Historian. Novelist. Greedy Woman.

Mrs. Bigelow’s Gilded Age Menu (1879)

Society-hostess Jane Poultney Bigelow, wife of the former Ambassador to Paris, followed the example of trend-setting restaurant Delmonico’s when she presented guests to her 1879 ball with a silken menu, embossed with gold lettering. What could be more Gilded Age?

2 responses to “Mrs. Bigelow’s Gilded Age Menu (1879)”

  1. KEVIN FOSTER Avatar
    KEVIN FOSTER

    Can you recommend a good Bigelow resource. With the exception of the website at Union College, I can’t seem to find one that is well curated.

    Reply
    1. Rachel Hope Cleves Avatar
      Rachel Hope Cleves

      I recommend reading his multi-volume autobiography. I think it’s all available on archive.org.

      Reply

Leave a comment