The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware 19735

Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Title: Menus

Dates: 1854-ca. 1930

Call No.: Col. 326

Acc. No.: [various]

Quantity: ca. 40 items

Location: 34 C 2

SCOPE AND CONTENT

This artificial and still open collection contains menus, primarily from hotel restaurants, dating from 1854 to 1930. A few of the menus are from railroads and ships. Most of the menus are illustrated, primarily with depictions of the hotel housing the restaurant. Many of the menus include a list of wines available with prices; however, only some of the menus contain prices for food.

Of especial interest are a menu from the restaurant of the Great Central Fair held in Philadelphia in 1864 in support of the U.S. Sanitary Commission; and a menu printed on silk for a banquet held by the New-England Society in 1857 to commemorate the embarkation of the Pilgrims from Delft Haven in 1620. A menu for a banquet held by the New England Brewers' Association is also printed on silk, and placed inside a folder covered by plush and decorated with fabric flowers. An unusual menu is hand-written on a miniature three-section screen, two panels of which are painted with flowers. The occasion is not noted, but the dinner or luncheon was held on April 12, 1923. Of historical interest is a menu for a dinner held by the American Art Association in Paris on February 22, 1894; it was signed by 42 people who attended the banquet, including James McNeill Whistler, C. G. Dana, Douglas Tilden, James B. Eustis, and Gambetta.

ORGANIZATION

The physical arrangement is in accession number order.

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

The materials are in English.

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.

PROVENANCE

Gifts and purchases from various sources.

RELATED MATERIALS

See also menus in Collection 46, World’s Columbian Exposition Collection.

ACCESS POINTS

Topics: New England Brewers' Association.

American Art Association of Paris.

Great Central Fair for the U.S. Sanitary Commission (1864 : \c Philadelphia, Pa.)

Hotels.

Restaurants.

Railroads.

Food.

Food service.

Alcoholic beverages.

Resorts.

Artists - Autographs.

Menus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

MENUS
CALL NUMBER	ACCESSION NUMBER	NAME	ADDRESS	OWNERS/MANAGERS	DATE	OCCASION	PRINTER/ENGRAVER	DESCRIPTION	NOTES
Col. 326	99x114		NY		Nov. 13, 1880	Social Reunion of the Officers of the N.Y. Post Office		menu	all text
Col. 326	02x065	American Art Association	Paris, France		Feb. 22, 1894	in honor of James B. Lustis, U.S. Ambassador to France	Bigelow, designer	menu; handwritten names on reverse	engraving of Washington
Col. 326	00x166				Apr. 12, 1923			menu	handpainted on miniature silk screen, in box labelled "Handkerchiefs" with images of camel and Bedouin
Col. 326	67x146.20	New York Hotel	New York, NY		Dec. 14, 1860		Wynkoop, Hallenbeck, & Thomas, 113 Fulton St., NY (P)	menu; wine list with prices	all text
Col. 326	67x146.21	New York Hotel	New York, NY		Jan. 26, 1861		Wynkoop, Hallenbeck, & Thomas, 113 Fulton St., NY (P)	menu; wine list with prices	all text
Col. 326	67x146.22	New York Hotel	New York, NY		Jan. 30, 1861		Wynkoop, Hallenbeck, & Thomas, 113 Fulton St., NY (P)	menu; wine list with prices	all text
Col. 326	67x146.23	New York Hotel	New York, NY		Mar. 28, 1861		Wynkoop, Hallenbeck, & Thomas, 113 Fulton St., NY (P)	menu; wine list with prices	all text
Col. 326	67x146.24	New York Hotel	New York, NY		June 6, 1861		Wynkoop, Hallenbeck, & Thomas, 113 Fulton St., NY (P)	menu; wine list with prices	all text
Col. 326	71x081	Ocean Hotel	Ocean Ave., Long Branch, NJ	Charles & Warren Leland, mgrs.	July 27, 1873		Long Branch News Print (P)	dinner menu; wine list with prices; insert of lunch menu; list of other Leland hotels on reverse	all text
Col. 326	71x082	Monongahela House	Pittsburgh, PA		Apr. 4, 1872		Stevenson & Foster (P)	dinner menu; wine list with prices	all text
Col. 326	71x083	Clifton House	Chicago, IL	W.A. Jenkins & J.A. Holmes, proprietors	Aug. 14, 1873		Chas. Shober & Co. Chicago Lith. Co. (E)	dinner menu; wine list with prices	illustrations of hotel, hotel in ruins, rebuilt hotel, also people serving food; on reverse, illustration of building
Col. 326	76x321	New York Hotel	New York, NY	Hiram Cranston	Sept. 16, 1857		Wynkoop, Hallenbeck, & Thomas, 113 Fulton St., NY (P); Rawdon Wright Hatch & Edson, NY (E)	menu; wine list with prices	illustrations of hotel and three sailing ships
Doc. 848	77x499.2	Pearl Street House	Nashua, NH	E.V. Williamson	Dec. 24, 1865		Telegraph Press (P)	menu (some items pencilled in and crossed out); wine list with prices; meal hours	illustration of hotel
Col. 326	79x072	Mills House			Dec. 22, 1857	Thirty-eighth anniversary dinner of the Embarkation of the Pilgrims from Deep Haven, Aug. 1st, 1620. New England Society	Steam Presses, 16 State Street (P)	printed on silk	Illustration of Pilgrims at prayer
Col. 326	81x462	Waldorf Astoria	New York, NY		Feb. 25, 1899	Thirteenth Annual Banquet of the Ohio Society of New York in Honor of the American Peace Commissioners	Photochrome Eng. Co., NY (P); Thos. A. Sindelar (designer)	menu in French; list of banquet committee members	booklet bound with ribbon; on cover, American Flag; inside eagle perched on top of globe
Col. 326	87x037.2	Gibson House	Walnut St. between 4th & 5th Sts., Cincinnati, OH	A. Wetherbee, proprietor	Feb. 16, 1857		T. Wrightson & Co., 167 Walnut St., Cincinnati (P)	menu; wine list with prices; regulations and hours for meals	illustration of hotel
Col. 326	87x037.3	Great Central Fair Restaurant	Philadelphia, PA	J.A. Wood, sup't.		In Aid of the U.S. Sanitary Commission	McLaughlin Brothers (P); F.B. Schell (artist); J. Rea (E)	menu and wine list with prices	Emblem with names of 13 colonies, miner and farmer; on reverse, illustration of fair? with buildings and tents
Col. 326	87x037.4	Exchange Hotel and Ballard House	Richmond, VA		Sept. 30, 1873		"Enquirer" Print (P)	dinner menu, wine list with prices, on reverse hours of meals and list of arrival and departure of cars and steamers	illustration of hotel
Col. 326	87x037.5	Starr King Mt. House	Jefferson, NH	C.K. Gile, proprietor	Aug. 8, 1875		Hartshorn, Lancaster, NH (P)	menu with penciled additions; wine list; hours of meals	all text
Col. 326	87x037.6	Camp Kibbe						"menu" for National Guard Company D, Second Battalion, composed of all bean dishes	all text
Col. 326	87x183	M.S. "Terukuni Maro"		Capt. T. Sekine, commander	Sept. 20, 1930			dinner menu; letter on reverse describes travels in Europe	color illustration of gateway to the Toshogu Shrine at Nikko, map of world on reverse
Col. 326	93x138.1	Grank Trunk Railway		Lorenzo Delmonico Longhi, mgr.	Feb. 15, 1884		Walker (E)	dinner menu written in; printed wine list with prices	illustration of a railroad dining car with ornate decor; on reverse ad for railroad
Col. 326	93x138.10	Williard's hotel	Washington, D.C.	O.G. Staples, proprietor	Oct. 16, 1885			menu; wine list with prices; includes lunch menu card	illustration of hotel
Col. 326	93x138.11	Palace Hotel	San Francisco, CA	Sharon & Schonewald, lessees	Apr. 23, 1886			dinner menu; wine list with prices; on reverse list of local theater offerings and amusements	illustration of hotel
Col. 326	93x138.12	Palace Hotel	San Francisco, CA	C.H. Livingston, mgr.	Feb. 12, 1888			dinner menu; wine list with prices; on reverse, list of local theater offerings and amusements	illustration of hotel
Col. 326	93x138.13	The Lakewood	Lakewood, NJ		Mar. 26, 1894		The Giles Co. Lith, NY (E)	dinner menu	color illustration of dining room
Col. 326	93x138.14	The Lakewood	Lakewood, NJ		Mar. 16, 1894		The Giles Co. Lith, NY (E)	breakfast menu	color illustration of hotel
Col. 326	93x138.15	Delmonico's	New York, NY		May 15, 1895	Sixteenth Annual Dinner of the Hotelmen's Mutual Benefit Association of the U.S.		menu; list of toasts and committees	booklet bound with ribbon; on cover embossed color emblem of organization and illustration of man and woman registering; other illustrations throughout
Col. 326	93x138.16	Quincy House,	[Boston, MA]		Jan. 18, 1883	Banquet of the New England Brewers' Association	Shreve, Crump & Low	menu	silk menu bound in velvet with silk flowers and ribbon attached
Col. 326	93x138.17	Taunton Hotel	[MA]	A.J. Pease	May 18, 1854			menu	illustration of hotel
Col. 326	93x138.2	Hotel Athenaeum	Chatauqua, NY	W.A. Duncan, sec.; P. Lanphear, asst. sec.	July 28, 1887			luncheon menu	illustration of hotel seen from lake with boats
Col. 326	93x138.3	Grand Union Hotel	Saratoga Springs, NY	Henry Clair, lessee	Aug. 16, 1880		Demspey & Carroll, Art Stationers, Union Square, NY (P or E?)	dinner menu in mixture of English and French	illustrations of hotel, stage coach with horse and passengers, lake with boats, people on porch and people in garden around hotel
Col. 326	93x138.4	Harper House	Rock Island, IL	Ben Harper, proprietor	Nov. 7, 1879		The Rock Islander Print (P)	dinner menu; wine list with prices; hours for meals with separate hours for children and nurses; regulations	illustration of hotel
Col. 326	93x138.5	St. James Hotel	Walnut St., Kansas City, MO	L.C. Alexander, proprietor	1879		Ramsey, Millett & Hudson Lith. (E)	dinner menu; wine list with prices; hours for meals	illustration of hotel
Col. 326	93x138.6	Fort Wm. Henry Hotel; The Arlington	Lake George, NY; Washington, D.C.	T. Roessle & Son, proprietor; H.J. Rockwell, mgr.	Sept. 11, 1878		J.D. Ehlers Co. (E)	menu; wine list with prices; includes card with breakfast menu; hours for meals with separate hours for children and nurses; schedule for arrivals and departures of steamers and stages	illustration of hotel
Col. 326	93x138.7	Tremont House	Chicago, IL	John A. Rice & Co.	Feb. 4, 1887		Vandercock Co. Eng., Chicago (E)	dinner menu; wine list with prices; includes card with supper menu; hours for meals with separate hours for children and nurses; list of plays in local theaters	illustration of hotel
Col. 326	93x138.8	Galt House	Sterling, IL	Swart Bros., proprietors	Nov. 6, 1879		Chicago Eng. Co. (E)	menu; on reverse is notice to patrons with hours and rules and railroad schedules	illustration of hotel
Col. 326	93x138.9	United States Hotel	Saratoga Springs, NY	Tompkins, Gage & Co., proprietors	Aug. 14, 1880		The Hatch Lith. Co., 32 & 34 Vesey St., NY (E)	dinner menu; wine list with prices; hours for meals with separate hours for children and servants	illustration of hotel and lawn view of hotel
Col. 46	78x321.181	Pennsylvania Limited Pullman Vestibuled Train			[1893]			breakfast menu	illustration of roses in vase
Col. 46	78x321.182	Pullman Dining Cars in service on The Pennsylvania Lines	Pittsburgh, PA		June 27, 1893			supper menu; wine list with prices; info on cost of children's seats, playing cards, etc.	cover has map of middle Atlantic and mid-west region of US showing rail lines and a cherub with basket of fruit, "Pennsylvania Lines" in keystone appears on front & back cover
Col. 46	78x321.183	Raymond & Whitcomb's World's Columbian Special - Pullman Vestibuled Train			1893			breakfast menu	illustration of the entrance to the World's Columbian Exposition
Col. 46	78x321.187a-b	Raymond & Whitcomb's World's Columbian Special - Pullman Vestibuled Train			"En Route May 8" 1892/1893			two different luncheon menus for dining car "Casa Monica"	illustration of buildings at World's Columbian Exposition
Col. 9	68x164.596	Tremont House Lunch Room	Boston, MA		Sept. 25, 1880		J.A. Lowell & Co., Boston, 1879 (E)	lunch menu with prices	Illustration of round fan with image of trees, two vases-one with geometric decoration and the other with a bird on a branch, and a fluted plate with floral decoration
Col. 46	78x321.184	Raymond & Whitcomb Grand	Chicago, IL	Raymond & Whitcomb, proprietors; O.G. Barron, mgr	June 5, 1893			luncheon menu	all text
Col. 46	78x321.185	Raymond & Whitcomb Grand	Chicago, IL	Raymond & Whitcomb, proprietors; O.G. Barron, mgr	June 4, 1893			dinner menu	embossed coat of arms with motto "Esperance en Dieu"
Col. 46	78x321.186a-b	Raymond & Whitcomb's World's Columbian Special - Pullman Vestibuled Train			[1893]			two different dinner menus	illustration of buildings at World's Columbian Exposition
Col. 46	78x321.189	Rouze, Glacier	11 Rue St. Dominique , et rue Royale-St-Honore, 23		1867	Exposition Universelle	Imprimerie Leautey, rue Saint Guillaume, 23	menu and wine list with prices	all text
Col. 46	78x321.194	Tea Room, Women's Building, World's Columbian Exposition	Chicago, IL		[1893]			menu with prices	illustration of building with gondolier
Col. 46	78x321.204	Wellington Catering Company, Electric Restaurant, World's Columbian Exposition	Chicago, IL		June 3, 1893			dinner menu with prices; list of catering stations in various buildings on fair grounds	all text
Col. 9	68x164.597	Tremont House	Boston, MA		Sept. 23, 1880		John A. Lowell & Co., Boston, 1879 (E)	menu and hours for meals	illustration of vase and plate on stands, screen with floral designs
Col. 9	68x164.598	Tremont House	Boston, MA		Sept. 23, 1880		J.A. Lowell & Co., Boston, 1879 (E)	same menu and hours for meals as .597	illlustration of ships with title "Homeward Bound"
Col. 326	04x110.11	Tyson						menu	image of horse and dog
Col. 326	05x017							inside of card blank	color image of girl pouring something into kettle on stand
Col. 326	11x019.7	Pennsylvania Tours to the Golden Gate					Loughead & Co., Philadelphia, PA	Breakfast menu; handwritten.	Illustration of a locomotive and passenger cars.
Col. 326	13x042	Art Club	Philadelphia, PA		Decmeber 8, 1911	Celebration of artist Daniel Garber (1880-1911)		Inside has poem that has menu in verse.	Illustration of Garber's painting ”Towering Trees” on front of pamphlet.
Col. 326	2017x085.84 (ATHM 1968.36)	Revere House	Boston, MA		April 16, 1875	President of the United States		dinner menu	on fabric; illustration of flowers
Col. 326	2019x077.1		Oxford, Massachusetts	Oxford Post No. 58 American Legion	November 11, 1919	First Armistice Anniversary Banquet		Dinner menu and program of events	Illustration of American flag