Austen Family Papers: Correspondence and Invitations, 1891

PI

Version: 11 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:54:38 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:18:50 PM

Added description

Description

Austen Family Papers: Correspondence and Invitations, 1891

Overview

This collection is a digitized assemblage of personal letters, envelopes, calling cards, and two wedding invitations that were sent to or from Elizabeth Alice Austen in 1891. The items are presented as high‑resolution JPEG scans accompanied by OCR‑derived text files. The collection is part of the Alice Austen House Museum’s archival holdings and is publicly available in the museum’s online portal.

Background

Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering photographer and a central figure in Staten Island’s upper‑middle‑class society. The 1891 correspondence reflects Austen’s extensive social network, which included friends, relatives, and business associates across New York and New Jersey. The letters were written from a variety of locations—Staten Island, Brooklyn, Flushing, Albany, New Brunswick, Clifton, and even Napa, California—illustrating the geographic reach of Victorian social ties. The collection was assembled by the museum’s digitization project and is organized by sender, with metadata indicating dates, places, and subject tags such as “Victorian social life,” “Wedding announcements,” and “Photography.”

Contents

  • Personal letters (≈ 20 items) from Henry H. Gilman, Julia T. Martin, Bessie Strong, and members of the Errington family, covering topics ranging from social invitations and holiday greetings to family news and business matters.
  • Envelopes and calling cards that provide context for the correspondence.
  • Wedding invitations (two items) issued by Junius B. Alexander and Amedée Castaing, announcing marriages in Staten Island and Napa, California, respectively.
Each item is preserved as a scanned image with accompanying OCR text, allowing both visual inspection of the original handwriting and quick textual search.

Scope

The collection documents a single calendar year—1891—and focuses on the personal and social interactions of Austen and her acquaintances. It is geographically centered on Staten Island, Brooklyn, Flushing, Albany, New Brunswick, Clifton, and Napa. Thematically, it covers friendship, social customs, holiday traditions, and matrimonial announcements. The collection is limited to the 1891 correspondence and invitations; it does not include Austen’s photographic negatives, business records, or later correspondence.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@austen_family_papers_collection:collection {title: "Austen Family Papers: Correspondence and Invitations, 1891", creator: [@alice_austen, @henry_gilman, @julia_martin, @bessie_strong, @errington_family, @junius_b_alexander, @amedee_castaing], institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1891, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Personal letters","Victorian social life","Friendship","Staten Island history","Weddings","Social events","Marriage announcements","Victorian-era social customs","Christmas celebrations","Music","Gift-giving","Health","Family relationships","Holiday greetings","Photography"], description: "A collection of personal correspondence, wedding invitations, and related materials from the Austen Family Papers, spanning 1891. Includes letters from friends and family to Alice Austen, discussing social life, personal relationships, family matters, and wedding invitations from the Austen family."}

@file_pinax -> documents -> @austen_family_papers_collection

@file_1891_11_2_nov_4001_martin_copy_jpg:document {type: "image", ocr: "Miss Alice Huston\nRosebank & Co.\nStaten Island,\nN.Y."}

@julia_martin -> wrote -> @file_1891_11_2_nov_4001_martin_copy_jpg

@file_1891_11_2_nov_4001_martin_copy_jpg -> mentions place -> @rosebank

@file_1891_11_29_nov_2001_strong_copy_jpg:document {type: "image", ocr: "Miss E. A. Austen\nRosebank\nStaten Island"}

@bessie_strong -> wrote -> @file_1891_11_29_nov_2001_strong_copy_jpg

@file_1891_11_29_nov_2001_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions place -> @rosebank

@file_1891_11_29_nov_5001_martin_copy_jpg:document {type: "image", ocr: "Miss Alice Austen\nBoukank.\nStaten Island,\nN.Y."}

@julia_martin -> wrote -> @file_1891_11_29_nov_5001_martin_copy_jpg

@file_1891_11_29_nov_5001_martin_copy_jpg -> mentions place -> @staten_island

@file_1891_12_15_dec_8003_aca_copy_jpg:document {type: "image", ocr: "Miss Rhia Austen\nCase of Mrs P.Y. Austen\nUnion St.\nNew Brunswick N.J."}

@alice_austen_personal_correspondence_collection -> contains -> @file_1891_12_15_dec_8003_aca_copy_jpg

@file_1891_12_15_dec_8003_aca_copy_jpg -> mentions place -> @new_brunswick

@file_1891_12_17_dec_1001_martin_copy_jpg:document {type: "image", ocr: "Miss Alice Austen,\nRosebank P.O.\nStaten Island\nN.Y."}

@julia_martin -> wrote -> @file_1891_12_17_dec_1001_martin_copy_jpg

@file_1891_12_17_dec_1001_martin_copy_jpg -> mentions place -> @rosebank

@file_1891_12_23_dec_7001_martin_copy_jpg:document {type: "image", ocr: "Miss Alice Austin\nBrooklyn\nStaten Island\nN.Y."}

@julia_martin -> wrote -> @file_1891_12_23_dec_7001_martin_copy_jpg

@file_1891_12_23_dec_7001_martin_copy_jpg -> mentions place -> @brooklyn

@file_1891_12_27_dec_4005_strong_copy_jpg:document {type: "image", ocr: "Miss E.A. Austin\nRose Bank.\nStaten Island."}

@bessie_strong -> wrote -> @file_1891_12_27_dec_4005_strong_copy_jpg

@file_1891_12_27_dec_4005_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions place -> @rosebank

@file_1891_12_28_dec_2001_errington_copy_jpg:document {type: "image", ocr: "Miss S. Austin\nClifton\nNatea, N.J."}

@errington_family_correspondence_collection -> contains -> @file_1891_12_28_dec_2001_errington_copy_jpg

@file_1891_12_28_dec_2001_errington_copy_jpg -> mentions place -> @clifton_natea_nj

--- SYNTHESIS ---

@henry_gilman -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen

@julia_martin -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen

@bessie_strong -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen

@errington_family -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen

@junius_b_alexander -> related to -> @alice_austen

@amedee_castaing -> related to -> @alice_austen

@marriage_alexander_richards:event -> part of -> @austen_family_papers_collection

@marriage_claire_wright:event -> part of -> @austen_family_papers_collection

@marriage_alexander_richards:event -> held at -> @st_johns_church

@marriage_claire_wright:event -> held at -> @napa_california

@alice_austen -> lived in -> @staten_island

@rosebank -> located in -> @staten_island

@clifton_natea_nj -> located in -> @new_jersey

@brooklyn -> located in -> @new_york

@flushing_ny -> located in -> @new_york

@albany -> located in -> @new_york

@new_brunswick -> located in -> @new_jersey

--- END OF GRAPH ---

Metadata

Version History (10 versions)

  • ✓ v11 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:54:38 PM
    "Added description"
  • v10 · 12/9/2025, 9:18:51 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v9 · 12/9/2025, 7:59:03 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v8 · 12/9/2025, 7:24:52 PM · View this version
    "Reorganized into 6 groups"
  • v7 · 12/9/2025, 7:24:51 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC295NPNHDB7D5HTR0N3KABT"
  • v6 · 12/9/2025, 7:24:49 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC295M7QN82ZPVA6Z9QD0DAE"
  • v5 · 12/9/2025, 7:24:48 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC295JVV2KQYPEMD8MWQZWEW"
  • v4 · 12/9/2025, 7:24:47 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC295HH60Q4C9PJ9Y7MZNYQN"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 7:24:44 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC295FAWGZVB7BKHEGWMAT2X"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:24:43 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC295DK3ATPMYFYEBRF1D0WS"

Additional Components

reorganization-description.txt
# Reorganization Summary

The files were organized primarily by correspondent, as most content consists of personal letters to Alice Austen from specific individuals. Wedding invitations were separated into their own group due to their formal nature. Letters written by Alice herself were grouped separately. Some envelope/address files were left ungrouped as they didn't contain substantive content beyond addressing information.

## Groups Created

- **Henry_Gilman_Correspondence**: Letters from Henry Gilman to Alice Austen, showing a personal and somewhat poetic correspondence style
- **Julia_Martin_Correspondence**: Letters from Julia Martin to Alice Austen, discussing social activities, photography, and personal matters
- **Bessie_Strong_Correspondence**: Letters from Bessie Strong to Alice Austen, discussing social events, gifts, and personal updates
- **Wedding_Invitations**: Formal wedding invitations received by Alice Austen
- **Errington_Correspondence**: Letters from Errington to Alice Austen, including holiday greetings
- **Alice_Austen_Personal_Correspondence**: Letters written by Alice Austen to others

Parent

01KC26188K193W7W71439N1C7Q

Children (6)