to check the card catalog, walking upstairs and downstairs to the stacks retrieving piles of books, walking back and forth in the Reference and Government Documents Rooms helping people, walking to give tours, walking to talk with faculty and colleagues. Ivan rarely sat down and those comfortable shoes made all the difference for him.
A Life Well-Lived
After retiring in 1997, Ivan continued to pursue his interests. Ellen recalls that he spent many years hiking the trails of Pacifica, which he loved dearly. His knowledge seeking never waned, and he enjoyed following politics and listening to books “being read out loud to him.”
Ivan also gave back to his community by volunteering as a docent at the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in Moss Beach, sharing his knowledge of tidal pools with visitors.
Ivan’s legacy at USF extends beyond his work in the library. He was a faculty lecturer in USF’s Library Science program and served as a member of the University Senate in the 1970s.
Tyrone Cannon, University Library Dean Emeritus, recalls:
Ivan was Head of Reference when I joined the University Library team as Library Dean in August 1995. Ivan was extremely dedicated to serving students, faculty, and staff and was an excellent, collegial reference librarian. He was well respected on campus and by his colleagues at Gleeson/Geschke. His legacy lives on. May he rest in power.
Ivan’s personal life was also touched by his profession: he met his wife Ellen at Gleeson Library, where she worked for more than 20 years as a Library Assistant and became Assistant Head of Circulation.
I worked with Ellen as a library assistant in the Circulation Department, and then with Ivan when I became a Reference Librarian in the ‘90s. I’ll remember Ivan’s gentle manner, quick wit, and distinctive grey afro (which, I was delighted to recently learn, was inspired by the sci-fi television character Londo Mollari from Babylon 5).
Ivan’s dedication to knowledge, service, and community has left a mark on everyone who knew him. As we say goodbye to this good man, we celebrate a life well-lived and a legacy that has continued to influence librarians and learners.
Tidal pool photo by Jennifer Yin