Guide to the Harold K. Baumgardner Menu Collection,
[ca. 1949-1965].

Collection Number: 8404

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library

Contact Information:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
2B Carl A. Kroch Library
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-3530
Fax: (607) 255-9524
rareref@cornell.edu
http://rmc.library.cornell.edu
Compiled by:
RMC Staff
Date completed:
February 2013
EAD encoding:
RMC Staff, February 2013
Date modified:
RMC Staff, February 2013

© 2012 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Harold K. Baumgardner menu collection, [ca. 1949-1965].
Collection Number:
8404
Creator:
Baumgardner, Harold K.,
Quantity:
.8 cubic feet.
Forms of Material:
Printed material
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
227 restaurant menus, collected by Baumgardner, 1940s-1960s.
Language:
Collection material in English

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

227 restaurant menus, collected by Baumgardner, 1940s-1960s. This collection consists of menus from across the United States and includes restaurants such as the Cliff House, the Blue Fox, and Julius Castle in San Francisco; The Original Don the Beach Comber in Hawaii, the Stock Yarn Inn in Chicago; The Men's Bar at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. It also includes hotel, airline and train menus and international menus from several countries in the Caribbean as well as from Mexico. The collection also contains some photographs and post cards relating to the restaurants. Many of the menus are dated by Baumgarnter and exhibit mid-20th Century graphic design elements, particularly some interesting 1950s genre fonts and motifs. Some menus from the South contain African American and racial elements.
SUBJECTS

Names:
Baumgardner, Harold K.,

Subjects:
Gastronomy.
Dinners and dining.
Restaurants.
Menus -- United States -- History -- 20th century.
Menus -- Puerto Rico -- History -- 20th Century
Menus -- Canada -- History -- 20th Century
Menus -- Bahamas -- History -- 20th Century
Menus -- Jamaica -- History -- 20th Century
Menus -- Virgin Islands -- History -- 20th Century
Menus -- Mexico -- History -- 20th Century
Graphic Art -- 20th Century

Form and Genre Terms:
Menus.
INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:
Harold K. Baumgardner menu collection, #8404. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
CONTAINER LIST

Date
Description
Container
1950-1965
Series I. US East and US South
May 28, 1951-November 13, 1954
US East: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey
 Box 1 Folder 1
March 8, 1950-October 28, 1957
US East: New York
Box 1 Folder 2
Mainly New York City
October 22, 1050-August 24, 1954
US East: Pennsylvania, Vermont
Box 1 Folder 3
February 27, 1951-March 6, 1955
US South: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky
Box 1 Folder 4
March 3, 1952-November 28, 1954
US South: Louisiana, Mississippi
Box 1 Folder 5
October 21, 1950-August 7, 1965
US South: North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia
Box 1 Folder 6
1949-1964
Series II. US Midwest, US West and US Airline and Train
July 1949-April 4, 1956
US West: Arizona, California, Hawaii, New Mexico and Texas.
Box 2 Folder 1
Includes US Airline and Train Menus
August 6, 1949-July 15, 1964
US Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri
Box 2 Folder 2
Menus from Illinois are mainly from Chicago
August 6, 1949-March 18, 1959
US Midwest: Ohio, Oklahoma
Box 2 Folder 3
1950-1957
Series III. International and Unknown Locations
March 5, 1951-March 14, 1955
International: Bahamas, Canada, Germany, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands
Box 3 Folder 1
April 18, 1950-October 1957
Unknown Locations
Box 3 Folder 2
Includes menu in the shape of a steak