Edward and Gertrude Dewey collection of Gage & Tollner records
Call Number
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Creator
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Language of Materials
Abstract
Materials from the Gage & Tollner restaurant located at 372-374 Fulton Street in Downtown Brooklyn, mainly collected and compiled by the Dewey family who owned the restaurant from 1919 to 1988.
Historical note
Charles M. Gage first opened a restaurant in 1879 at 303 Fulton Street. He was joined in business by Eugene Tollner in 1880, and the business was named Gage & Tollner's in 1882. The restaurant moved and reopened at 372-374 Fulton Street in 1892. In 1911, it was sold to A.H. Cunningham and Alexander Ingalls. In 1919, they sold to Seth Bradford Dewey in association with his father Hiram S. Dewey and a friend, Alexander Graham. Seth Dewey had run the Manhattan restaurant H.T. Dewey & Sons for 18 years prior to purchasing Gage & Tollner. In 1923, the Dewey family purchased the restaurant's building as well. Seth Bradford Dewey passed away in 1938, and his sons Edward and Thomas took over running the business. Edward Dewey remained at the helm, later joined by his wife Gertrude or "Trudy", for over 40 years.
The restaurant's interior was landmarked in 1975 and the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. John and Gertrude Dewey sold the restaurant in the 1980s to Peter Aschkenasy. Joseph Chirico owned the restaurant from 1995 to 2004. At that time the restaurant closed and the building was sold to the Jemal family. The building held various tenants until 2016, when it was then vacated until 2019. At that time, restaurateurs Ben Schneider and St. John Frizell and chef Sohui Kim began renovations for reopening the restaurant. In 2021, the current iteration of Gage & Tollner opened in the original space.
Sources:
- "Gage and Tollner's is celebrated restaurant." The Restaurateur Vol. VI No. 52, December 29 1923, pp. 28-29.
- "Son of Seth Dewey to Follow Father's Footsteps as Host." Brooklyn Eagle, September 11 1938.
- "A Brief History of Gage & Tollner's Restaurant," circa 1960.
- "History." Gage & Tollner website. Accessed July 20, 2026. https://www.gageandtollner.com/history/
Arrangement
The collection is organized into three series: Series 1: Documents, clippings, and ephemera; Series 2: Photographs; and Series 3: Audio recordings. Series 1 is further sub-divided into five sub-series. Each series and sub-series is arranged chronologically.
Scope and Contents
The collection contains papers, photographs, audio recordings, and memorabilia of the Gage & Tollner restaurant, dating from the 1880s to 2013. The collection's paper records, including ephemera, ledgers, journal books, and correspondence, document the restaurant's business and operations. The photographs in this collection depict the interior and exterior of the restaurant's landmark building, events at the restaurant, as well as its owners and employees. The collection also contains an assortment of artifacts, such as a an ashtray, a fake mustache (part of the restaurant's branding), anniversary calendars, matches, toothpicks, pins, wallets, and two pitchers.
Subjects
Organizations
Genres
People
Topics
Donors
Conditions Governing Access
Open to researchers without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use
While many items at the Center for Brooklyn History are unrestricted, we do not own reproduction rights to all materials. Be aware of the several kinds of rights that might apply: copyright, licensing and trademarks. The researcher assumes all responsibility for copyright questions.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Edward and Gertrude Dewey collection of Gage & Tollner records, 2016.034, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Janet Dewey Pawlukiewicz, 2016.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
If digital surrogates exist, they should be used in place of the originals whenever possible.
Existence and Location of Copies
The digitized audio recordings from this collection are available on CBH's digital collections on the Internet Archive. See Series 3 for details.
About this Guide
Processing Information
The records were processed, arranged, and described by Yingwen Huang under the supervision of John Zarrillo, January-March 2017. The collection was reprocessed and the finding aid revised by Dee Bowers in July 2026. At that time, clippings were photocopied and the originals discarded. The following materials were additionally discarded: duplicate items, the cover and empty pages of the 1984 guestbook (with only signed pages retained), and a hardcover book about a winery visited by the Deweys in Europe. General Brooklyn history materials, duplicated elsewhere at CBH and with no evident connection to Gage & Tollner or the Deweys, was also removed. A small number of matchbooks and matchboxes from New York City restaurants and hotels was also removed.
Revisions to this Guide
Repository
Series 1: Documents, clippings, and ephemera, 1888-2013, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Documents, clippings, and ephemera, including business records and correspondence, building records, awards and certificates, anniversary and special event materials, publicity and clippings, and ephemera and artifacts. The ephemera includes different versions of the restaurant's menu, postcards, and various promotional materials. The menus in this series include luncheon, dinner, dessert, and drinks. The memorabilia include two Vintage Benedict Indestructo pitchers, an ashtray, matchbooks, a fake mustache (part of the restaurant's branding), pins, wallets, toothpicks, and an oversize poster board with signatures of retired Brooklyn Dodgers baseball players, presumably from the restaurant's 1985 event in honor of the team.
Arrangement
The series is arranged into five sub-series by type and subject. Within each sub-series the materials are arranged chronologically.
Sub-series 1.1: Business records, 1919-2004, inclusive
Minute books, 1919-1931, inclusive
Ledgers, 1919-1944, inclusive
Incoming correspondence, 1930s-1978, inclusive
Business documents and notes, 1933-1985, inclusive
Liquor license, 1933, 1953, inclusive
Edward S. Dewey materials, 1939-1988, inclusive
Calendar with notes, 1983
Long Island Historical Society, circa 1970s-1980s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Gage and Tollner was a corporate sponsor of the Society and Edward Dewey served on its board.
Edna Lewis menus and clippings, 1988-1990, inclusive
Ashkenasy era, 1989
Chirico era, 1996
Closing, 2004
Sub-series 1.2: Building, 1888-1980s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Electrification, refrigeration, certificate of occupancy.
Certificates and permits, 1888, 1902, 1926, 1944, inclusive
Blueprint for extension, 1919
Landmark designation, 1975
Lucy Durand Sikes drawing of interior, 1980s, inclusive
Sub-series 1.3: Awards and special events, 1954-2013, inclusive
Anniversaries, 1954-1986, inclusive
Holiday Magazine Awards, 1955-2013, inclusive
Special events, 1966-1995, inclusive
Other awards, 1974-1985, inclusive
Signed menu, November 13 1977
Wine tours, circa 1960s-1980s, inclusive
Wine promo, 1982, 1986, inclusive
Guestbook, 1984
Sub-series 1.4: Publicity and periodicals, 1912-2003, inclusive
Long Island Masonic News, 1912
Scope and Contents
There is no obvious connection between this publication and Gage & Tollner restaurant or the Dewey family.
Articles and clippings, 1920s-2003, inclusive
Advertisement and copy artwork, 1975-1980s, inclusive
Sub-series 1.5: Ephemera and artifacts, 1910-1989, inclusive
Advertising cards and takeout box lids, circa 1910s-1920s, inclusive
H.S. Dewey ephemera, circa 1910s-1920s, inclusive
Menus, 1919-circa 1980s, inclusive
Blank letterhead and envelopes, circa 1930s-1980s, inclusive
Postcards, circa 1930-1980s, inclusive
Mixed ephemera, circa 1950s-1990s, inclusive
Blank calendars, 1962-1987, inclusive
Branded dish cloth, circa 1980s, inclusive
Signed Dodgers poster, 1985
Artifacts, undated
Scope and Contents
Two metal pots with spouts and handles (Vintage Benedict Indestructo pitchers), one branded glass ashtray, and two branded leather wallets.
Series 2: Photographs, circa 1880s-1980s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Photographic prints, slides, and negatives depicting the restaurant's owners, employees, and various events, as well as its landmark building dating from the 1880s to 1980s.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Charles Gage and Eugene Tollner portraits, circa 1880s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Two cabinet cards, two prints and two large format negatives.
Dining room, circa 1920
Scope and Contents
One sepia-toned print attached to a glass plate. Signed "Rutter," possibly E.E. Rutter.
Ed Dewey class and football team portraits, circa 1920s, inclusive
Building and staff, circa 1930s-1950s, inclusive
Dining room by Alice Smith, circa 1950s, inclusive
Edward and Tom Dewey receiving champagne, circa 1950s, inclusive
75th anniversary celebration, 1954
Scope and Contents
Most by Brooklyn Union Gas photographic division.
Building interior by Edward G. Manley, 1954
Leon Gaskill 50th, 1954
Gas lamp lighting, circa 1956
Scope and Contents
One by Brooklyn Union Gas photographic division.
Special events, circa 1960s-1980s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Note and signed photo from Joe Franklin "Memory Lane" television show sponsored by Canada Dry; Edward Dewey at table with teenage cooking club honor roll of Arthur Somers Junior High School; Edward Dewey with Beurt SerVaas, editor and publisher of Holiday magazine; 80th anniversary staff portrait, 1969; Rho Chi Society Beta Theta chapter induction banquet, 1983.
Prospect Park Centennial kickoff, 1966
Scope and Contents
Includes letters from Brooklyn Borough President Abe Stark and president of Schaefer Beer Rudolph Schaefer.
Brooklyn Union Gas, 1971
Scope and Contents
Edward S. Dewey, building interior and exterior.
Dining room by Frank Giraldi, 1975
Scope and Contents
Including one shot with Edward Dewey and John Simmons.
Outdoor events, 1976
Scope and Contents
Taste of the Big Apple and the Atlantic Antic.
Staff holiday parties, 1976-1982, inclusive
Building interior and exterior, 1977
Scope and Contents
Including slides by Carl Fischer.
100th anniversary staff portrait, 1979
Building and staff by Dinanda Nooney, 1979
Upstairs dining room, 1979
Scope and Contents
Second floor dining room, hallway and staircase. Some include Edward S. Dewey, Gertrude Dewey, and John Simmons. Used for 100th anniversary coverage.
Staff on duty, 1980
Scope and Contents
Edward S. Dewey, Wade Siler, and John Simmons.
Building and staff, 1980s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Photographers include J. Heatley, James Rudnick, Jay Manis, Barbara Mensch, and C. Traub and J. Gordon of Wayfarer Publications.
Jesse Kirkland and other staff, 1980s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Some by John Milisenda.
Kodachrome slides of staff and building interior, 1982
Series 3: Audio recordings, 1972-1985, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Series contain two quarter inch magnetic tapes and one cassette tape about the history of the restaurant dating from the 1970s and 1980s.
The McCanns Program: All About Gage & Tollner's, Excerpt (1/4 inch Open Reel), 1972
Existence and Location of Copies
This reel has been digitized and is available on the Center for Brooklyn History's Internet Archive account. Listen to the audio here.
The McCanns Program: All About Gage and Tollner's, Full Audio (1/4 inch Open Reel), 1972
Existence and Location of Copies
This reel has been digitized and is available on the Center for Brooklyn History's Internet Archive account. Listen to the audio here.
Gage & Tollner Restaurant "Information" (1/4 inch Open Reel), 1977
Existence and Location of Copies
This film has been digitized and is available on the Center for Brooklyn History's Internet Archive account. Listen to the audio here.
Brooklyn Dodgers Come Home (Audio Cassette), 1985
Existence and Location of Copies
This cassette has been digitized and is available on the Center for Brooklyn History's Internet Archive account. Listen to the audio here.
