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Arizona Biltmore Hotel Photographs 1920s-1980s

CP SPC 108

Historical Note

The Arizona Biltmore hotel was designed by Albert Chase McArthur with Frank Lloyd Wright as a design consultant. Its architecture demonstrates one of the first uses of molded concrete blocks. Construction was completed in 1929 and the hotel soon became not only a popular winter resort but one of the most famous hotels in Phoenix. Among its most prominent guests are Ronald and Nancy Reagan, who visited the Biltmore for their honeymoon.

Scope and Content Note

This collection houses approximately 928 photographs showing the Arizona Biltmore's physical facilities, including construction, grounds, interiors, aerial views, and building façades; guests; and recreational activities, including golf, tennis, horseback riding, swimming, and fashion shows. It has been divided into eight series. Only those images that have been digitized are described individually in this guide.

Series I: Sports houses approximately 170 silver gelatin photographic prints showing guests participating in such recreational activities as ping pong, lawn chess, golf, tennis, and swimming. There is substantial coverage of horseback riding, rodeos, and stables, including articles on the closing of the stables.

Series II: Grounds consists of approximately 240 silver gelatin and color dye coupler photographic prints showing aerial and other views of the grounds, many during the spring with flower beds in full bloom. Also included are images of decorations for banquets, weddings, and the Christmas and Easter holiday seasons.

Series III: Guests houses approximately 238 silver gelatin photographic prints showing the Biltmore's guests, usually in small groups outdoors or at banquets. Most of the individuals pictured are adults from the Detroit and Chicago areas and most are identified.

Series IV: Construction and Grounds consists of approximately 177 silver gelatin photographic prints showing the hotel's construction, including a reproduction of the architectural rendering, framing, workers on site, and precast concrete blocks. Also included are aerial, interior, and exterior views of the completed guest rooms and public areas.

Series V: Services, Recreations, Shops, and Facilities consists of approximately 92 leaves housing individual and group portraits of staff, including bartenders, room service, housekeepers, chefs, and grounds keepers; fashion shows; clothing shops; and flower shops.

Series VI: Publicity consists of 19 leaves housing primarily photochemical postcards and illustrated brochures, including travel brochures and picture postcards.

Series VII: Biltmore Estates is composed of one ledger containing approximately 50 silver gelatin photographic prints showing interior and exterior views of the homes in the residential addition surrounding the resort, including newsclippings documenting the development of the estates.

Series VIII: Programs houses ephemeral publications issued by the Biltmore, including the Weekly Guide and Current Events. Also included are travel brochures and newsclippings.

Arrangement

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

To view this collection, make an appointment at least five business days prior to your visit by contacting Ask an Archivist or calling (480) 965-4932. Appointments in the Wurzburger Reading Room at Hayden Library (rm. 138) on the Tempe campus are available Monday through Friday. Check the ASU Library Hours page for current availability.

Copyright

Arizona State University does not own the copyright to this collection. We recognize that it is incumbent upon the researcher to procure permission to publish information from this collection from the owner of the copyright.

Access Terms

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Arizona Biltmore Hotel Photographs, CP SPC 108, Arizona State University Library.

Provenance

Archives and Special Collections acquired these images in 1993 (Accession #1993-00743).

Container List

Series I: Sports, 1940s-1950s
1.123			Aerial View of the Swimming Pool at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
1.124			Swimming Pool, Undated
1.126			Swimming Pool, Undated
1.131			Swimming Pool, Undated
1.133			Grounds and Pool Area, Undated
1.153			Woman Diving into the Biltmore Hotel Pool, Undated
1.165			Woman Sitting in a Lounge Chair by the Biltmore Hotel Pool, Undated
1.166			Woman Sitting on the Steps of the Biltmore Hotel Pool, Undated
1.181			People Sitting on Lawn Furniture at the Grounds of the Biltmore Hotel, Undated
1.188			People Sitting on Lawn Furniture by the Biltmore Hotel Swimming Pool, Undated
1.189			People Having a Poolside Dinner at the Biltmore Hotel, Undated

Series II: Grounds, 1950s-1970s (Photograph Album)
2.129			Easter Decorations on the Grounds of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, Undated

Series III: Guests, 1940s-1950s (Photograph Album)
3.3			Arizona Biltmore Logo, Undated
3.5			Two Chicago Cubs Baseball Players on the Grounds of the Arizona Biltmore, Undated
3.6			Judge Harwood of N.Y.C., a Guest at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.7			Chas R. Hook, Jr., a Guest at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.10			Unidentified Man Sitting in a Chair, Guest at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.11			Unidentified Man in a Suit, a Guest of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.20			Mr. Walter Ross and Harry Boyle, Guests of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.21			Mr. Walter Ross of Chicago; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.26			Two Men on the Grounds of the Arizona Biltmore, Undated
3.27			Two Unknown Men Standing; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.41			Mrs. Michael F. Dowdy of Detroit, a Guest at the Arizona Biltmore; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.42			Unidentified Woman, a Guest at the Arizona Biltmore: Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.43			Mrs. John Nixon of New York City, Guest of the Arizona Biltmore: Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.44			Betty Dinsen, a Guest at the Arizona Biltmore; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.49			Unidentified Woman with Two Dogs, a Guest at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.50			Carlotta Lagorio, a Guest at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.51			Unidentified Woman, a Guest at the Arizona Biltmore; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.52			Mrs. Donker, a Guest at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.55			Unidentified Woman with Camera, a Guest at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.56			Mrs. John Pritzloff (Born Eleanor Gollum), a Guest at the Arizona Biltmore; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.59			The Baroness Yvonne von Dachenhausen at the Arizona Biltmore, Undated
3.67			Miss Nora M. Carney of Chicago, a Guest at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.68			Miss Nora M. Carney, a Guest at the Arizona Biltmore; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.71			Mrs. Ted Woodruff of Illinois, a Guest at the Arizona Biltmore; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.72			Mrs. E. L. Swikard, a Guest at the Arizona Biltmore; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.77			Mrs. T. Henry Foster and Mrs. Swanson, Guests at the Arizona Biltmore; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.78			Mrs. Bruce McLeish, Mrs. Cyrus Adams and Mrs. John Nashott, Guests at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.79			Mrs. John Rust Cleveland and Nora Carney at the Arizona Biltmore, Undated
3.96			Mr. and Mrs. Chopak, Guests at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.97			Unidentified Man and Woman Guests at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.98			Unidentified Man with His Hands on Top of Unidentified Woman's Head, Guests at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.99			Unidentified Man and Woman, Guests at the Arizona Biltmore; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.100			Unidentified Man and Woman, Guest at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.103			Mr. and Mrs. John G. Curtis at the Arizona Biltmore, Undated
3.104			Mr. and Mrs. William Kelly, Guests at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.107			Mr. and Mrs. Howard E. Cole, Guests at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.108			Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Reisman of N.Y.C. Guests, at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.111			Unidentified Man and Woman Guests at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.112			Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Chisholm Jr., Guests at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.113			Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Chisholm Jr., Guests at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.114			Unidentified Man and Woman Guests at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.123			John Chandler's Birthday Party at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.124			Mr. and Mrs. Harry Moore with Small Child, Guests at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.125			Unidentified Man and Woman Guests at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.130			Unidentified Man and Woman at a Table, Guests at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.131			Unidentified Man and Woman Guests at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.132			Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. O'Hara on their Honeymoon, Guest of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.133			Robert Dunham Wedding at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel; Phoenix, Arizona, Undated
3.143			A Man and Woman Having Tea on the Grounds of the Arizona Biltmore, Undated
3.159			A Man and Two Women at the Arizona Biltmore, Undated
3.175			Alberta Bailey, Sam Summers, and Ann Winiberg at the Bar of the Arizona Biltmore, Undated

Series IV: Construction and Grounds (Photograph Album)
4.2			A Sketch of the Entrance and Forecourt of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, Undated
4.12			Construction of the Main Lobby Exterior of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, 1928 December 16
4.27			An Aerial View of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, Undated
4.30			An Aerial View of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, Undated
4.51			The Front Entrance of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, Undated
4.52			The Front Entrance and Grounds of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, Undated
4.55			The Grounds of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, Undated
4.63			A Terrace Area at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, Undated
4.91			A Room Inside of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, Undated
4.124			Mrs. Jean Wright, Dr. Motanovich, and Others at the Arizona Biltmore, Undated