This unique, beautiful, and historical collection of menus was graciously donated on behalf of Mr. Hayden Mathews of Vero Beach, Florida and Stamford, Connecticut. Mr. Mathews began collecting menus when he was a young boy in the 1930s. There are over 300 items, spanning the 1920s through the 1940s, from hotels and inns, cruises and shipping lines, trains, planes, clubs, and commemorative events.
Some of the menus were collected during Mr. Mathews’ travels with his family, but as his relatives and parents' friends learned of his endeavor they enthusiastically contributed to the collection. Evidence of this can be found in a humorous letter from a great uncle who helped add to the collection.
Every effort was made to determine the date and geographical location of the menu. If the date of publication is unknown, the date of upload to the ScholarsArchive@JWU is noted. Please direct inquiries to the administrator of the ScholarsArchive@JWU.
Submissions from 1941
Bright Angel Lodge, Coffee Shop, Grand Canyon National Park, May 27, 1941, Grand Canyon National Park
The Lookout Hotel, Ogunquit, Maine, Dinner Menu, July 4, 1941, Harry L. & Malcolm H. Merrill, The Lookout Hotel
Hotel Astor, New York, Dinner Menu, September 11, 1941, Hotel Astor
Hotel Astor, New York, Drink Menu, August 20, 1941, Hotel Astor
Hotel Commander, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Luncheon Menu, April 24, 1941, Hotel Commander
Hotel Lexington, New York City, Luncheon Menu, Hawaiian Room, January 18, 1941, Hotel Lexington
Hotel Northampton & Wiggins Old Tavern, An Inn of Colonial Charm, Box Lunches Menu, Northampton, Massachusetts, 1941, Hotel Northampton
Hotel Northampton & Wiggins Old Tavern, An Inn of Colonial Charm, Breakfast Menu, Northampton, Massachusetts, July 25, 1941, Hotel Northampton
Hotel Northampton & Wiggins Old Tavern, An Inn of Colonial Charm, Breakfast Menu, Northampton, Massachusetts, March 20, 1941, Hotel Northampton
Hotel Northampton & Wiggins Old Tavern, An Inn of Colonial Charm, Dinner Menu, Northampton, Massachusetts, April 4, 1941, Hotel Northampton
Hotel Northampton & Wiggins Old Tavern, An Inn of Colonial Charm, Dinner Menu, Northampton, Massachusetts, August 23, 1941, Hotel Northampton
Hotel Northampton & Wiggins Old Tavern, An Inn of Colonial Charm, Dinner Menu, Northampton, Massachusetts, August 6, 1941, Hotel Northampton
Hotel Northampton & Wiggins Old Tavern, An Inn of Colonial Charm, Dinner Menu, Northampton, Massachusetts, July 4, 1941, Hotel Northampton
Hotel Northampton & Wiggins Old Tavern, An Inn of Colonial Charm, Drink Menu, Northampton, Massachusetts, March 20, 1941, Hotel Northampton
Hotel Northampton & Wiggins Old Tavern, An Inn of Colonial Charm, Drink Menu, Northampton, Massachusetts, May 26, 1941, Hotel Northampton
Loch Haven Inn on Lake Winnipesaukee, Meredith, New Hampshire, Dinner Menu, July 4, 1941, Loch Haven Inn
Seiler's 1812 House, Worcester Highway at Salem End Road, Framingham Centre, Massachusetts, Dinner Menu, May 21, 1941, Seiler's 1812 House
The Copley Plaza Hotel, Boston, Dinner Menu & Entertainment Advertisements, December 1, 1941, The Copley Plaza Hotel
The Copley Plaza Hotel, Boston, Dinner Menu & Entertainment Notice, December 8, 1941, The Copley Plaza Hotel
The Copley Plaza Hotel, Boston, Harvard/Yale Football Match Commemorative Diner de Lux Menu, November 22, 1941, The Copley Plaza Hotel
The Dearborn Inn, Dearborn, Michigan, A la Carte Coffee Shop Menu, June 19, 1941, The Dearborn Inn
The Latch String Inn, Sunday Dinner Menu, June 1, 1941, The Latch String Inn
Edgewater Gulf Hotel, Edgewater Park, Miss., Luncheon A la Carte Menu, January 19, 1941, Wakulla Edgewater Co.
Submissions from 1940
The Royal York, Toronto, Ontario, Breakfast Menu, 1940, Canadian Pacific Hotels
Chalfonte-Haddon Hall, Atlantic City, Dinner Menu, May 19, 1940, Chalfonte-Haddon Hall
Chalfonte-Haddon Hall, Atlantic City, Easter Dinner Menu, Sunday, March 24, 1940, Chalfonte-Haddon Hall
Chalfonte-Haddon Hall, Atlantic City, Lincoln's Birthday, Dinner Menu, February 12, 1940, Chalfonte-Haddon Hall
Hotel New Yorker, Cocktail Napkin, 1940?, Hotel New Yorker
Hotel New Yorker, Empire Tea Room, Breakfast Menu, June 10, 1940, Hotel New Yorker
The Terrace Restaurant, Desserts Menu, Hotel New Yorker, 1940?, Hotel New Yorker
Hotel Pennsylvania, New York, Breakfast Menu, 1940, Hotel Pennsylvania
Hotel Pennsylvania, The Statler Hotel in New York, A la Carte Menu, 1940?, Hotel Pennsylvania
Old King Cole, Breakfast Menu, Hotel Pennsylvania, New York, 1940?, Hotel Pennsylvania
Hotel Pennsylvannia, New York, Dinner Menu, September 29, 1940, Hotel Pennsylvannia
Parker House, School and Tremont Streets, Boston, Mass., Dinner Menu, May 31, 1940, Parker House
Parker House, School and Tremont Streets, Boston, Mass., Luncheon Menu, June 14, 1940, Parker House
Parker House, School and Tremont Streets, Boston, Mass., Luncheon Menu, June 14, 1940, Parker House
Parker House, School and Tremont Streets, Boston, Mass., Wine List, May 1, 1940, Parker House
The Columbus, Miami, Florida, Dinner Menu, July 28, 1940, The Columbus Hotel
The Commodore, New York City, A la Carte Dinner Menu, August 14, 1940, The Commodore
The Roosevelt, New York, Thanksgiving Dinner Menu, November 21, 1940, The Roosevelt Hotel, Bernam G. Hines, Mgr.
The Wedgwood Room at The Waldorf-Astoria, Entertainment Menu featuring Gracie Fields, Leo Reisman, and Mischa Borr (Signed by Gracie Fields), The Waldorf-Astoria
Luncheon Menus for Juniors, The Waldorf Astoria, New York, 1940, The Waldorf-Astoria Corp.
Twist O' Hill Lodge, Williston, Vermont, Luncheon Menu, September 3, 1940, Twist-O-Hill Lodge
Unknown Hotel, Dinner Menu, January 16, 1940, Unknown
Submissions from 1939
The Latch String Inn, Sunday Dinner Menu, September 24, 1939, The Latch String Inn
Submissions from 1938
The Bethel Inn, Breakfast Menu, July 22, 1938, The Bethel Inn
The Bethel Inn, Dinner Menu, July 22, 1938, The Bethel Inn
The Bethel Inn, Luncheon Menu, July 22, 1938, The Bethel Inn
Submissions from 1936
Hotel Papandajan, Garoet Java, Indonesia, Lunch Menu, January 23, 1936, Hotel Papandajan
Submissions from 1935
Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii, Dinner Menu, November 4, 1935, The Territorial Hotel Co., Ltd.
Submissions from 1914
Lucerne 1914, Lake of IV Cantons, Switzerland, Program of the Summer Season, Kursaal, Kurplatz, Hofkirche, Aerodrome Park, General Enquiry Office, Lucerne