Wilson Hinsdale Faude papers, 1965-1969

Wilson Hinsdale Faude was born on 20 February 1946 to Helen Hinsdale Faude and John Paul Faude. His father was an Aetna lawyer and died when Wilson was a child. Wilson had one brother, John Paul Faude, Jr., and one sister, Ann Faude Newbury. He attended Darrow School in New Lebanon, New York, then attended Hobart College from 1965 to 1969 and graduated from there in 1969. He also received an honorary degree from the Dean of William Smith College in recognition of his efforts to include William Smith College students in the President Selection Committee of which he himself was also a student member. This was one of the first times students were included in this type of search, according to the press at the time. He was also a member of the Druid Society and was involved with several theater productions as a student. After graduation, he was drafted into the Army where he served as a conscientious objector; he was honorably discharged in 1971. From there he worked as the first curator of the Mark Twain House and assisted with the scholarly restoration of the houseΓÇÖs major rooms in time to celebrate its centennial in 1974. He graduated in 1975 from Trinity College with a Master of Arts degree in American History and became an advocate for protecting the local and state history in his home town/state of Hartford, Connecticut. Wilson also led the 1975 fight against the demolition of the Old State House in Hartford which was ultimately successful and saved the historic building. In 1987 he again fought the city; this time from taking land from the east lawn of the Old State House and was again successful. He served as executive director of the landmark from 1978-1982 and again from 1985-2001. He was named executive director emeritus in 2002. He authored 14 books on Hartford and Connecticut history during his lifetime. Wilson Hinsdale Faude died in West Hartford, Connecticut on 22 May 2017. He is survived by his wife, Janet Bailey Faude, and their two children, Sarah Hinsdale Faude and Paul Bailey Faude.