Collection Guide
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California Menus Collection
M2125
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: California Menu Collection
Identifier/Call Number: M2125
Physical Description:
1.3 Linear Feet
(2 boxes, 2 flat boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1866-1980s
Date (bulk): early-to-mid 20th century
Abstract: Collection of menus from California, especially San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Physical Location: Special Collections and University Archives materials are stored offsite and must be paged 36 hours in advance.
Language of Material: Most menus are in English, but a few are in French (or an appoximation of it), and the Chinese menus have sections in Chinese.
A collection of menus from events and restaurants from California, with a few from other states and countries. In all, more
than 120 items ranging from 1866 to the 1980s, with most from the early-to-mid 20th century. More than half of the menus have
specific dates. Arrangement is approximately geographical from north to south, with series for San Francisco, Los Angeles
and the Bohemian Club among others. All items are menus unless otherwise stated; there are also a few advertisements, invitations,
and postcards, as well as a set of nametags and a placemat. Condition is generally fair. Many have holes from scrapbook removal
as well as rusty paperclip stains. Some silk and other bindings are untied, missing, or disintegrating.
Highlights include banquet menus from early visits by sitting U.S. Presidents to California, pre-1900 event menus on silk,
menus from the 1929 Kyoto Conference, the Panama-California Exposition and Panama-Pacific International Exposition, Disney
& 20th Century Fox-related menus from Southern California, and menus from both early and iconic restaurants in SF & LA.
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.
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.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was purchased by Stanford University, Special Collections in 2016.
[identification of item], California Menu Collection (M2125). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford
University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
The California Historical Society holds a California Menu Collection (http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8qn68hw).
The Los Angeles Public Library also has a menu collection (http://www.lapl.org/collections-resources/visual-collections/menu-collection).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Menus -- California
Restaurants -- California