California menu collection, 1889-1996, bulk 1943-1944

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Summary

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.
Extent:
5.4 Linear feet (8 manuscript boxes and 1 oversize flat box)
Language:
Collection materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item, date], California Menu Collection (MENU COL). California Historical Society Collection at Stanford, Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, California.

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Acquisition information:
Acquired by California Historical Society from a variety of sources.Transferred to Stanford University Libraries in 2025.
Processing information:

Processed by intern Nora Coyne under the supervision of Jaime Henderson in 2013.

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:
Special Collections and University Archives materials are stored offsite and must be paged three business days in advance. For more information on paging collections, see the department's website: https://library.stanford.edu/libraries/special-collections.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research. Special Collections and University Archives materials are stored offsite and must be paged three business days in advance. For more information on paging collections, see the department's website: https://library.stanford.edu/libraries/special-collections.

Terms of access:

While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns. See: http://library.stanford.edu/spc/using-collections/permission-publish.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item, date], California Menu Collection (MENU COL). California Historical Society Collection at Stanford, Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, California.

Location of this collection:
Department of Special Collections, Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford, CA 94305-6004, US
Contact:
(650) 725-1022
chscollection@stanford.edu
Website