Austen Family Papers (MS1) - Alice Austen Correspondence and Related Materials, 1883-1898

PI

Version: 6 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:58:26 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 6:29:02 PM

Added description

Description

Alice Austen Correspondence Collection, 1881‑1898

Overview

The Alice Austen Correspondence Collection is a digitized archive of personal letters, envelopes, Victorian‑era calling cards, and photography‑related ephemera belonging to Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952). The 17‑year span (1881‑1898) is organized into fifteen year‑based folders, each containing high‑resolution JPEG scans of handwritten documents and typed TXT transcriptions. The collection is part of the Austen Family Papers (MS1) held by the Alice Austen House Museum and is released into the public domain.

Background

Alice Austen was a self‑taught photographer who established a successful portrait studio in late‑nineteenth‑century New York. Her correspondence offers insight into her professional activities—such as selling photographs from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago—and her social life among Staten Island’s upper‑middle‑class families. The museum compiled the collection to preserve Austen’s personal network, which included close friends Julia T. Martin, Julie Bredt, Violet M.E. Ward, Isabella King, and Bessie Strong.

Contents

  • Personal letters: Over 200 handwritten notes discussing social events (skating parties, sleigh rides, church gatherings, whist parties), family matters (sympathy for Austen’s grandfather’s death), and business affairs (purchasing a Steinway piano, selling photographs).
  • Envelopes and postal markings: Illustrate Victorian postal practices and the geographic breadth of Austen’s network.
  • Calling cards: Victorian‑era social cards that document invitations to dances, afternoon gatherings, and lunch parties.
  • Negative sleeves & photography materials: Photographic accessories and references to Austen’s studio operations.
  • Transcriptions: Typed versions of the handwritten correspondence, enabling text search and analysis.

Scope

The collection covers the calendar years 1881‑1898 and focuses exclusively on correspondence and related ephemera. Geographic references span Staten Island, Albany, Chicago, and other New York and New Jersey locales. Items not represented include photographic negatives, studio ledgers, and unrelated institutional records. The archive provides a comprehensive view of Victorian social customs, the commercial realities of a female photographer, and the everyday correspondence that linked a prominent New York family to the wider world.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth: @date_1866, death: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer"}

@julia_t_martin:person {full_name: "Julia T. Martin", relation: "friend"}

@julie_bredt:person {full_name: "Julie Bredt"}

@violet_m_e_ward:person {full_name: "Violet M.E. Ward"}

@isabella_king:person {full_name: "Isabella King"}

@bessie_strong:person {full_name: "Bessie Strong"}

@trude_eccleston:person {full_name: "Trude Eccleston"}

@austen_family_papers_ms1:collection {title: "Austen Family Papers (MS1)", description: "Collection of Alice Austen correspondence and related materials"}

@alice_austen_correspondence_collection:collection {description: "Correspondence of Alice Austen within the Austen Family Papers"}

@alice_austen -> creator_of -> @file_pinax

@file_pinax -> contains -> @alice_austen_correspondence_collection

@alice_austen_correspondence_collection -> part_of -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@alice_austen -> involved_in -> @photography_business:concept

@file_pinax -> includes_subject -> @steainway_piano:object

@file_pinax -> documents_event -> @worlds_columbian_exposition_1893:event

@alice_austen -> corresponded_with -> @julia_t_martin {through: @alice_austen_correspondence_collection}

@alice_austen -> corresponded_with -> @julie_bredt {through: @alice_austen_correspondence_collection}

@alice_austen -> corresponded_with -> @violet_m_e_ward {through: @alice_austen_correspondence_collection}

@alice_austen -> corresponded_with -> @isabella_king {through: @alice_austen_correspondence_collection}

@alice_austen -> corresponded_with -> @bessie_strong {through: @alice_austen_correspondence_collection}

@alice_austen -> corresponded_with -> @trude_eccleston {through: @alice_austen_correspondence_collection}

Metadata

Title
Austen Family Papers (MS1) - Alice Austen Correspondence and Related Materials, 1883-1898
Type
Collection
Creator
Austen, Elizabeth Alice, 1866-1952Martin, Julia T.Bredt, JulieWard, Violet M.E.King, IsabellaStrong, BessieEccleston, TrudeRichards, Lou AlexanderWaterman, Alice SouthworthMunroe, MaryWaterman, Edwin SouthworthBaldwin, BessieWonham, FrederickLudlam, Clarice KennedyDeBeck, William LHarris, CharlesWheelock, WHRussell, William FrancisWaterman, Edwin SouthworthRobinson, Mrs. BeverleyLudlam, Mr. and Mrs. George P.Rupé, Mrs. Albert C.Wardlaw, The Rev. WilliamWright, Edith R.Rinschler, E.D. VernSouthworth, WatermanClawson, WilliamKirtland, William HathorneBagley, Francis H.Goddard, J. IrvingMercer, Frederick FrelinghuysenMercer, Alys LouiseDavell, Easton M. MahonColeman, EleanorCollins, Charles JewettGraves, Mrs. Henry LoeseyMcKeever, Mr. J. LawrenceOsgood, B.W.Prince, A. H.Van Rensselaer, E.D.Strong, Elisabeth B.V.White, MRMartin, A.W.Martin, Walton
Institution
Alice Austen House
Created
1883-1898
Language
en
Subjects
Correspondence, Personal letters, Calling cards, Photography, Victorian social life, Social events, Photography business, Family matters, Music, Travel, Weddings, Invitations, Photographs, Negative sleeves, Skating parties, Sleigh rides, Church events, Whist parties, World's Columbian Exposition, Steinway piano, Sympathy letters, Health, Medical treatment, Real estate, Spiritualism, Postal history, Upper-middle-class life, Staten Island history, Victorian-era social customs, Personal relationships, Friendship, Victorian era, 19th century, Staten Island social events, Bicycling, Golf, Golf tournaments, Envelopes, Postmarks, Appendicitis
Rights
Public Domain
Place
Staten Island, NY, Albany, NY, Chicago, IL (World's Columbian Exposition), Santa Barbara, CA, Los Angeles, CA, New Brunswick, NJ, Brooklyn, NY, New York, NY, New York City, NY, Washington, DC, Boston, MA, Bostonville, Staten Island, NY, Clifton, Staten Island, NY, Rosebank, Staten Island, New York, 63 East Fifty-sixth Street, New York, Newburgh, NY, Bronxville, NY, New Brighton, Staten Island, NY, Newark, New Jersey, Carnegie Hall, Albany, New York, Casco Bay, Maine, Madison Avenue & 44th Street, New York City, Bolton Landing, New York, Pensacola, FL, Fishkill, Mattawan, Alaska, Asbury Park, NJ, Juneau, Alaska, Bennington, VT, Schenectady, NY, Concord, MA, Flushing, L.I., Philadelphia, PA, Watkins Glen, NY, Cambridge, MA, Brooklyn, NY, Pomerville, New Brighton, NY, Watkins, New York, Cresson, Pennsylvania, Baltimore, Maryland, Newport, RI, Fishkill-on-Hudson, NY, Wheat Point, Eaglesmere Hotel, Allegheny Mountains, Pennsylvania, Englewood, Sullivan County, New York, Clifton, NJ, Livingston, NJ, Concord, South Dakota, Southport, North Carolina, Tybee Island, Georgia, Charles Town, Beaufort, South Carolina, St. Simons Island, Georgia, Jekyll Island, Georgia, Cumberland Island, Georgia, Fernandina, Florida, Coconut Grove, Florida, Brooklyn Heights, NY, Bedloe's Island, Pennsylvania, Bethlehem, PA, Memphis, Tenn., Worthington, MA, New York, NY, Puebla, Guanajuato, Chihuahua, Mexico, Middlebush, New York, Europe, White (unspecified location), London, St. Malonic, Allegheny House, Eaglesmere, Sullivan Co., Pennsylvania, Presidio, CA, Monterey, California, Angel Island, California, Quincy, Massachusetts, Hardenford, New Jersey, Richmond County, New York, Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, Haines Falls, NY, Westhampton, Bay Head, NJ, Fishkill, NY, St. Augustine, FL, St. Moritz, Switzerland, Lucerne, Switzerland, Paris, France, Cherbourg, France, Bremen, Germany, Cassel, Germany, Geneva, Switzerland, Lyon, France, Orleans, France, Cambridge, MA, Staten Island, New York, New Brighton, Staten Island, Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, Clifton, Staten Island, New York, New York, Newark, New Jersey, Southampton, Munich, Nuremberg, Salzburg, Jehl, Austria, Tarasp, Southport, Fishkill-on-Hudson, Yonkers, Long Island, Roswell, NM, Heidelberg, Germany, San Servan, France, Cocoanut Grove, FL, Lake Kushaqua, NY, Franklin County, NY, Loon Lake, NY, Saranac, NY, Placid, NY, Paris, France, London, England, San Servan, Bretagne, France, Italy, Bay of Naples, Italy, Staten Island Bicycle Club, Company B, 7th Reg, Natl Guard, Grand Cascadia, NY, Grand Cascapedia, P.Q., Brown Shipley & Co, London, England, Washington, D.C., Albany, NY, Clifton, Staten Island, Linden Hill, Plaza Hotel, Neckar Valley, Old Schloss, London, England, New York, London, England, Gloucester, MA, Riverdale, NY, Cazenovia, NY, New Canaan, CT, Lake Mohawk, NY, Mohonk Lake, Ulster Co., N.Y., Vineyard Haven, Alwington, Kingsboro, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, Portland, OR, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Syracuse, NY, La Porte, IN, Staten Island, NY, Adirondacks, NY, Hague, NY, Lake George, Illinois, Gramercy Park, New Brighton, Adirondack Mountains, NY, Boston, Hong Kong, Lake Mahopac, NY, Cushings Island, ME, Presqu'ile, NY, Morristown, NJ, Northfield, MA, Seabright, NJ, Piermont, NY, Brooklyn, NY, New Brighton, NY, Colorado Springs, CO, Ridgefield, CT, Grymes Hill, Kent, Brighton, Post Jefferson, Arrochar, Richmond Co., Clinton, Stapleton, Rockaway, Marvin Island, Littleton, Clifton, Staten Island, Fishkill-on-Hudson, Rosebank, Saratoga, NY, Lake George, NY, New Rochelle, NY, Southfield, Orange Co., N.Y., Hemmington Centre, VT, Orley, Croakers, Oyster Point, Bay Head, Philadelphia, Europe, Staten Island, NY, New York, Richmond County, New Brunswick, Richmond County, Long Island City, New York City, NY, Adirondacks, Boston, Hague, NY, Bay Head, Fort Wadsworth, Long Island, South Beach, Chicago, IL, Cocoanut Grove, FL, Staten Island, NY, Albany, NY, Santa Barbara, CA, Chicago, IL, Kansas City, MO, Los Angeles, CA, New Brunswick, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Brighton, Orley, Thousand Islands, New Brighton, East Hampton, L.I., New York, Sacramento, CA, Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Rockies, Adirondacks, Minerva, Essex County, New York, Yellowstone Park, Boston, Clifton, Staten Island, East Hampton, Long Island, NY, Adirondack Preserve, NY, Detroit, Michigan, Presidio, California, Monterey, California, Angel Island, California, Quincy, Massachusetts, Hardenford, New Jersey, Richmond County, New York, Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, Staten Island, NY, Albany, NY, Santa Barbara, CA, Europe, Switzerland, Italy, France, Haines Falls, NY, Westhampton, Bay Head, NJ, Fishkill, NY, St. Augustine, FL, St. Moritz, Switzerland, Lucerne, Switzerland, Paris, France, Cherbourg, France, Bremen, Germany, Cassel, Germany, Geneva, Switzerland, Lyon, France, Orleans, France, Cambridge, MA, Staten Island, New York, New Brighton, Staten Island, Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, Clifton, Staten Island, New York, New York, Newark, New Jersey, Southampton, Munich, Nuremberg, Salzburg, Jehl, Austria, Tarasp, Southport, Fishkill-on-Hudson, Yonkers, Long Island, Staten Island, NY, New York, NY, Brooklyn, NY, New Brunswick, NJ, New York City, NY, Washington, DC, Bostonville, Staten Island, NY, Clifton, Staten Island, NY, Rosebank, Staten Island, New York, 63 East Fifty-sixth Street, New York, Newburgh, NY, Bronxville, NY, New Brighton, Staten Island, NY, Newark, New Jersey, Carnegie Hall, Chicago, IL (World's Columbian Exposition), Albany, New York, Santa Barbara, California, Los Angeles, California, Casco Bay, Maine, Madison Avenue & 44th Street, New York City, Bolton Landing, New York, Pensacola, FL, Fishkill, Mattawan, Alaska, Asbury Park, NJ, Juneau, Alaska
Source
PINAX

Version History (6 versions)

  • ✓ v6 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:58:26 PM
    "Added description"
  • v5 · 12/9/2025, 9:32:26 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v4 · 12/9/2025, 8:11:59 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 6:30:57 PM · View this version
    "Set parent to 01KC25ZEXV0CZV8MVSXH7SW4WY"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 6:30:56 PM · View this version
    "Added children"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 6:29:02 PM · View this version
    "Initial snapshot"

Parent

↑ 01KC25ZEXV0CZV8MVSXH7SW4WY

Children (1)