Arizona Biltmore Hotel Photographs

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.