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Finding Aid to the Hattie and Minnie Mooser papers, 1877-1967
BANC MSS 2010/728
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Table of contents
Collection Title: Hattie and Minnie Mooser papers
Date (inclusive): 1877-1967
Collection Number: BANC MSS 2010/728
Creators :
Mooser, Hattie, 1878-1970
Mooser, Minnie, 1881-1979
Extent:
Number of containers: 2 boxes, 8 oversize boxes
(linear feet: 4)
Repository: The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
Abstract: Hattie and Minnie Mooser were hostesses who were a part of the bohemian and theatrical life of San Francisco. The collection
consists primarily of scrapbooks documenting the Mooser sisters' interest and work in theater and their businesses (the Tiffin
Room and the Aladdin Nite Club).
Physical Location: Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information
on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Collection is open for research.
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head
of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-6000. Consent is given on behalf of The
Bancroft Library 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. See:
http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html.
Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research
and educational purposes.All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted
in writing to the Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-6000. Consent is
given on behalf of The Bancroft Library 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. See:
http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html.
Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research
and educational purposes.
[Identification of item], Hattie and Minnie Mooser papers, BANC MSS 2010/728, The Bancroft Library, University of California,
Berkeley.
There are no alternate forms of this collection.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Mooser, George
Aladdin Studio Tiffin Room (San Francisco, Calif.)
Panama-Pacific International Exposition, 1915 (San Francisco, Calif.)
Golden Gate International Exposition, 1939-1940 (San Francisco, Calif.)
Actors--United States--Autographs
Actors--United States--Photographs
Bohemianism--California--San Francisco
Chinese--California--San Francisco
Jews--California--San Francisco
Jewish women--California--San Francisco
Prohibition--California--San Francisco
Vaudeville--United States--Autographs
Vaudeville--United States--Photographs
Memoirs--California--San Francisco
Photographs
Scrapbooks
Mooser, Hattie, 1878-1970
Mooser, Minnie, 1881-1979
Western Jewish History Center. 214
Judah L. Magnes Museum. WJHC 1968.012
Bancroft Library. Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life
The Hattie and Minnie Mooser papers were given to The Bancroft Library by the Judah L. Magnes Museum in 2010.
No additions are expected.
Processed by the Judah L. Magnes Museum staff. Additional processing by The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life Staff
in 2011.
Hattie and Minnie Mooser were sisters and hostesses who were a part of the bohemian and theatrical life of San Francisco.
They (along with their brothers George and Leon) were born in Nevada to Samuel and Rose Mooser, raised in Sacramento, and,
in 1900, moved to San Francisco. Hattie was involved in social service, and worked for the juvenile court, giving benefits
on its behalf with guest stars from local theaters. In 1918, Hattie founded the first municipal children's theater in San
Francisco, which later expanded into a children's art center and a tearoom. In 1921, Minnie helped Hattie open San Francisco's
first supper club, in Chinatown, called the Aladdin Studio Tiffin Room. In 1925, they opened the Aladdin Nite Club; because
of its refusal to sell liquor and thereby compete with other clubs which did sell liquor, it was forced to close in 1929.
In 1933, the two sisters managed the Beach Chalet in Golden Gate Park. During World War II, they volunteered as cooks and
hostesses at the Stage Door Canteen, a club for those serving in the military.
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection consists primarily of scrapbooks documenting the Mooser sisters' interest and work in theater and their businesses
(the Tiffin Room and the Alladin Nite Club). The scrapbooks contain mostly clippings and some ephemera, but a few include
photographs of the Tiffin Room and the Aladdin Nite Club (including some photographs of the Chinese employees of the nite
club). Two scrapbooks document in papers and photographs the history of the Mooser family and the life of George Mooser (brother),
who was a theatrical manager and agent. One photo album consists of autographed headshots of the vaudeville performers who
were hosted by the Mooser sisters at their nite club. The collection also includes biographical materials, including a short
typed manuscript of a memoir that discusses the sisters' childhood, the opening of the Tiffin Room, Hattie's work in social
service, the sisters' work with children, and the Bohemian world of 1920s San Francisco.