1892
Any document relating to an early African-American union is a rarity, such as this menu from a ball held by the Tremont House Waiters’ Association in 1892. Reflecting the traditional values of this group, the nine-page menu contains the bill of fare, concert program, and order of dances, as well as the names of the officers and management committee. Its most revealing feature is a portrait, perhaps of the association president, which expresses the calm and confident spirit of the time and place. Unbeknownst to these waiters, this joyous social gathering marked the apex of their collective lives.
