Austen Family Papers (MS1) - Alice Austen Correspondence, 1891

PI

Version: 14 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:54:56 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:18:52 PM

Added description

Description

Austen Family Papers (MS1) – 1891 Correspondence and Social Ephemera

Overview

This collection is a digitized assemblage of personal and social documents from the year 1891 that belong to the Austen Family Papers (MS1) at the Alice Austen House Museum. It comprises handwritten letters, printed wedding invitations, social invitations, Victorian calling cards, and a small set of business correspondence related to Alice Austen’s photography studio. All items are presented as high‑resolution JPEG scans with accompanying OCR‑derived transcriptions, making the material both visually authentic and searchable.

Background

Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering photographer in Staten Island whose studio served an affluent clientele. In 1891 she maintained an extensive social network that spanned the New York metropolitan area, the Midwest, and the West Coast. The documents reflect the customs of upper‑middle‑class Victorian society, including dance parties, whist clubs, opera outings, and the formal etiquette of calling cards and invitations.

Contents

  • Personal letters from friends and relatives such as Julia S. Martin, Elizabeth B. Strong, Edith E. Blunt, Julie Bredt, and John Evans, covering topics from daily life and travel to photography and music.
  • Wedding invitations issued by Erastus Wiman, James A. Duigley, and John C. Bailey for three 1891 marriages in Staten Island and Pennsylvania.
  • Social invitations received by Austen for dances, afternoon gatherings, and lunches hosted by the B & S Club, the Wiman family, and Orline Alexander.
  • Calling cards produced by Austen and her acquaintances, illustrating Victorian etiquette and the geographic reach of her social circle.
  • Photography business correspondence from March 1891, detailing studio orders, equipment updates, and payments.

Scope

The collection is confined to the calendar year 1891 and includes documents from locations such as Staten Island, New Brunswick, Louisville, Philadelphia, Pasadena, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and various New York and New Jersey suburbs. It offers a comprehensive snapshot of Austen’s personal, social, and professional life during a formative period of her career, and serves as a valuable resource for scholars of Victorian social history, photography, and the cultural milieu of late‑19th‑century New York.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@file_pinax:file {title: "Austen Family Papers (MS1) - Alice Austen Correspondence, 1891", creator: [@alice_austen, @julia_martin, @elizabeth_strong, @edith_blunt, @julie_bredt, @erastus_wiman, @james_a_duigley, @john_c_bailey, @john_evans], institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1891, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Social life","Victorian era","Friendship","Entertainment","Theater","Family relationships","Whist Club","Health","Travel","Photography","Music","Wedding invitations","Marriage","Social events","Dance parties","Calling cards","Victorian social customs","Photography business","Fashion"], description: "A collection of personal correspondence and social invitations from the Austen Family Papers, spanning the year 1891. Includes letters from friends and family, wedding invitations, social invitations, calling cards, and business correspondence related to Alice Austen's photography work."}


@file_pinax -> documents -> @austen_family_papers:collection


@austen_family_papers:collection -> includes -> @alice_austen_photography_business_correspondence:collection


@austen_family_papers:collection -> includes -> @wedding_invitations_collection


@austen_family_papers:collection -> includes -> @alice_austen_calling_cards_collection


@austen_family_papers:collection -> includes -> @alice_austen_family_correspondence_collection:event


@austen_family_papers:collection -> subject -> @photography_business:concept


@austen_family_papers:collection -> subject -> @social_life:concept


@austen_family_papers:collection -> subject -> @music:concept


@austen_family_papers:collection -> subject -> @whist_club:organization


@austen_family_papers:collection -> subject -> @calling_cards_collection:collection


@austen_family_papers:collection -> place -> [@albany_ny, @staten_island_ny, @new_brunswick, @louisville, @germantown, @europe, @new_brighton_staten_island, @beech_creek_pennsylvania, @clifton, @tantallon, @arrochar, @rosebank, @new_jersey, @boston, @lynn, @canada]


@julia_martin -> same as -> @julia_t_martin


@julie_bredt -> appears in -> @austen_family_papers:collection


@edith_blunt -> appears in -> @austen_family_papers:collection


@erastus_wiman -> appears in -> @austen_family_papers:collection


@james_a_duigley -> appears in -> @austen_family_papers:collection


@john_c_bailey -> appears in -> @austen_family_papers:collection


@john_evans -> appears in -> @austen_family_papers:collection


@alice_austen -> central figure of -> @austen_family_papers:collection


@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @julia_martin


@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @elizabeth_strong


@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @edith_blunt


@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 -> participated in -> @social_life:concept


@alice_austen -> involved in -> @photography_business:concept


@alice_austen -> involved in -> @family_matters:concept


@alice_austen -> involved in -> @personal_relationships:concept


@alice_austen -> discussed -> @music:concept {topic: "Steinway piano"}

Metadata

Version History (10 versions)

  • ✓ v14 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:54:56 PM
    "Added description"
  • v13 · 12/9/2025, 9:15:33 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, 7:24:54 PM · View this version
    "Reorganized into 9 groups"
  • v10 · 12/9/2025, 7:24:53 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC295QNC7XWJGV5W76ZDKRHF"
  • v9 · 12/9/2025, 7:24:52 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC295P8CV02QQSQVXWTHB8QS"
  • v8 · 12/9/2025, 7:24:50 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC295MHR4YCD0JM9EEGY1G9B"
  • v7 · 12/9/2025, 7:24:48 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC295K632QMYKCQ8KH7HWAXS"
  • v6 · 12/9/2025, 7:24:47 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC295HW150Q1THPYXQC0DDWP"
  • v5 · 12/9/2025, 7:24:46 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC295GD76F9NAPARV0JNVSHZ"

More versions available (pagination not yet implemented)

Additional Components

reorganization-description.txt
# Reorganization Summary

The files were organized primarily by correspondent (Julia Martin, Elizabeth Strong, Edith Blunt, Julie Bredt) and secondarily by document type (wedding invitations, social invitations, calling cards). Special categories were created for photography business materials and family correspondence. This approach maintains consistency with the organizational guidance while accurately reflecting the content relationships.

## Groups Created

- **Julia_Martin_Correspondence**: Letters from Julia Martin to Alice Austen, discussing social activities, personal updates, and mutual acquaintances
- **Elizabeth_Strong_Correspondence**: Letters from Elizabeth B. Strong to Alice Austen, discussing social engagements and personal matters
- **Edith_Blunt_Correspondence**: Letters from Edith E. Blunt describing travels in California and personal updates
- **Julie_Bredt_Correspondence**: Letters from Julie Bredt discussing travel plans, social activities, and personal matters
- **Wedding_Invitations**: Formal wedding invitations received by Alice Austen
- **Social_Invitations**: Invitations to social events including dances and receptions
- **Calling_Cards**: Victorian-era calling cards with social information
- **Photography_Business**: Materials related to Alice Austen's photography business
- **Family_Correspondence**: Letters from Alice Austen's family members

Parent

01KC26188K193W7W71439N1C7Q

Children (9)