Mohonk Mountain House Resort - Collection of Manuscript Materials, Menus, Guide Books & ephemera.

Lake Mohonk: 1900-1945. 500+ individual menus from the restaurant, printed a few different forms and sizes with details for breakfast, supper, dinner; many are illustrated with vignettes of the resort and grounds, printed with dates from the 1930s. First, these artifacts reveal the culinary offerings of the resort, presented during the 1930s and the food preferences of their patrons.

After their primary use, the menus were repurposed by the resort by handwriting on the verso work orders for the hotel property; notes on food preparation; for purchases; per-room repairs and grounds care and they are often detailed with extensive anecdotal information about the premises in its day-by-day activity and business.

Most of the work orders and notes are in pencil; some are also typed. Also detailed are materials and labor costs.

The Smiley family, long-term founders and owners of the resort, were members of the Society of Friends and supported the furtherance of community education and educational institutions for many years. Hence, another reuse they found for the menus was for the typed menus of the Mohonk School.

Collection also includes:
Photograph: titled in the image, "Swiss Lake Village, Mohonk Lake, N.Y." with the studio blind-stamp lower right of Loeffler Tompkinsville S.I.; approx. 7 3/4" x 9 3/4" overall size; albumen; mount card chipped at top left margin corner. The Loeffler studio was a prominent Staten Island photography concern and their work is held in the LOC and other institutions.

Additional Ephemera:
(5) illustrated Guides to the resort for seasons of 1905; 1916; 1936; 1942; 1944.

(15) small "Mohonk Laundry List - Men" printed forms, from the 1930s, listing names of guests & work done.

An issue of The Mohonk Bulletin, small folding pamphlet, issued weekly by the resort; for 1933.

(25) handwritten room orders, with food requests as well as particular emergency repairs and requests from guests and management.

About a dozen scrap papers, parts of menus and other pieces which have notes mostly regarding repair requests. Item #26931

Price: $950.00