Irving S. Paull

Very little confirmed biographical information about Irving S. Paull appears to be readily available online. What can be verified is that he is credited as a co-author of Congress Hotel, Home of a Thousand Homes; Rare and Piquant Dishes of Historic Interest, a richly period piece associated with Chicago’s famous Congress Hotel and preserved through Project Gutenberg.

That book gives a good sense of his appeal as a writer. Rather than offering a plain hotel brochure, it mixes atmosphere, historical anecdotes, and culinary storytelling, turning the hotel into a window onto a larger world of travel, dining, and urban glamour.

Because so few trustworthy biographical sources are easy to confirm, Paull remains a somewhat shadowy figure. Still, the work attached to his name has an enjoyable niche charm, especially for listeners interested in Chicago history, vintage food writing, and the promotional style of the early twentieth century.