by Nancy Armitage
“The Hobby Club of New York” was Mr. Henry E. Huntington’s favorite club. As of 1911, the Hobby Club Board of Directors were as follows: President: Victor Dowling, Vice-President (s): Henry E. Huntington & Darwin P. Kingsley, Treasurer: Wm. Schnitzer, Sec’y: John C. Tomlinson Jr. & Editor: Wm. Trent. The Hobby Club of New York was incorporated in New York City in June 1911.
The sole purpose of the club was to share their hobbies with each other. They met with a formal dinner, meeting 4 times a year on a quarterly fashion, with fun menu themes. These themed dinner were quite elaborate with 10-16 multi-course dinners. The themes were directly connected with the host’s “Hobby” – whether it was book or art collecting, coins, flowers, menus, or patriotic documents/signatures of George Washington & Ben Franklin. By the photograph of the 1st annual Hobby Club meeting, the members of the club, were dressed in their fanciest with white tie & tails.
The Hobby Club of New York menus I viewed at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California. The menu were a work of art themselves. Each menu was directly related to the theme of the host’s collection. The themes were Nautical, Medieval, Botanical, or Patriotic and so on. Some of the dinner menus listed were in Latin, French, or English. Mr. Tiffany, artist/painter of Tiffany & Co. of New York City was commissioned to design many of these dinner menus. It must have been so fun to be a Hobby Club member to get your fancy invitation in the mail. The night of the dinner, to view the delightful themed menu & limited edition book (about the theme collection) at your place setting.
These Hobby Club dinners started at the Metropolitan Club in New York City on December 28, 1911. Mr. H. E. “Edwards” Huntington actually lived at the Metropolitan Club in the early 1900’s, while he was “In-Residence” in NYC. Then gradually the dinners were hosted at the members houses/mansions usually in New York City but one was on a farm in Vermont.
Mr. H. E. Huntington hosted at least 3-4 of these amazing Hobby Club dinners. Mr. H. E. Huntington was one of the founding members of the Hobby Club. So he was also invited to the Board of Director dinner meetings with detailed rules about limited amount of members (50), by-laws, etc.
Preparations for the quarterly Hobby Club Dinners
The Hobby Club of New York was one of Mr. Henry E. Huntington’s very favorite social clubs. There was a lot of preparations to organize to make these special dinners happen. The Hobby Club met for dinner quarterly every year (that gave them 3 months to prepare). It was a elegant multi-course dinner & a lecture about the themed collection by the host. Before or after dinner, the host would guide the members to view his collections.
There was a host/theme to pick. So there was a Hobby Club dinner invitation to design & to be printed. Then a formal themed menu to be decided on & illustrated by Tiffany & Co. There was also a small book/booklet (Limited edition 30-100 copies) made. For this little booklet, the Host’s collection had to be photographed, a paragraph/header of identification of collection had to be designed by the editor/committee of the Hobby Club.
This group of hobby enthusiasts & collectors of all kind – took their club very seriously. They had annals & by-laws written out. It stated in the by-laws, that the club was not to exceed 50 members. Prospect members had to go to the Board of Governors (which HEH was a member) & present their collection to get into the Hobby Club of New York; 3 men would decide on the candidate for the club. Probably these 3 men: were the Pres: Dowling, & the 2 v-p: Huntington & Kingsley. I found dates for several of these Board of Governors dinners, and only one menu.
The 1st time I saw a Hobby Club Dinner Menu (menu date was December 1915); it was in the book the “Library of Libraries” by Dickenson. Which is about Mr. Henry E. Huntington; there was a photograph of the actual dinner menu. That in December of 1915, the Hobby Club dinner menu stated that the dinner was actually held & hosted at Mr. & Mrs. Henry E. Huntington (Arabella). At their mansion No. 2 East 57th St. & 5th Ave in New York City. I realized at that point there must be more of these amazing Hobby Club elegant dinner menus.
In my Huntington Research, I am interested in the social & domestic life of the Huntington Family. I thought there was probably more of these formal Hobby Club dinner menus. As a “reader” at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California, I inquired about these possible menus. I asked my HEH Collections associate curator, Jennifer Goldman & she looked into it for me. She found a huge portfolio of H. E. Huntington’s Hobby Club collection of menus, which she let me view. This huge portfolio was a treasure trove of Gilded Age Dinner Menus & list of elegant dinner foods.
Also, foods that Mr. H. E. Huntington actually ate, which interested me. It was exactly what I was looking for. The large portfolio was labeled 1911-1917 & it had 25 Hobby Club menus in this large portfolio because most of the menus were 15″ x 20″ in size.
I thought there could be many more of these Hobby Club menus?? My hunch was correct. Then a 2nd portfolio of Hobby Club menus was found for me, with the rest of the fabulous menus. Most of them beautifully painted & illustrated by Tiffany & Co. NYC. I was really excited! Now I have to find some of this delicious recipes!!
There was about over 50 total Hobby Club menus! Which I was able to view at the Huntington Library in San Marino, CA. The Hobby Club in New York started in 1911- went into 1928, & they met on a quarterly basis. There could be possible – 68 Hobby Club total menus. There was a 1-2 dinners with no menus.
But the Hobby Club Board of Governors, also had dinners, too. The Board of Governor met a couple times a year, I viewed a couple invitations to those dinners. Mr. H. E. Huntington was on the Hobby Club’s Board of Governors.
The Hobby Club members enjoyed elegant dinners together on a quarterly basis. They usually served a dinner of at least 12-14 multi-course dinner with wine (s) & champagne pairing. Viewing many of the dinners, there were many similarities:
The Hobby Club Dinners usually started:
with Oysters on the Half Shell or Little Neck Clams served with Amontillado Sherry. Relish dishes of toasted almonds, radishes, and celery.
Soup was usually Green Turtle Soup, I saw listed, too.
Then, they had Hors d’oeuves or Assorted Canapes, usually a lovely “Amuse Bouche” (a small surprise treat from the chef). Appetizer was also Pate Foie Gras in Aspic,
A Fish course like Crab Lorenzo or Chicken Halibut and/or a
Chicken Course “Spring Chicken” or Guinea Hen served with a vintage white wine.
Punch course of “Roman Punch” was served sometimes
Entrée course was Lamb with Mint Sauce or Virginia Ham Mousse & served with the finest French Champagne .
The Lamb Course was served vegetables with Fresh French “Petit Pois” (Green Garden Peas) or Asparagus with Dutch Hollandaise sauce & all kinds of styles of Potatoes (Duchess Potatoes, etc.),
A Game course could be Venison with a
Salad Course – Simple salad with Oranges or a Wedge Salad served after entrée (French style).
Then a French Fromage (French cheese) course usually French Camembert & Roquefort were typical.
Next, was a showering of lovely desserts, there were Fancy Cakes & Petit Fours, & Ices or Mousses course. Then Assorted Fancy Cakes & small Petit fours or French Bon Bons.
Ending with Coffee, Cigars & Fancy Liqueurs.
I think that it was a basic menu that the host member could use as a guide. Yet, some of the clever hosts added other items that were different from this typical Hobby Club menu. Which made it more interesting. There was Caviar & its accoutrements was served several times over the years. HEH served Caviar and soup called “Consommé Royale” & Chicken Consommé which were unusual. There was a soup called Oxtail Metropolitan and Southern Gumbo served, also. Unusual food Items were Cornish Game Hen, Striped Bass, Cheese Soufflé, Potato Croquette, Dessert of Chocolate Mousse were different,
The Hobby Club started in 1911, when several friends of Mr. Henry E. Huntington’s decided to share their “Hobbies” or collections with each other. Also, they enjoyed a lovely multi-course elegant dinner, too. There was a host that shared his collection & a theme for the evening’s lecture. Some of the themes for the dinners & lectures were: “Ancient Armor”, ‘Precious Stones”, “Early New York”, & Joan of Arc Loan Exhibition”. Maybe a short little lecture might be included while the gentlemen ate their desserts & then a walking tour after dinner of the host’s collection.
The host of the evening, also gave out to the member’s a lovely (Limited Edition book or Booklet) of the host’s collection. I have never seen these little booklets, I bet they are a treasure trove. Some of the booklets were one collection and some included several collections. There were several publications; one of them was by Hobby Club New York by Trent (Editor), Tomlinson (Sec’y), Kingley (one of the V-P), & Rogers. This book published in 1912, titled “Papers of the Hobby Club 1911-1912” & published [Cambridge, Mass.] then a private printing [The Riverside Press.] So this little book probably included 8 collections. If the Hobby Club dinner was at a private clubs like the Metropolitan Club or Union Club, they would have had to set up tables & place their collection (s) on long tables for the members to view.
I’m not sure who paid for these scrumptious Hobby Club of New York dinners & wines/ champagne served with each course. There was a formal invitation sent to the members. Also, the hand-painted menu cards & place cards by Tiffany himself must have cost some money, also. Also the wait staff & chef to buy the food & serve the elaborate dinner. Also, the cost of the limited edition book/ booklet to be photographed & printed of the host’s hobby.
The Hobby Club did have a treasurer on the committee, & they did pay small dues to the Hobby Club. I did find a sheet in Henry E. Huntington’s papers stating that the members paid $5.00 for a 10-12 course dinner meal with lecture & sharing their collection evenings. I wonder if Mr. H. E. Huntington donated to these evenings, he was a very generous man that way, often giving in secret. $5.00 just seems quite inexpensive for the finest gourmet foods, French Champagne, & lovely vintage rare wines served! Maybe the host, treated all their guests, I am not sure.
I did find evidence that Mr. H. E. “Edwards” Huntington paid for the photograph of the 1st Hobby Club Dinner at the Metropolitan Club, NYC. A great memory to Mr. Henry E. Huntington & his collector friends. Mr. Huntington actually lived at the Metropolitan Club in the early 1900’s. While he was “In-residence” in NYC, from 1900-1903, he was settling the huge estate of his Uncle Collis P. Huntington. In one envelope I found, a photograph of the 1st Hobby Club Dinner (1911) with 13 men present. They were all dressed in formal ware with white ties & tails. Outside of the envelope stated: “Please do not crush or bend. Paid through Mr. Henry E. Huntington, Metropolitan Club Fifth Ave. & 60th Street, City. [NYC] Banquet Photo by Drucker & Co. 204 W. 43th St. Time Square, New York.”
The very 1st Hobby Club banquet dinner was located at the Metropolitan Club in NYC (menu above). Mr. Henry E. Huntington was living at the Metropolitan Club, he was a bachelor between 1906 (divorced from his 1st wife, Mary) until he married Mrs. Collis P. Huntington (Arabella) in 1913. Several other Hobby Club dinner banquets were at the Metropolitan Club & the Union Club too, in New York City. Always they used very clever themes attached with the Hobby Club formal dinners.
In 1913, they started a trend where the Hobby Club of New York members were invited to go to a member’s homes & they would show their unusual private collections & enjoy a elegant dinner together. Mr. H. E. “Edwards” Huntington hosted at least 3-4 of the elegant dinners at his New York City mansion at the Metropolitan Club and No. 2 East 57th Street New York City, NY. There were (3) Hobby Club dinners hosted at the Huntington Mansion was to show H.E. Huntington’s collection(s). (Below menu). The 15th Hobby Club Dinner, January 12, 1915 located at the Metropolitan Club hosted by HEH & the theme was “American Indian & Arrowheads”. The menu is signed by HEH “H.E. Huntington with the good wishes fellow Hobbyists”. He also hosted Hobby Club of NY on Dec. 16, 1915 at his home No 2 East 57th St. NYC & his collection of books & elaborate dinner. The 4th time HEH’s hosted was at the Huntington Mansion was the 26th Hobby Club Dinner & the host was Wm. K. Bixby showing his “Unpublished Autograph Letter and Manuscripts”.
One of the fancy dinners, hosted by Mr. H. E. Huntington was on December 16, 1915, two years after he married Mrs. Collis P. Huntington (Arabella) – (Below). Throughout this blog are the recipes in this Huntington Mansion delicious menu.
Roman Punch Recipe
Roman Punch was often offered in the middle of several Huntington formal dinner parties. Scribed on the Hobby Club Dinner Menus. Roman Punch or a Sorbet was often served in the middle of a multi-course meal. It was to give the guests a pause and “to cleanse the palate” for more food to come. Often, these dinners took 2 hours, so the “Roman Punch’ gave everyone a little break.
Juice of 4 Naval Oranges (1 1/2 c.)
2 c. Water
1 c. French Champagne or Rum
juice of 1 lemon
1 t. Sugar
1 1/2 c. Afternoon Darjeeling brewed Tea
1/4 c. Maraschino cherry juice
Mix the water & sugar together then add fruit juices & tea. Strain the citrus pulp from the juice. This mixture could be frozen to a mush at this point. Just before the party, add cold French champagne or rum. Serve in champagne glasses or frappe glasses. Makes 1 1/2 qt. Recipe: Nancy Armitage
So why do I love Gilded Age menus so much. As a food researcher, they are a great source of historical information! A dinner menu can give you so many important details of an ‘event”. A menu will sometimes lists the location, reason of a celebration, time & date of party, the theme of the dinner, & wonderful illustrations of the theme of the party. It also got the Hobby Club members excited to a upcoming event. We all need things to look forward to in life.
With this particular collection of menus: signatures of the members of the Hobby Club, were on the back side of the menu. Mr. H. E. Huntington, quite a saver of documents, & famous signatures; he knew he was living important history with his collector friends. Mr. H.E. “Edwards” Huntington went around the Hobby Club dinner & asked all the men to sign his menu. What is also interesting, Mr. H. E. Huntington also acquired a lot of his friends & colleagues collections, later on.
These Hobby Club diner menus are a wonderful illustration of the Hobby Clubs passions. These special collections of art, beauty, books, coins, & interesting treasures. By the letters, memos, & notes, I found of Mr. Henry “Edwards” Huntington’s about the Hobby Club – there was an executive committee & an Board of Governors (they seemed to have the last word). HEH was a co-vice-president with Mr. Kingsley. Because of Mr. H.E.Huntington travels (and living bi-coastal), I think that is why he had Kingsley join him as a 2nd V-P. Mr. Huntington owned a mansion in California by 1910, When living in NYC, he lived at the Metropolitan Club, later in 1913 when he married Mrs. Collis P. Huntington (Arabella) they lived on 57th and 5th Ave NYC..
Tomlinson was the secretary of this committee. Tomlinson was very efficient with dates & time; this executive committee met a couple of times a year, sometimes a formal dinner included, only one menu did I find (June of 1918 below) for Board of Governors dinners. Their committee meetings were probably to plan for the clubs seasonal Hobby Club dinners. Reviewing the Host, the themes, & locations, the menus & the Special host’s collection in a Limited edition book/booklet, etc.
The Hobby Club met for fancy banquet dinners on a seasonal basis, four times a year: Winter, Spring, Summer, & Autumn. For this celebration, the men dressed in white tie & tails. There was a multi-course dinner provided; & probably sharing of the “Collection” before & after dinner. The whole evening might have lasted between 3-4 hours, maybe with a cocktail hour or greetings for the guests to arrive with appetizers. Maybe a sneak peek of the collections at this time. A 2- hour formal dinner with a break in the middle. Maybe a small lecture at dessert, The last hour was a tour of the house/mansion & the host’s treasured collection.
The Hobby Club of New York had themes to these interesting dinner parties like Shakespeare, Mathematics, Halloween, Native American Indian, & Medieval. I am not sure if the host of the party or the executive committee picked these themes. It makes sense, that the mailed Dinner Invitation went with the theme of the host’s collection.
The clever castle & armor menu theme (below) was the 5th Hobby Club Dinner. It was hosted by Professor Bashford Dean on Halloween night, October 31, 1912. The theme for the Professor’s lecture & Limited Edition book/booklet was “Ancient Armor”. Tiffany & Co. illustrated this detailed themed menu, it included Ancient armor, the menu, & the members that attended the dinner. That Hobby Club dinner was located at Riverdale on Hudson, New York.
One time that H. E. Huntington hosted the Hobby Club dinner – the theme was Shakespeare; Mr. Huntington does have a amazing collection of ephemera & books of Shakespeare. A couple of the Hobby Club menus are in Latin.
So many of these Hobby Club menus exist? Probably about 50 or more. If the elegant grand dinners happened quarterly for 18 years. At first, I only viewed 25 menus in Mr. H. E. Huntington’s large portfolio that was packed full. This portfolio started in 1911 & ended Dec. 6th 1917. The large menus were about 15″ x 20″. In general from 1911-1917, they had 4 dinners a year. One year, there seemed to be no menu printed for the Hobby Club; it was the 4th dinner in summer of 1912. On another Hobby Club dinner list, I found Hobby Club 4th Dinner (September 27, 1912) was hosted by Theodore N. Vail & it was unusually out of state in Vermont. He must have invited members for a weekend event. The theme was “The Intercommunication of Intelligence”, located at Speedwell Farms, Lyndonville, Vermont. Then at the Huntington Library, they found another (2nd) portfolio with an abundance of Hobby Club dinner menus. This second menu portfolio dated from 1918 to 1920’s, could have been 40 or more menus, totaling about 90 menus.
I don’t know if Mr. H.E. “Edwards” Huntington actually attended every single Hobby Club dinner, either. If members did not attend, they could have been out of town or had a family obligation. We do know that H. E. Huntington did not attend any of the Hobby Club dinners in middle of 1927 & 1928, because Mr. H.E. Huntington had died in May of 1927.
So once the Hobby Club figured out their dinner “theme” for their seasonal dinner, a club/mansion location, a host of a collection, & location of this theme…they hired Tiffany & Co. to design a beautiful illustrated dinner menu. It listed all the beautiful fancy dinner courses & illustrating the theme, also. Sometimes the elegant wines & French champagne were listed.
Another interesting thing that the Hobby Club members did (or maybe it was just Mr. H. E. Huntington) was having the members sign the back of his dinner menu. On the back of the Hobby Club dinner menus, I found the members that attended the Hobby Club dinner all signed their names. I’m leaning towards – it might have been Mr. Huntington’s menu, because he collected signatures of well-known people, that is part of his collections like Benjamin Franklin, Geo. Washington, & Abraham Lincoln.
This is my typed-up lists of the Hobby Dinners (below) & some Hobby Club meetings that took place, also. The Dates, Locations, Menus, & Themes are listed, also. When the information was provided, I included, the host’s name and all the Hobby Club members that were present at the Hobby Club dinners. It is a incomplete list. The Club started with 12-15 members & grew to 30 or more members.
The 1st Hobby Club Dinner (December 28, 1911) was located at the Metropolitan Club in NYC. The host is unknown, but there is a big possibility that it hosted by Mr. Henry E. Huntington; he had a great collection of Shakespeare books & ephemera. At the time. Mr. H. E. Huntington also lived at the Metropolitan Club, while he was “In-residence” in NYC. The theme on the menu was Shakespeare books, artist’s palette, & easel. Or it is possible that the 12 members in attendance, all brought something to share (of their collections: painting, books, etc.) with the Hobby Club members.
The 2nd Hobby Club Dinner was on February 8, 1912. The theme was about time or clocks; location was the University Club, NYC. Here is the menu & poem included on the menu: Menu: Buffet Rvsse, Grapefruit au Madere, Chicken Consommé Brillat Savarin, Varies Hors oeuvre’s, Terrapin a la University, Saddle & Rack of Spring Lamb, Mint Jelly, New Peas, Bermuda Potatoes Rissoles, Souffle of Fresh Mushrooms, Squab Guinea Chicken with Bread Sauce, Celery Salad en Bellevue, Glace Chipolata au Marasquin, Cheese Course, Fruit, Coffee. “Threefold the stride of time first to last! Loitering slow, the future creepeth – Arrow -swift the present sweepeth – & Motionless forever stands the past.” Schiller. Document: HEH Coll. HEH Bio File 17/1 uncat Huntington Library San Marino, CA
The Thirteen (13th) Dinner of the Hobby Club Thursday, April 23th, 1914 at 263 Madison Ave. New York City. Dinner Menu: Escalloped Melon Cocktail, Clear Consommé, Broiled Terrapin, Mushrooms on Toast, “Drumthwacket” Milk-fed Baby Lamb, Mint Sauce, Asparagus Hollandaise, New Potatoes, Green Peas, Boned Capon, Salad, Ice Cream. Liquors: Sherry, Chateau Lafitte 1888, Moet & Chandon 1889, Cuvee 36, Grande Fine Champagne 1811 caves du Duc D’Aumale, The Old Chartreuse. Theme: Armor, Philadelphia, Horse Carriage. Document: HEH Coll HEH Bio File 17/1 uncat at Huntington Library San Marino, CA
The 14th Dinner of the Hobby Club of New York was at Edwin R. Seligram 324 West 86th Street NYC on Friday evening, November 20th, 1914. A picture of the dinner menu is above. The Theme: Thanksgiving cornucopia, French satire, Dutch menu (St. Nicholas day Dec. 5th) the words on the menu: Bank, Credit, Land, Security, Curiosities of Economic Literature, French picture of Louis XVI. A French & Dutch themed Dinner Menu: Pamplemousse, Potage Julian [Dutch] Poisson Pigeons, Petit Pois [French Green Peas], Selle de Mouton [Leg of Lamb], Pommes au natural, Salad Endive, Glaces, Gateaux [Fancy French Cake, Fromage -French Camembert, Fruits, Cafe [Coffee] Liquors: Amontillado Sherry, Chateau d’Yqueur 1895, Pontet Canet 1893, Liqueurs. Document: HEH Coll HEH Bio File 17/1 uncat at Huntington Library San Marino, CA
The Fifteen Dinner of the Hobby CLVB of New York was on Tuesday evening January 12, 1915, Hosted by Henry E. Huntington at the Metropolitan Club. The theme was Native American Indians, with images of Indian arrowheads & Indian teepees. Also, on the menu it stated *H.E. Huntington with the good wishes fellow hobbyists.
Formal Hobby Club Dinner Menu: Cotuit Oysters, Oxtail a la Indian, [Relish dish]: Celery, Olives, Radishes & Almonds, Chicken Halibut a la Hazard, Cucumbers, Saddle of Mutton with [Mint] Jelly, Spinach, Potatoes Rissoles, Broiled Spring Chicken, Lettuce Salad a la Teppe, Assorted Cheeses, Fancy Ices, Cakes, Coffee.
14 Hobby Club member Signatures on the back of the menu: David Wagstaff, Phoenix, Albert Gallatin, David R. Francis, Henry Harper, Plimpton, Newell, Thomlinson Jr. , Hazard, Duzer, Theo Vail, J.O Crimmin, W.P. Trent & H.E. Huntington. Document: HEH Coll HEH Bio File 17/1 uncat at Huntington Library San Marino, CA
The 16th Hobby Club of New York Dinner was on Friday, February 12th , 1915. Hosted by Mr. Phoenix Ingraham & located at his home, 80 Irving Place New York City. The Theme was Wm. Thackery letters; the menu had a funny cartoon with a man with a long mustache wearing a jester medieval costume. Also, a illustration of a man with a black top hat riding a horse. Menu: Oysters with Rudesheimer sweet wine, Clear Green Turtle Soup with Vintage sherry 1865 Coronation 1911, Soft Clams, a l’Ancienne, Saddle of Canadian Mutton with Bollinger Special Cuvee 1904, Potatoes Croquettes, Peas, Virginia Ham, Hothouse Tomatoes & Lettuce Salad, Plum Pudding, Vanilla Ice Cream, Fruit, Dessert, Coffee, Old Chartreuse, Prince of Wales Port 1815, Otard Brandy 1808, Southside Madeira (110 yrs old) 1825 Document: HEH Coll HEH Bio File 17/1 uncat at Huntington Library San Marino, CA
The 17th Hobby Club of New York Dinner was on Friday evening the XXIII MCMXV. The menu was on a tan parchment paper with a deckled edge; sepia tone lettering. The 11- course dinner Menu was as follows: Littleneck Clams, Soup was Croute en pot, [Relish dish]: celery radish & Almonds, Planked Shad & Roe with Cucumbers, Fresh Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce, Guinea Chicken Metropolitan, String Beans, Assorted Cheeses, Lettuce Salad, Fancy Ices, Cakes, Coffee. Document: HEH Collection HEH Bio File 17/1 uncat at Huntington Library San Marino, CA
The 18th Hobby Club of New York Dinner was hosted by Mr. Henry E. Huntington. On Thursday, the sixteenth of December 1915 at his NYC mansion. The Huntington Mansion was Two East Fifty-seventh Street (he shared with Arabella D. Huntington his wife). On the menu, on paper scrolls were many of HEH’s collections: Shakespeare, Spenser, Swift, Defoe, Dickens, Fielding, Goldsmith, Herrick, Lamb, Milton, Burns, Cruikshank, Lincolniana, Washingtoniana, Bryant, Poe, Hawthorne, Cowell, Irving, The Federalist 1788, New England Primer 1735, Franklin MS, Autobiography 1771-90. A Tiffany & Co. Illustrated menu with a photograph of HEH’s library on the top. On the top left was a illustrated “E” with orange & lemon trees growing out of the “E'” for Eighteen Dinner of Hobby Club. A nod to Mr. Huntington orange groves & lemons at his San Marino Ranch in Southern California. The Hobby Club Dinner Menu was Caviar on Toast, Consommé Royal, Terrapin, Chicken Mousse with Truffle Sauce, Roman Punch, Saddle of Lamb, Peas, Potatoes, Currant Jelly, Pate de Fois Gras in Aspic, Fruit Salad, Macaroon Ice Cream, [Fancy] Cakes, Coffee. Document: HEH Coll HEH Bio File 17/1 uncat at Huntington Library San Marino, CA
The 19th Nineteenth Dinner of the Hobby Club was on Tuesday evening, January 18,1916; located at 30 E. Fifty-ninth St. New York City with the dinner menu in French written in sepia ink on white paper. In 1916, the Hobby Club started a trend with the Hor’deouves coming first at this fancy meal The theme might have been Thackeray, a hint on the menu. The Hobby Club Dinner Menu was for the 1st course: Hors d’Oeuvres then Huitres [Oysters on the Half Shell with Mignonette Sauce] Consomme Printanier [Soup Course], Ragout de Poisson a la Thackeray [Chicken Course], Ris de Veau with Sauce Amandes [Veal with Almond Sauce], Selle de Mouton de Canada [Leg of Canadian Lamb], Pommes de Terre, Rissoles, Haricots [French Green Beans], Asperces with Novvelles Hollandaise [Asparagus with New Hollandaise Sauce], Celeri a la Grece, Canape a l Roi Jacque, Glace des Iles, Cafe [Coffee] Menu was sage green on white paper with sepia ink with Old English fonts & scrip. 6 illustrations 1829 & 1830 on the top of the menu one labeled Flore et Zephyr 1836; menu signed by Tiffany & Co. Document: HEH Coll HEH Bio File 17/1 uncat at Huntington Library San Marino, CA
The Twentieth Dinner (20th) of Hobby Club of New York Thursday Evening, February the Seventeenth one Thousand and nine Hundred and Sixteen at six hundred and Forty-five fifth Avenue, New York City. Dinner on February 17, 1916 at Mr. D. O. Field 645 5th Ave. NYC. The Hobby Club Dinner Menu was as follows: The Theme was satire on travel & ships; there was late 1800’s illustrations, flags, & illustration of Queen Charlotte’s ship. On the bottom of the menu a illustration of a man & woman walking or talking to another lady. The menu was on tan parchment paper with a deckled edge & black ink font & drawings in black & white. . The Dinner Menu is as follows: Hor d’oeuvres, Green Turtle Soup, Broiled Shad, Saddle of Lamb, Potatoes, Jelly, Westfield Farm Ham, Spinach, Hot Spiced Peaches, Salad, Crackers & Cheese, Rice Pudding in Cups, Pumpkin Pie, Mince Pie, Coffee. Document: HEH Coll HEH Bio File 17/1 uncat at Huntington Library San Marino, CA
The Twenty-First Dinner (21st) of the Hobby Club of New York Thursday, March 13, 1916 [written out in long hand]. The Location of the Dinner was at 7 East 67th Street, New York City. The 12- course Hobby Club Dinner Menu is as follows: Oysters, Green Turtle Soup, Broiled Shad, Creamed Cucumbers, Spring Lamb with Mint Sauce, Rice Croquettes, Lima Beans, Roast Squab Chicken, Asparagus Sauce Hollandaise, Vanilla Ice Cream, Strawberries, Cheese, Fruit, Coffee. I must say there wasn’t a lot of creativity in these later Hobby Club menus like there was in the beginning in 1911. The menu was long & narrow with a illustration of a person. Document: HEH Coll HEH Bio File 17/1 uncat at Huntington Library San Marino, CA
The 22nd Hobby Club Dinner was on Nov. 9, 1916 at the Metropolitan Club in NYC. a illustration on the top of the menu portrays Shakespeare himself, drawn by Tiffany & Co. with a very clever Shakespearean menu. The 9 multi-course dinner menu is as follows: “Ye Feast for ye XXII Tyme of ye Company known as. Ye Hobbie Clube of ye Citye of New York (old English writing) on Thursday ye ninth daye of November in ye years of Grace, One thousand nine hundred and sixteen. Some good thynges at ye feaste: Oysters from Cape Cod, Soup from ye little pot, Sea Bass in ye country Style, Ye Sweetbreads as in Virginia, Ye Saddle of Lamb with Tyrolean Sauce, String Beans, Potatoes, Cheese, Lettuce with Russian Dressing, Coffee Withinne ye Metropolitan Club” & hand painted by Tiffany & Co. Document: HEH Coll HEH Bio File 17/1 uncat at Huntington Library San Marino, CA. See how a themed Shakespeare dinner menu would get the guests excited about the night to come & what they might eat & collections they might see.
The 23th Dinner of the Hobby Club of New York was January of 1917 the theme was Medicine & Mathematics in the 16th Century with scholarly formulas of Issac Newton & the Dinner menu was in Latin. The Latin Dinner Menu: “Mirabilia Mathematica Prandium xxiij. Hobbicae in aebibus Societatis Unionensis Die XXV Mensis Januarii Anno Salutis MDCCCCXVij. Lectiuncula Davidis Eugenii Smith Petito Mathematicis: Proposito i. Canapes variae Pythagoriae, ij. Ostrea Totuita Moderna Thaleana, iij. Jus Testudineum Viride Euchideum, iiij. Extra operaria varia Apollonica v. Bassus Marimus Leibnitanus Corollarium Battata Castellana, vj. Gallina Numidica Assa Newtonian Cozollarium Apium Graveolens, Proposito vij Biscoctus Tortonius Cartesianus Corollarium Placentulae Cardanianae Explicit feciter cum coffeae Semipoculo. With 4 Celtic knot designs (Irish or Scottish) on the bottom. Signatures on the back: John Tomlinson Jr., Smith, H. E. Huntington, Victor Dowling, Winston H. Hapern, Edw. Newell, Wm. M Schnitzer, Geo. Plimpton, Duzer, Bashford Dean, Albert Gallatin, David Wagstaff, Phaesis Ingiluss? Document: HEH Coll HEH Bio File 17/1 uncat at Huntington Library San Marino, CA
The 24th Dinner of the Hobby Club of New York was on February 22, 1917. It was located at Sixty-two East Fifth Street, New York City. The patriotic theme was George Washington (our 1st U. S. President), with a painting of George Washington by Stuart 1795 & his signature on the front of the dinner menu. The patriotic Dinner menu with very fancy scrip writing is as follows: Lobster Cocktail, Soup: Cream of Mushroom, Fish: Salmon with Hollandaise Sauce, Roast: Brisket of Beef with Potatoes & Beets & String Beans, Virginia Ham, Salad, Orange Savarin, Coffee. Document: HEH Coll HEH Bio File 17/1 uncat at Huntington Library San Marino, CA
The Location was at Henry E. Huntington & Arabella Huntington NYC mansion. The Dinner menu card is a Christmas-themed card with biege & green colors with a deckled edge; attached with thin ribbon to another strong back paper.
The 1917 Hobby Club Dinner Menu was as follows: Grapefruit [Cocktail], Consommé Royale, Pastry Sticks [Cheese sticks made with puff pastry], Terrapin, Hot Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce, Filet of Beef with Mushroom Sauce, Potatoes, String Beans, Roast Squab, Vegetable Salad in Aspic, Brandy Peach Ice Cream, [Fancy French] Cake, Coffee. Three documents illustrated at the top of the menu. Writing on menu: Jas. Boswell 1763, I bought this 2nd at Greenwich when I was walking with Mr. Samuel Johnston. Psalmorum Davidus Paraphralis Scotipoetica London: 1660.
20 Signatures on the back of the 1917 menu: H. E. Huntington, Winston Stager, Dowling, Wm. Schnizer, Geo. King, Edwin Seligrammer, Harper, David Wagstaff, John Wilburn, W.K. Bixby, R.T. Hobally?, David Eugene Smith, Tomlinson, Chas. Munger, D. Hazard, J. C. Tomlinson, Geo. Plimpton, Alfrain Donger, Advanet First, D. Munger. Document: HEH Coll HEH Bio File 17/1 uncat at Huntington Library – San Marino, CA
I’m so grateful for finding this portfolio of Hobby Club menus on the front reads: 1911-1917. It was the motherlode of culinary menu information for me. There is a possibility that there is another portfolio of menus, that has 1918-1928.
The Hobby Club was also written up in the New York Times on December 17, 1911. The article title, “Riders of Hobbies to Dine Each Month”, many lovers of books.” Correction: the Hobby Club met quarterly.
“The Hobby Club, incorporated by a number of well-known New Yorkers, will hold its first dinner at the Metropolitan Club on the evening of December 28, [1911] . The clubs membership is limited to fifty & to become eligible one must mount some well defined hobby….there is even talk about building a clubhouse. Chance meeting of several of the present members, at which they frequently found themselves engaged in heated debates on hobbies, brought about the organization of the club…Mr. Schnitzer is pointed to by other members as the founder of the club.”
The Times Newspaper goes on with information about the Hobby Club members – actual hobbies: “The hobby of each member is listed when his application for membership is made. President Dowling hobby is books. He has one of the most interesting collection in the city. Adrian H. Joline, another member has a collection of autographs which includes those of many of the Kings of France. Theodore N. Vail is partial to books & paintings, & Henry E. Huntington’s hobby is the collection of rare editions [also signatures & important patriotic documents; Lincoln, Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Shakespeare & classic books]. Mr. Tomlinson has made a study of sun dials & has a unique collection. He also has a second hobby, rare books. Prof. Trent has been trying for years to obtain information to throw light on the personality of Defoe, the author of Robinson Crusoe. Samuel V. Hoffman, Pres. of New York Historical Society…has remarkable collection of prints of old New York. Mr. Kingsley’s hobby is Shakespeareana. The hobbies are not restricted to any particular line, & although at present they are confined mostly to literary, artistic & scientific subjects. It is expected that the field will soon be broadened.” So the Times put the Hobby Club of New York on the map in December of 1911, when they first started this adventure. Document: HEH Coll. HEH Bio File 17/1 uncat (A portfolio of Dinner Menus of the Hobby Club, NYC) located in Huntington Library, San Marino, CA
I learned about another significant Hobby Club of New York dinner, hosted by Henry E. Huntington. It was held on Tuesday, December 21, 1920 at his home at No. 2 East 57th St. New York City, NY. The theme was for “Forefather’s Day” in commemoration of the tercentenary of the landing of the Pilgrims. There is some confusing on the number of this dinner. If they stayed with the number system they had in place of 4 dinners a year- this dinner would have been the 39th Hobby Club dinner. H. E. Huntington also published a book/booklet: Hobby Club of New York, Sulgrave Institution & Vechten Waring Co. 1920. “Exhibition of bookes & c. by & aboute the establishers of Plimoth Plantation & the Virginia Companie: who set up the 1st representative assembly of free men: 1620 – 1920”. This publication information I found on wikpedia.com – Hobby Club NYC. I’m sure the dinner menu was impressive & researched well about the foods the Pilgrims ate in 1620.
Inside the Huntington's Story 