Austen Family Papers (MS1) - Alice Austen Correspondence and Related Materials, 1895

PI

Version: 20 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:57:39 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 6:29:45 PM

Added description

Description

Ericson A. Nichols Invitation to Alice Austen (1895)

Overview

This item is a digitized Victorian‑era invitation sent by Ericson A. Nichols to Elizabeth Alice Austen on September 27, 1895. It consists of a high‑resolution JPEG scan of the handwritten invitation, a separate scan of the envelope, and accompanying OCR‑derived text. The files are housed in the Alice Austen House Museum’s archival holdings and were digitized by the PINAX project.

Background

Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering American photographer and long‑time resident of Staten Island. In the late nineteenth century, upper‑middle‑class Staten Island society organized informal gatherings such as evening sailings. Ericson A. Nichols, a contemporary friend of Austen, invited her to a “moonlight sail” that weekend, reflecting the social customs of the era. The invitation was addressed to “Miss Alice Austin” (a common misspelling of Austen’s name) and the envelope was addressed to “Miss Alice Austin, Rosebank P.O., Staten Island.”

Contents

  • Invitation Letter (1895‑09‑27) – Handwritten in English, the letter expresses Nichols’ pleasure at joining Austen on a moonlight sail and notes that a friend, Morton, cannot attend due to an out‑of‑town engagement.
  • Envelope – Addressed to Miss Alice Austin, Rosebank P.O., Staten Island, with Nichols’ return address implied.
  • Digital Files – JPEG scans of the letter (≈1.3 MB) and envelope (≈0.8 MB), each accompanied by OCR‑generated text for searchable access.
  • Metadata – Includes creation date, creator, institution, and subject tags such as “Correspondence,” “Invitations,” “Social life,” and “Victorian era.”

Scope

The collection covers a single event—the invitation to a moonlight sail on September 27, 1895. It is limited to the original invitation letter and its envelope, with no additional correspondence or related documents. The materials provide a snapshot of personal social interactions among Staten Island residents during the late Victorian period and illustrate the informal leisure practices of the era.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@elisabeth_strong:person {full_name: "Elisabeth Strong"}

@w_ewing:person {full_name: "W. Ewing"}

@david_elwell_austen:person {full_name: "David Elwell Austen"}

@benjamin_j_davis:person {full_name: "Benjamin J. Davis"}

@samuel_thomson_williams:person {full_name: "Samuel Thomson Williams"}

@j_louis_thurber:person {full_name: "J. Louis Thurber"}

@florida:place {country: @united_states}

@cocoanut_grove_fla:place {city: "Cocoanut Grove", state: @florida, country: @united_states}

@bay_head_nj:place {state: @new_jersey, country: @united_states}

@franklin_county_ny:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

@loon_lake:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

@saranac:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

@placid:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

@paris:place {country: @france}

@italy:place {country: @italy}

@bay_of_naples:place {country: @italy}

@grand_cascadia:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

@grand_cascapedia:place {province: "Quebec", country: @canada}

@brown_shipley_co:organization {type: "bank", location: @london}

@file_pinax:file -> has creator -> @alice_austen

@file_pinax:file -> has creator -> @julia_t_martin

@file_pinax:file -> has creator -> @julia_faber_martin

@file_pinax:file -> has creator -> @charles_lincoln_furbush

@file_pinax:file -> has creator -> @tq_browne_jr

@file_pinax:file -> has creator -> @bessie_strong

@file_pinax:file -> has creator -> @elisabeth_strong

@file_pinax:file -> has creator -> @daisy_m_e

@file_pinax:file -> has creator -> @jessie_w_munroe

@file_pinax:file -> has creator -> @erickson_n_nichols

@file_pinax:file -> has creator -> @lewis_austen

@file_pinax:file -> has creator -> @robert_c_lowry

@file_pinax:file -> has creator -> @trude

@file_pinax:file -> has creator -> @daisy_elliot

@file_pinax:file -> has creator -> @william_blair_mckean

@file_pinax:file -> has creator -> @david_elwell_austen

@file_pinax:file -> has creator -> @benjamin_j_davis

@file_pinax:file -> has creator -> @samuel_thomson_williams

@file_pinax:file -> has creator -> @j_louis_thurber

@file_pinax:file -> has creator -> @c_l_sturtevant

@file_pinax:file -> has creator -> @w_ewing

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @correspondence

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @personal_letters

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @calling_cards

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @photography_business

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @social_life

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @skating_parties

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @sleigh_rides

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @church_events

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @whist_parties

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @family_matters

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @music

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @steinway_piano

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @victorian_era_social_life

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @upper_middle_class_families

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @staten_island

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @photographs

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @transcriptions

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @worlds_fair_1893

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @bicycle_club

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @national_guard

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @weddings

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @marriage_announcements

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @adirondacks

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @travel

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @europe

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @santa_barbara

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @boarding_houses

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @sanitariums

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @business_ventures

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @family_relationships

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @friendships

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @social_events

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @church_activities

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @music_and_performances

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @travel_and_vacations

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @family_news

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @personal_reflections

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @historical_events

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @cultural_activities

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @bicycling

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @tennis

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @salmon_fishing

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @military_life

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @daughters_of_the_american_revolution

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @staten_island_history

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @victorian_era

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @nature

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @gifts

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @invitations

@file_pinax:file -> has subject -> @moonlight_sail

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @rosebank

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @santa_barbara_ca

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @berlin_germany

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @roswell_nm

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @heidelberg

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @new_brunswick_nj

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @adirondacks

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @san_servan_france

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @cocoanut_grove_fla

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @lake_kushaqua_ny

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @bay_head_nj

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @franklin_county_ny

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @loon_lake

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @saranac

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @placid

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @paris

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @london

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @san_servan

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @italy

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @bay_of_naples

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @staten_island_bicycle_club

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @company_b_7th_reg_nat_guard

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @grand_cascadia

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @grand_cascapedia

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @brown_shipley_co

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @new_york

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @washington_dc

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @albany_ny

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @clifton_staten_island

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @linden_hill

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @plaza_hotel

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @neckar_valley

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @old_schloss

@file_pinax:file -> has place -> @london

@file_pinax:file -> documents -> @austen_family_papers:collection

@austen_family_papers:collection -> covers -> @photography_business:event

@austen_family_papers:collection -> covers -> @moonlight_sail:event

@austen_family_papers:collection -> covers -> @worlds_fair_1893

@austen_family_papers:collection -> covers -> @travel_experience:concept

@austen_family_papers:collection -> covers -> @gift:concept

@alice_austen -> sold photographs from -> @worlds_fair_1893

@alice_austen -> invited to -> @moonlight_sail:event

@alice_austen -> received gift -> @gift:concept

@alice_austen -> traveled to -> @paris

@alice_austen -> traveled to -> @london

@alice_austen -> traveled to -> @san_servan

@alice_austen -> traveled to -> @bay_of_naples

@alice_austen -> vacationed in -> @adirondacks

@alice_austen -> participated in -> @staten_island_bicycle_club

@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @national_guard

@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @bicycle_club:new_york

@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @grand_cascadia

@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @old_schloss

@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @heidelberg

@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @neckar_valley

@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @daughters_of_the_american_revolution

@lewis_austen -> member of -> @national_guard

@lewis_austen -> served in -> @company_b_seventh_regiment

@c_l_sturtevant -> traveled to -> @heidelberg

@c_l_sturtevant -> traveled to -> @neckar_valley

@c_l_sturtevant -> traveled to -> @old_schloss

@c_l_sturtevant -> traveled to -> @london

@julia_faber_martin -> stayed at -> @sanitorium_santa_barbara

@julia_faber_martin -> requested -> @summer_shirts:object

@julia_faber_martin -> requested -> @black_stockings:object

@daisy_elliot -> friend of -> @alice_austen

@daisy_elliot -> wrote -> @letter_1895_07_29_001

@bessie_strong -> wrote -> @letter_apr14_1895_strong

@bessie_strong -> wrote -> @letter_nov7_1895_strong

@bessie_strong -> wrote -> @letter_dec28_1895_strong

@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @letter_jan14_1895_martin

@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @letter_feb26_1895_martin

@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @letter_jun18_1895_martin

@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @letter_aug19_1895_martin

@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @letter_nov27_1895_martin

@charles_lincoln_furbush -> wrote -> @letter_jan20_1895_furbush

@tq_browne_jr -> wrote -> @letter_jan31_1895_browne

@alice_austen -> sold -> @photograph_fair {buyer: @isabella_king, year: @date_1895}

@alice_austen -> sent -> @photograph_birch_bark_canoe {to: @charles_lincoln_furbush, date: @date_1895_01_20}

@alice_austen -> operated -> @boarding_house

@alice_austen -> member of -> @staten_island_bicycle_club

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> [@julia_t_martin, @charles_lincoln_furbush, @tq_browne_jr, @bessie_strong, @lewis_austen, @robert_c_lowry, @daisy_m_e, @daisy_elliot, @jessie_w_munroe, @erickson_n_nichols, @julie_bredt, @violet_m_e_ward, @isabella_king]

@wedding_collection -> includes -> @wedding_marian_honora_parmele

@wedding_collection -> includes -> @wedding_adelina_elwell_sawyer

@wedding_collection -> includes -> @wedding_anna_ripley

@wedding_collection -> includes -> @wedding_charlotte_dustan

@wedding_collection -> includes -> @wedding_caroline_simonson

Metadata

Title
Austen Family Papers (MS1) - Alice Austen Correspondence and Related Materials, 1895
Type
Collection
Creator
Alice AustenJulia T. MartinJulia Faber MartinCharles Lincoln FurbushTQ Browne Jr.Bessie StrongElisabeth StrongDaisy M.E.Jessie W. MunroeErickson N. NicholsErickson A. NicholsLewis AustenRobert C. LowryTrudeDaisy M. ElliotDaisy ElliotWilliam Blair McKeanDavid Elwell AustenBenjamin J. DavisSamuel Thomson WilliamsJ. Louis ThurberC.L. SturtevantW. Ewing
Institution
Alice Austen House
Created
1895
Language
en
Subjects
Correspondence, Personal letters, Calling cards, Photography business, Social life, Skating parties, Sleigh rides, Church events, Whist parties, Family matters, Music, Steinway piano, Victorian-era social life, Upper-middle-class families, Staten Island, Photographs, Transcriptions, 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, Bicycle Club, National Guard, Weddings, Marriage announcements, Adirondacks, Travel, Europe, Santa Barbara, Boarding houses, Sanitariums, Business ventures, Family relationships, Friendships, Photography, Social events, Church activities, Music and performances, Travel and vacations, Family news, Personal reflections, Historical events, Cultural activities, Victorian social life, Bicycling, Tennis, Salmon fishing, Military life, Daughters of the American Revolution, Staten Island history, Victorian era, Nature, Gifts, Invitations, Moonlight sail
Rights
Copyright Alice Austen House Museum
Place
Staten Island, NY, Santa Barbara, CA, Berlin, Germany, Roswell, NM, Heidelberg, Germany, New Brunswick, NJ, Adirondacks, NY, San Servan, France, Cocoanut Grove, FL, Lake Kushaqua, NY, Bay Head, NJ, 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, New York, NY, Washington, D.C., Albany, NY, Clifton, Staten Island, Linden Hill, Plaza Hotel, Neckar Valley, Old Schloss, London, England, New York, London, England
Source
PINAX

Version History (10 versions)

  • ✓ v20 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:57:39 PM
    "Added description"
  • v19 · 12/9/2025, 9:26:29 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v18 · 12/9/2025, 8:07:37 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v17 · 12/9/2025, 7:30:06 PM · View this version
    "Split into 3 alphabetical chunks"
  • v16 · 12/9/2025, 7:30:03 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29F4QSG3SZ0SBGTMH85KKH"
  • v15 · 12/9/2025, 7:30:00 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29F38ASG1BBCHBCSSTWW3C"
  • v14 · 12/9/2025, 7:29:58 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29F1XQWCP0H7FBXTSXB0C4"
  • v13 · 12/9/2025, 7:13:34 PM · View this version
    "Added OCR to 3 files"
  • v12 · 12/9/2025, 7:13:23 PM · View this version
    "Added OCR to 10 files"
  • v11 · 12/9/2025, 7:13:10 PM · View this version
    "Added OCR to 10 files"

More versions available (pagination not yet implemented)

Additional Components

chunking-description.txt
# Alphabetical Chunking

Directory split into 3 alphabetical chunks for processing.

Total files: 97
Files per chunk: up to 40

## Organization Strategy

Organize by document type and correspondent. Use groups: correspondence (further subdivided by correspondent name when possible), calling cards, wedding announcements/invitations, photographs (scans of letters/envelopes), transcription files. Maintain chronological order within each group.

Parent

↑ 01KC25ZJ5BGKTRSFQCX4KBYHJK

Children (3)