California menu collection

Collection

Identifier: MENU COL

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Collection consists of menus, and some wine and spirits lists, of California restaurants. The materials are primarily from San Francisco and the Bay Area although other California cities, such as Los Angeles, are represented. The collection includes menus from restaurants located in hotels such as the Tonga Room in the Fairmont Hotel and Victor's, located in the Hotel Sir Francis Drake. Other restaurants represented include the Cliff House, Tadich Grill and Trader Vic's. The collection dates from 1889 to 1996 with the bulk of materials created 1944. Most menus from 1944 include printed or handwritten notices of compliance with the Office of Price Administration's (OPA) price controls established during World War II.

Dates

1889-1996
Majority of material found in 1943-1944

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Director of the Library and Archives, North Baker Research Library, California Historical Society, 678 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. Consent is given on behalf of the California Historical Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner.

Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.

Extent

5.4 Linear feet (8 boxes and 1 oversize box)

Additional Description

Abstract

Consists of menus and wine and spirits lists from California restaurants. Materials are primarily from restaurants located in San Francisco and the Bay Area, but the collection also includes menus from other California cities; bulk of the materials are from 1943-1944.

System of Arrangement

The collection is arranged in two series: Series 1: San Francisco menus and Series 2: Other California cities menus. Within each series menus are arranged alphabetically by name of the restaurant or by name of the hotel the restaurant resides or resided in.

Physical Location

Collection is stored onsite.

Accruals

Additions to collections are ongoing.

Related Collection(s)

California ephemera collection

California business ephemera

California art gallery and museum ephemera

San Francisco ephemera

Kemble Z3 ephemera collection