Finding Aid to the Hattie and Minnie Mooser papers, 1877-1967
Finding Aid written by Judah L. Magnes Museum staff. Revised by The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life staff.
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/
© 2011
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Finding Aid to the Hattie and Minnie Mooser papers, 1877-1967
Collection Number: BANC MSS 2010/728
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California
- Finding Aid Written By:
- Judah L. Magnes Museum staff. Revised by The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life staff.
- Date Completed:
-
October 2011
© 2011 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Collection Summary
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.
Information for Researchers
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 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.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Hattie and Minnie Mooser papers, BANC MSS 2010/728, The Bancroft Library, University of California,
Berkeley.
Alternate Forms Available
There are no alternate forms of this collection.
Indexing Terms
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
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
The Hattie and Minnie Mooser papers were given to The Bancroft Library by the Judah L. Magnes Museum in 2010.
Accruals
No additions are expected.
Processing Information
Processed by the Judah L. Magnes Museum staff. Additional processing by The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life Staff
in 2011.
Administrative History
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.
Series 1:
News clippings, Photographs, and Memorabilia.
circa 1894-1966
Physical Description:
Box 1, folders 1-12
Box 1, Folder 1
Aladdin Children's Theatre Club Program,
1918
Box 1, Folder 2
Aladdin Enterprises Poster,
undated
Box 1, Folder 3
Biographical Sketches,
1921-1959
Box 1, Folder 4
Duncan Sisters,
1959
undated
Box 1, Folder 5
Golden Wedding Club News Clip,
1929
Box 1, Folder 6
News clippings,
circa 1918-1965
Box 1, Folder 7
Photographs,
circa 1890-1960
Scope and Content Note
Includes photographs of the following: Senator George G. Goucher (cabinet card, circa 1880); George Mooser, Mary Pickford,
and Douglas Fairbanks (circa 1925); the Aladdin Studio Tiffin Room interior (circa 1921); Hattie and Minnie Mooser with famed
female impersonator Lucian (circa 1965); an 1894 photograph of the exterior of Lowe's Restaurant at 430 6th Street, San Francisco.
Box 1, Folder 8
Photographs: Pan-Pacific International Exposition,
circa 1915
Oversize Folder 1A
Oversize photographs,
circa 1910-1960
Scope and Content Note
Hattie and Minnie Mooser seated looking at scrapbook; photograph of dinner for Frank Bacon at the Lambs Club in New York City
(circa 1910); photograph of a luncheon tendered by Mr. Arthur Levey to Mr. W.G. Faulkner (1920); cast photograph of an unidentified
production (back of photograph identifies persons as Wallace McCutcheon, Grant Mitchell, Tome Wise, Blanche Ring, Ada Meade,
Walter Jones, Willie Howard, Eugene Howard, Charles Winninger, Pearl White, and William Courtney).
Box 1, Folder 9
Theater Programs and Clippings for Hello Dolly and Porgy and Bess,
circa 1940-1966
Box 1, Folder 10
Walter Johnson Dinner Program,
1967
Box 1, Folder 11
Publications: San Francisco Panorama (1958) and Think: A Survey of New Things and Thoughts in the World of Affairs (1940 Golden
Gate International Expo issue),
1940
1958
Series 2:
Scrapbooks and Photo Albums.
circa 1910-1967
Physical Description:
Box 1, folders 13-14; Box 2; Oversize Boxes 1-8
Box 1, Folder 13
News clippings scrapbook,
1963
Box 1, Folder 14
Scrapbook of holiday cards and children's theater clippings,
1960-1963
Oversize Box 1
Mooser family scrapbook,
circa 1877-1967
Oversize Box 2
Aladdin Studio Tiffin Room clippings, photographs, and ephemera scrapbook,
circa 1921-1959
Oversize Box 2
Scrapbook: theatrical news clippings,
1962-1965
Oversize Box 3
Children's Theatre and Stage Door Canteen scrapbook,
1921-1945
Oversize Box 3
Scrapbook: Personal notes and letters,
1957-1966
Oversize Box 4
Photograph album of actors and Vaudeville performers,
circa 1910-1930
Oversize Box 5, Folder 1
Scrapbook: Walter Johnson; Palace of Fine Arts (San Francisco, Calif.) ,
circa 1915-1967
Scope and Content Note
Includes postcards from the Pan-Pacific International Exposition (1915) and postcards of other San Francisco scenes.
Oversize Box 5, Folder 3
Scrapbook and photo album: George Mooser,
circa 1910-1935
Oversize Box 6, Folder 1-2
Scrapbook and photo album (with Aladdin Studio photographs),
circa 1920-1967
Scope and Content Note
Includes interior and exterior photographs of the Tiffin Room and photographs of Tiffin Room events, such as weddings. Also
includes photographs of the Tiffin Room's Chinese staff.
Oversize Box 6, Folder 3
Scrapbook: news clippings (mostly theatrical),
1921-1967
Box 2
Scrapbook: travel and theatrical,
1912-1964
Oversize Box 7, Folder 1
Scrapbook: news clippings,
1960-1964
Oversize Box 7, Folder 2
Scrapbook: news clippings,
1947-1966
Oversize Box 8
Scrapbook: news clippings,
1964-1966
