ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Title
Chinese Restaurants Collection
Collection Number
SC 454
OCLC Number
1040035577
Creator
Various
Provenance
Donated by anthropologist Sidney W. Mintz in 2014.
Extent, Scope, and Content Note
The Chinese Restaurants Collection includes 1.3 linear ft. of Chinese restaurant menus, matchbooks, and business cards ca. 1960-2000
and collected by Sidney W. Mintz.
Arrangement and Processing Note
The collection is arranged in the order in which it was received. The collection was
processed by Kristen J. Nyitray in 2014.
Updated by Kristen J. Nyitray in May 2019.
Language(s)
English, Chinese, French, Dutch
Restrictions on Access
The collection is open to researchers without restriction.
Rights and Permissions
Stony Brook University Libraries' consent to access as the physical owner of the collection
does not address copyright issues that may affect publication rights. It is the sole
responsibility of the user of Special Collections and University Archives materials
to investigate the copyright status of any given work and to seek and obtain permission
where needed prior to publication.
Citation
[Item], [Box], Chinese Restaurant Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Stony Brook University Libraries.
Historical Note
A matchbook is a small paperboard folder (matchcover) enclosing a quantity of matches and having a coarse striking surface on the exterior. The folder is opened to access
the matches, which are attached in a comb-like arrangement and must be torn away before
use in contrast to a matchbox where the matches are loosely packed in the interior
tray. The exterior of the matchcover is usually imprinted with a producer's logo,
often with artistic decorations, or serves as an advertising/promotional medium for the undertaking by which it is sold or given away.
The ease of making matchcovers of different shapes also made them quite a popular
cheap promotional item or anniversary souvenir. Manufacturing of matchbooks peaked
during the 1940s and 1950s, then steadily declined because of the availability of
disposable lighters and various anti-smoking health campaigns. Recently, matchbooks have begun
to regain some of their popularity as a "retro" advertising item, particularly in
high-end restaurants. (Sources: Wikipedia; Heron, Katrina October 20, 2009: "A New Old Freebie: Restaurant Matches Return."The New York Times)
Subjects
Chinese restaurants.
Restaurants -- Menus.
Matchcovers.
Matches.
Business cards.
Restaurants.
Cooking, Chinese -- Social aspects.
Chinese restaurants -- Social aspects.
Ethnic restaurants.
Family-owned business enterprises.
National characteristics, Chinese.
Chinese -- Cultural assimilation.
Chinese -- Ethnic identity.
Immigrants -- Cultural assimilation.
Restaurateurs.
INVENTORY
Box 1
Matchbooks
Box 2
Matchbooks
Business cards
Restaurants and locations include:
Name of Restaurant: Au Petit Tai
Location: Paris, France
Name of Restaurant: Azie
Location: Holland
Name of Restaurant: Bill Chan’s Gold Coin
Location: NY, NY
Name of Restaurant: Charlie Chiang’s Restaurant & Lounge
Location: North West, Washington, DC
Name of Restaurant: Cheng Du Restaurant
Location: West Hartford, Connecticut
Name of Restaurant: Chinese Restaurant
Location: Copacabana Beach
Name of Restaurant: China House Restaurant
Location: Unknown
Name of Restaurant: Chiu-Chow Inn
Location: London, UK
Name of Restaurant: Chung Cha Fu
Location: NY, NY
Name of Restaurant: Chung Cha Fu
Location: NY, NY
Name of Restaurant: Chung Yang
Location: The Netherlands
Name of Restaurant: City Lights of China Restaurant
Location: North West, Washington, DC
Name of Restaurant: Fu Ling
Location: Los Angeles, California
Name of Restaurant: Golden Crown
Location: Kowloon, Hong Kong
Name of Restaurant: Grandview Gardens
Location: Los Angeles, California
Name of Restaurant: Healthy Mess, Vegetarian Restaurant
Location: Unknown
Name of Restaurant: Ho’s Pauilion
Location: NY, NY
Name of Restaurant: House of Gong
Location: Dallas, Texas
Name of Restaurant: House of Hunan
Location: Washington, DC
Name of Restaurant: “China”
Location: The Netherlands
Name of Restaurant: Hunam Taste Restaurant
Location: NY, NY
Name of Restaurant: Hunam Taste Restaurant
Location: NY, NY
Name of Restaurant: Hunam
Location: Unknown
Name of Restaurant: Hunan
Location: Dallas, Texas
Name of Restaurant: Hunan Wok Restaurant
Location: West Orange, NJ
Name of Restaurant: Jade West
Location: Unknown
Name of Restaurant: Janice Chen’s Double Happy Restaurant
Location: NY, NY
Name of Restaurant: Jung Lam Restaurant
Location: Kowloon, Hong Kong
Name of Restaurant: Kingfisher Restaurant
Location: Kowloon, Hong Kong
Name of Restaurant: Latitude 20 °
Location: Torrance, California
Name of Restaurant: Lee’s Restaurant
Location: Chinatown, NY
Name of Restaurant: Long Wah Restaurant & Tavern
Location: Unknown
Name of Restaurant: Long Wah Restaurant & Tavern
Location: West Kitchener, Ontario
Name of Restaurant: Lotus Eaters East
Location: NY, NY
Name of Restaurant: Maniwa-Ya
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Name of Restaurant: Mee Mee Restaurant
Location: Kingston, Jamaica
Name of Restaurant: Nam Yuen
Location: Chinatown, San Francisco
Name of Restaurant: On Luck Rice Shape
Location: NY, N.Y.
Name of Restaurant: On Luck Rice Shape
Location: NY, N.Y.
Name of Restaurant: Peking Express Restaurant
Location: Princeton Junction, N.J.
Name of Restaurant: Peking on Fresh Pond
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Name of Restaurant: Peking on Fresh Pond
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Name of Restaurant: Peking Park Restaurant
Location: NY, NY
Name of Restaurant: Polynesian Village
Location: Maryland
Name of Restaurant: Restaurante Chino Casa Chan
Location: Madrid
Name of Restaurant: Roof Garden Restaurant
Location: Chinatown, San Francisco
Name of Restaurant: Seaking Garden Restaurant
Location: Liyemen, Kowloon
Name of Restaurant: Silver Palace Restaurant
Location: NY, NY
Name of Restaurant: Soko Rendezvous
Location: London, UK
Name of Restaurant: Sun Luck Imperial
Location: NY, NY
Name of Restaurant: Sun Luck Queens & Sunnyside
Location: New York
Name of Restaurant: Sun Yah Restaurant
Location: NY, NY
Name of Restaurant: Szechwan
Location: California
Name of Restaurant: Szechuan Inn
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Name of Restaurant: Szechuan Inn
Location: Unknown
Name of Restaurant: Szechuan Restaurant
Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Name of Restaurant: Szechuan & Hunan Cuisine
Location: North East, Washington DC
Name of Restaurant: Szechuan & Hunan Cuisine
Location: North East, Washington, DC
Name of Restaurant: Tai-Tung
Location: Flushing, NY
Name of Restaurant: Taiwak Restaurant
Location: Berkeley, California
Name of Restaurant: Ted Liu’s
Location: North West, Washington, DC
Name of Restaurant: Temple Garden
Location: Chinatown, NY
Name of Restaurant: The Village Chinese Restaurant
Location: London, UK
Name of Restaurant: Tom’s Shangri- LA
Location: NY, NY
Name of Restaurant: Top of Chinatown
Location: Unknown
Name of Restaurant: Trudie Ball’s Empress
Location: North West, Washington, DC
Box 3
Menus (7 folders)