Alice Austen Family Papers: 1885 Correspondence and Related Materials

PI

Version: 20 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:57:06 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 6:29:46 PM

Added description

Description

Alice Austen Family Papers: 1885 Correspondence and Related Materials

Overview

This digitized collection is part of the Alice Austen Family Papers (MS1) held by the Alice Austen House Museum. It comprises the complete set of personal letters, envelopes, calling cards, negative sleeves, invitations, and group photographs that document the social and professional life of Elizabeth Alice Austen during the calendar year 1885. All items are presented as high‑resolution JPEG scans, with typed transcriptions or OCR‑derived text files for research convenience. The collection is released into the public domain.

Background

Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering American photographer whose Staten Island home became a hub for upper‑middle‑class social life in the late‑Victorian era. The 1885 correspondence reflects her relationships with friends, family, and business associates, and illustrates the social customs and leisure activities of the period. The museum’s digitization project organized the material into scanned images and transcribed text files, making the collection accessible to scholars of social history, photography, and regional studies.

Contents

  • Personal Letters & Envelopes – Over 30 handwritten letters and accompanying envelopes from figures such as Julia T. Martin, Julie Bredt, Violet M.E. Ward, Isabella King, Bessie Strong, Eva M. Hartnell, Grace Hustace Simonson, Gertrude Eccleston, and others.
  • Calling Cards – Victorian‑style social cards that provide insight into etiquette, networking, and the social calendar.
  • Negative Sleeves – Photographic accessories indicating Austen’s commercial activity.
  • Invitations & Event Notices – Five invitations produced by New York University, Rutgers College, and Rev. Dr. & Mrs. J. C. Eccleston, including a NYU commencement notice and social event invitations.
  • Group Photographs – Two group images with accompanying lists of attendees, illustrating social gatherings such as the Calico Ball, Progressive Euchre Party, Phantom Party, May Pole, and an organ recital.
  • Transcriptions – Typed versions of the handwritten letters, facilitating textual analysis.

Key themes include social events (parties, tennis tournament, croquet), business matters (sale of photographs, including images from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition), family health updates, musical pursuits (Steinway piano), and travel itineraries.

Scope

The collection is confined to the year 1885 and focuses exclusively on personal correspondence, envelopes, invitations, group photographs, and related artifacts involving Alice Austen and her social network. It excludes business records, photographs of subjects, or responses to the letters. Geographic references span Staten Island, New Brunswick, New York, Albany, Louisville, and other locales, providing a window into the mobility and social fabric of upper‑middle‑class Staten Island residents during the late Victorian era.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@austen_momma:person {full_name: "Austen Momma"}

@trude:person {full_name: "Trude"}

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

@eva_hartwell:person {full_name: "Eva Hartwell"}

@e_bruce:person {full_name: "E Bruce"}

@new_york_university:organization {name: "New York University"}

@rutgers_college:organization {name: "Rutgers College"}

@rev_dr_mrs_j_c_eccleston:person {full_name: "Rev. Dr. & Mrs. J. C. Eccleston"}

@photography_business:concept {description: "Commercial photography enterprise operated by Alice Austen"}

@victorian_social_life:concept {description: "Social customs and activities of the Victorian era"}

@social_events:concept {description: "Organized gatherings such as parties, recitals, and tournaments"}

@family_life:concept {description: "Domestic and familial relationships"}

@theater_performances:concept {description: "Stage productions attended or referenced in the collection"}

@community_events:concept {description: "Public gatherings within local communities"}

@victorian_era_social_customs:concept {description: "Norms and practices of Victorian society"}

@envelopes:concept {description: "Postal wrappers accompanying letters"}

@victorian_era_communication:concept {description: "Methods of correspondence in the Victorian period"}

@invitations:concept {description: "Formal requests to attend events"}

@event_notices:concept {description: "Announcements of upcoming gatherings"}

@commencement:concept {description: "Graduation ceremonies"}

@weddings:concept {description: "Marriage ceremonies"}

@group_photographs:concept {description: "Photographic collections featuring multiple subjects"}

@china_painting:concept {description: "Artistic practice of painting on porcelain"}

@croquet:concept {description: "Lawn game popular in the Victorian era"}

@staten_island:place {name: "Staten Island, NY"}

@new_brunswick:place {name: "New Brunswick, NJ"}

@albany:place {name: "Albany, NY"}

@louisville_ky:place {name: "Louisville, KY"}

@littleton_ma:place {name: "Littleton, MA"}

@piermont_ny:place {name: "Piermont, NY"}

@ridgewood_nj:place {name: "Ridgewood, NJ"}

@new_york_ny:place {name: "New York, NY"}

@brooklyn_ny:place {name: "Brooklyn, NY"}

@marthas_vineyard_ma:place {name: "Martha's Vineyard, MA"}

@ocean_beach_nj:place {name: "Ocean Beach, NJ"}

@saratoga_ny:place {name: "Saratoga, NY"}

@boston_island:place {name: "Boston Island"}

@brighton:place {name: "Brighton"}

@fort_monroe_va:place {name: "Fort Monroe, VA"}

@mr_morris_park:place {name: "Mr. Morris Park"}

@west_bethlehem:place {name: "West Bethlehem"}

@richmond_county_ny:place {name: "Richmond County, New York"}

@mapleton:place {name: "Mapleton"}

@lucas_place_sqv_ny:place {name: "Lucas Place, Squintville, N.Y."}

@clifton_staten_island_ny:place {name: "Clifton, Staten Island, NY"}

@stapleton_staten_island_ny:place {name: "Stapleton, Staten Island, NY"}

@provincetown:place {name: "Provincetown"}

@bobborough:place {name: "Bobborough"}

@file_pinax:file {title: "Alice Austen Family Papers: 1885 Correspondence and Related Materials", creator: [@alice_austen, @austen_momma, @trude, @elisabeth_strong, @eva_hartwell, @julia_t_martin, @julie_bredt, @violet_m_e_ward, @isabella_king, @bessie_strong, @eva_m_hartnell, @grace_hustace_simonson, @gertrude_eccleston, @elizabeth_b_strong, @annie_hedley, @e_bruce, @new_york_university, @rutgers_college, @rev_dr_mrs_j_c_eccleston, @earl_hartwell, @grace_hustace_simonson], institution: "Alice Austen House", created: @date_1885, language: "en", subjects: ["Victorian social life","Photography","Tennis","Music","Family relationships","Social events","Correspondence","Staten Island history","Personal correspondence","Family life","Theater performances","Community events","Victorian-era social customs","Travel","Envelopes","Postal history","Victorian-era communication","Invitations","Event Notices","Commencement","Weddings","Group photographs","Education","China painting","Croquet","Social visits","Postal History","Victorian Era"], description: "A collection of personal letters, calling cards, envelopes, invitations, and photographs from Alice Austen's 1885 correspondence, documenting her social life, family relationships, and Victorian-era communication practices in Staten Island and surrounding areas."}

@file_pinax -> subject -> @victorian_social_life

@file_pinax -> subject -> @photography

@file_pinax -> subject -> @tennis

@file_pinax -> subject -> @music

@file_pinax -> subject -> @family_relationships

@file_pinax -> subject -> @social_events

@file_pinax -> subject -> @correspondence

@file_pinax -> subject -> @staten_island_history

@file_pinax -> subject -> @personal_correspondence

@file_pinax -> subject -> @family_life

@file_pinax -> subject -> @theater_performances

@file_pinax -> subject -> @community_events

@file_pinax -> subject -> @victorian_era_social_customs

@file_pinax -> subject -> @travel

@file_pinax -> subject -> @envelopes

@file_pinax -> subject -> @postal_history

@file_pinax -> subject -> @victorian_era_communication

@file_pinax -> subject -> @invitations

@file_pinax -> subject -> @event_notices

@file_pinax -> subject -> @commencement

@file_pinax -> subject -> @weddings

@file_pinax -> subject -> @group_photographs

@file_pinax -> subject -> @education

@file_pinax -> subject -> @china_painting

@file_pinax -> subject -> @croquet

@file_pinax -> subject -> @social_visits

@file_pinax -> covers location -> @staten_island

@file_pinax -> covers location -> @new_brunswick

@file_pinax -> covers location -> @louisville_ky

@file_pinax -> covers location -> @littleton_ma

@file_pinax -> covers location -> @piermont_ny

@file_pinax -> covers location -> @albany

@file_pinax -> covers location -> @ridgewood_nj

@file_pinax -> covers location -> @new_york_ny

@file_pinax -> covers location -> @brooklyn_ny

@file_pinax -> covers location -> @marthas_vineyard_ma

@file_pinax -> covers location -> @ocean_beach_nj

@file_pinax -> covers location -> @saratoga_ny

@file_pinax -> covers location -> @boston_island

@file_pinax -> covers location -> @brighton

@file_pinax -> covers location -> @fort_monroe_va

@file_pinax -> covers location -> @mr_morris_park

@file_pinax -> covers location -> @west_bethlehem

@file_pinax -> covers location -> @richmond_county_ny

@file_pinax -> covers location -> @mapleton

@file_pinax -> covers location -> @lucas_place_sqv_ny

@file_pinax -> covers location -> @clifton_staten_island_ny

@file_pinax -> covers location -> @stapleton_staten_island_ny

@file_pinax -> covers location -> @provincetown

@file_pinax -> covers location -> @bobborough

@alice_austen_corpus -> includes -> @file_pinax

@alice_austen -> interested in -> @music

@music -> related to -> @photography_business

@photography_business -> documented in -> @file_pinax

@elizabeth_b_strong -> contributed to -> @file_pinax

@trude -> contributed to -> @file_pinax

@austen_momma -> contributed to -> @file_pinax

@e_bruce -> contributed to -> @file_pinax

@new_york_university -> contributed to -> @file_pinax

@rutgers_college -> contributed to -> @file_pinax

@rev_dr_mrs_j_c_eccleston -> contributed to -> @file_pinax

@earl_hartwell -> contributed to -> @file_pinax

@grace_hustace_simonson -> contributed to -> @file_pinax

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @julia_t_martin

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @julie_bredt

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @violet_m_e_ward

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @isabella_king

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @bessie_strong

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @eva_m_hartnell

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @grace_hustace_simonson

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @gertrude_eccleston

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @annie_hedley

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @mr_bruce

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @elizabeth_b_strong

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @trude

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @austen_momma

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @e_bruce

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @new_york_university

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @rutgers_college

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @rev_dr_mrs_j_c_eccleston

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @earl_hartwell

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @grace_hustace_simonson

@alice_austen -> attended -> @calico_ball

@alice_austen -> attended -> @progressive_euchre_party

@alice_austen -> attended -> @phantom_party

@alice_austen -> attended -> @may_pole

@alice_austen -> attended -> @organ_recital

@alice_austen -> played tennis at -> @tennis_tournament

@alice_austen -> photographed by -> @ralph_munroe

@alice_austen -> sold photographs at -> @worlds_fair:event {description: "World's Columbian Exposition (Chicago, 1893)", date: @date_1893, location: @chicago}

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @staten_island

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @new_brunswick

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @albany

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @louisville_ky

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @littleton_ma

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @piermont_ny

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @ridgewood_nj

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @new_york_ny

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @brooklyn_ny

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @marthas_vineyard_ma

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @ocean_beach_nj

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @saratoga_ny

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @boston_island

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @brighton

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @fort_monroe_va

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @mr_morris_park

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @west_bethlehem

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @richmond_county_ny

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @mapleton

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @lucas_place_sqv_ny

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @clifton_staten_island_ny

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @stapleton_staten_island_ny

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @provincetown

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @bobborough

Metadata

Version History (10 versions)

  • ✓ v20 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:57:06 PM
    "Added description"
  • v19 · 12/9/2025, 9:24:10 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v18 · 12/9/2025, 8:06:34 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v17 · 12/9/2025, 7:19:01 PM · View this version
    "Split into 3 alphabetical chunks"
  • v16 · 12/9/2025, 7:19:00 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC28TYRXXDFG681FVC40CJ8R"
  • v15 · 12/9/2025, 7:18:57 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC28TWKKG3XPQY9KY193F6WW"
  • v14 · 12/9/2025, 7:18:55 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC28TTFKCFDY5SE6PA06F7PV"
  • v13 · 12/9/2025, 6:34:29 PM · View this version
    "Added OCR to 8 files"
  • v12 · 12/9/2025, 6:34:19 PM · View this version
    "Added OCR to 10 files"
  • v11 · 12/9/2025, 6:34:09 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: 103
Files per chunk: up to 40

## Organization Strategy

Organize by document type and correspondent. Use these groups: 1) Personal correspondence (letters to Alice), 2) Invitations/event notices, 3) Photographs/images, 4) Transcriptions (text versions of letters), 5) Envelopes/postal items. Within personal correspondence, further group by primary correspondent when possible (e.g., Elisabeth B. Strong letters together).

Parent

01KC25ZJ5BGKTRSFQCX4KBYHJK

Children (3)