Austen Family Papers (MS1) - Alice Austen Correspondence, 1892

PI

Version: 14 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:54:55 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:18:51 PM

Added description

Description

Alice Austen Financial Records – Expense List, 29 December 1892

Overview

This item is a digitized record of a single handwritten expense list created by Elizabeth Alice Austen on 29 December 1892. The record is preserved as a high‑resolution JPEG image and accompanied by OCR‑derived text that reproduces the original entries. It is part of the Alice Austen Family Papers (MS 1) held by the Alice Austen House Museum in Staten Island, New York.

Background

Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering American photographer whose studio in Staten Island produced a prolific body of work and maintained a detailed business ledger. The expense list reflects the Victorian‑era bookkeeping practices common among small‑business owners, particularly women entrepreneurs. Austen’s meticulous financial documentation provides insight into the day‑to‑day costs of running a photographic studio and managing personal expenditures during the late nineteenth century.

Contents

The digitized item contains:
  • Photograph – A clear, high‑resolution JPEG of the handwritten list, showing inked entries and marginal notes.
  • OCR Text – Machine‑generated transcription of the list, listing individual items and amounts (e.g., “2.00, 3.00, 16.00, 1.60, 17.60, 27.00, 84 4.60, 2.13, 2.49, 1.53‑87, 1.40, 2.08, 2.13, 42.47, 41.22 10, 41.22 10, 31, 23, 64, 2.50, 11.50”).
  • Metadata – Provenance information indicating the creator (Alice Austen), institution (Alice Austen House), place (Staten Island, NY), language (English), and subject tags (financial records, expenses, Victorian‑era finances, personal finances).

Scope

The collection consists solely of this one expense entry. It does not include other financial documents, correspondence, or photographic materials that are part of the broader Austen Family Papers. The record offers a snapshot of Austen’s financial activity on a single day, likely related to studio supplies, travel, or personal purchases, and exemplifies her systematic approach to bookkeeping. The item is valuable for researchers studying women’s entrepreneurship, photographic commerce, and domestic economics in the Gilded Age.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@austen_family_papers_ms1:collection {title: "Austen Family Papers (MS1) - Alice Austen Correspondence, 1892", institution: "Alice Austen House", created: @date_1892, language: "en", description: "Personal letters, social invitations, envelopes, and financial records documenting Alice Austen's correspondence and social life in 1892."}


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> created by -> @alice_austen


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> created by -> @julia_t_martin


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> created by -> @sarah_schuyler_martin


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> created by -> @gb_strong


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> created by -> @ralph_munroe


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> created by -> @e_lynch


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> created by -> @mary_t_beeth


@various:person {description: "Various contributors"} 


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> created by -> @various


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> subject -> @photography_business


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> subject -> @music:concept {type: "music"}


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> subject -> @travel:concept {type: "travel"}


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> subject -> @maritime_travel:concept {type: "maritime travel"}


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> subject -> @worlds_fair_1893:event {year: @date_1893, description: "World's Columbian Exposition"}


@financial_records:concept {type: "financial records"} 


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> subject -> @financial_records


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> mentions place -> @staten_island


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> mentions place -> @albany


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> mentions place -> @riverdale


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> mentions place -> @north_bennington


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> mentions place -> @new_brunswick


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> mentions place -> @wabum


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> mentions place -> @charleston_sc


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> mentions place -> @southport_nc


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> mentions place -> @tybee_island_ga


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> mentions place -> @charles_town


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> mentions place -> @beaufort_sc


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> mentions place -> @st_simons_island_ga


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> mentions place -> @jekyll_island_ga


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> mentions place -> @cumberland_island_ga


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> mentions place -> @fernandina_fl


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> mentions place -> @coconut_grove_fl


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> mentions place -> @clifton


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> mentions place -> @lushing


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> mentions place -> @brooklyn_heights


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> mentions place -> @rosebank


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> includes -> @alice_austen_julia_martin_correspondence


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> includes -> @alice_austen_social_invitations_collection


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> includes -> @alice_austen_envelopes_collection


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> includes -> @financial_records_collection


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> includes -> @collection_austen_munroe_correspondence


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> includes -> @alice_austen_correspondence_from_e_lynch


@austen_family_papers_ms1 -> includes -> @alice_austen_correspondence_collection


@julia_t_martin -> appears in -> @austen_family_papers_ms1


@sarah_schuyler_martin -> appears in -> @austen_family_papers_ms1


@gb_strong -> appears in -> @austen_family_papers_ms1


@ralph_munroe -> appears in -> @austen_family_papers_ms1


@e_lynch -> appears in -> @austen_family_papers_ms1


@mary_t_beeth -> appears in -> @austen_family_papers_ms1


@worlds_fair_1893:event -> referenced in -> @austen_family_papers_ms1


@alice_austen -> part of -> @austen_family_papers_ms1


@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 -> sold photographs from -> @worlds_fair_1893:event


@alice_austen -> participated in -> @photography_business


@alice_austen -> purchased -> @steinway_piano {when: @date_1894}

Metadata

Title
Austen Family Papers (MS1) - Alice Austen Correspondence, 1892
Type
Collection
Creator
Alice AustenJulia T. MartinSarah Schuyler MartinG.B. StrongRalph MunroeE. LynchMary T. BeethVarious
Institution
Alice Austen House
Created
1892
Language
en
Subjects
Correspondence, Victorian social life, Photography, Social events, Family relationships, Music, Travel, Maritime travel, World's Columbian Exposition, Financial records, Social invitations, Envelopes
Rights
Provided by Alice Austen House Museum
Place
Staten Island, NY, Albany, NY, Riverdale, NY, North Bennington, VT, New Brunswick, Wabum, Charleston, South Carolina, 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, Clifton, Lushing, Brooklyn Heights, NY, Rosebank, Staten Island
Source
PINAX

Version History (10 versions)

  • ✓ v14 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:54:55 PM
    "Added description"
  • v13 · 12/9/2025, 9:15:31 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v12 · 12/9/2025, 7:59:26 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v11 · 12/9/2025, 7:27:05 PM · View this version
    "Reorganized into 9 groups"
  • v10 · 12/9/2025, 7:27:03 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC299PWX1TTG3JE6FDQXA9V9"
  • v9 · 12/9/2025, 7:27:01 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC299MEYR826AZ3KYM92HRXH"
  • v8 · 12/9/2025, 7:26:59 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC299JZ5CY6M8Y2EW511D1J4"
  • v7 · 12/9/2025, 7:26:58 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC299HHNK6ADJAJ9ZW80D2NR"
  • v6 · 12/9/2025, 7:26:56 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC299G521TJCTATS8P7N63NH"
  • v5 · 12/9/2025, 7:26:55 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC299ENHDA9Q2FG39JQKANPJ"

More versions available (pagination not yet implemented)

Additional Components

reorganization-description.txt
# Reorganization Summary

The files were organized primarily by correspondent, with separate groups for social invitations, envelopes, and financial records. This approach maintains consistency with the organizational guidance while accurately reflecting the content relationships. Each correspondence group contains letters from a specific individual, while envelopes and formal invitations are grouped separately based on their distinct purposes.

## Groups Created

- **Correspondence_Julia_Martin**: Letters from Julia T. Martin discussing personal matters, social events, and family updates
- **Correspondence_Sarah_Schuyler_Martin**: Letters from Sarah Schuyler Martin regarding personal belongings and social invitations
- **Correspondence_G_B_Strong**: Letters from G.B. Strong discussing social life, photography, and personal updates
- **Correspondence_Ralph_Munroe**: Letter from Ralph Munroe detailing his sailing trip along the East Coast
- **Correspondence_E_Lynch**: Letter from E. Lynch inviting Alice to social events
- **Correspondence_Mary_T_Beeth**: Letter from Mary T. Beeth regarding social events
- **Social_Invitations**: Formal invitations to social events
- **Envelopes**: Envelopes addressed to Alice Austen
- **Financial_Records**: Financial calculations and records

Parent

↑ 01KC262WQ37K459G497B8PSG7H

Children (9)