Alice Austen Family Papers: Julia T. Martin Correspondence, 1891

PI

Version: 6 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:54:56 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:18:57 PM

Added description

Description

Julia T. Martin Correspondence, 1891 (Alice Austen Family Papers)

Overview

This collection comprises 27 handwritten letters exchanged in 1891 between Julia T. Martin of Albany, NY, and Elizabeth Alice Austen, a pioneering Staten Island photographer. The letters are accompanied by Victorian‑era ephemera—calling cards, wedding invitations, and newspaper clippings—and are available in both original scans and typed transcriptions. The material is housed in the Alice Austen House Museum’s digital archive.

Background

Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) operated a portrait studio in New York City before establishing a studio on Staten Island. Her correspondence with friends and patrons offers insight into the social and professional networks that sustained her career. Julia T. Martin, a close friend and frequent correspondent, documented a range of activities—from skating parties and sleigh rides to church services and whist gatherings—reflecting the leisure culture of upper‑middle‑class New York society in the late 19th century. The letters also touch on Austen’s photography business, including sales at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition and her purchase of a Steinway piano.

Contents

  • Letters (1891): 27 missives dated from January 4 to December 31, 1891, covering social events, travel, business, and personal news.
  • Ephemera: Victorian calling cards, wedding invitations, and newspaper clippings that contextualize the correspondence.
  • Transcriptions & Notes: A text file with typed transcriptions of the letters and editorial commentary.
  • Photographic References: Mentions of photographic prints and negatives, illustrating Austen’s practice and commercial activities.

Scope

The collection is confined to the year 1891 and focuses on the bilateral correspondence between Martin and Austen. It documents social life in Staten Island, Albany, and other New York locales, as well as Austen’s photographic practice. The material is in English and is available through the Alice Austen House Museum’s digital archive.

Raw Cheimarros Data

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@wedding_invitations:concept {description: "Printed invitations to weddings"}

@newspaper_clippings:concept {description: "Extracts from contemporary newspapers"}

@photographic_prints:concept {description: "Printed photographic images"}

@photographic_negatives:concept {description: "Glass plate negatives of photographs"}

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@new_brunswick_nj:place {type: "town"}

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Metadata

Title
Alice Austen Family Papers: Julia T. Martin Correspondence, 1891
Type
Collection
Creator
Julia T. MartinAlice Austen
Institution
Alice Austen House
Created
1891
Language
en
Subjects
Victorian social life, Photography business, Personal relationships, Family matters, Music, Skating parties, Sleigh rides, Church events, Whist parties, 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, Steinway piano, Sympathy letters, Grandparents' death, Travel, European travel, Calling cards, Wedding invitations, Social events, Newspaper clippings, Photography, Photographic prints, Photographic negatives
Rights
Copyright Alice Austen House Museum
Place
Staten Island, NY, Albany, NY, New Brunswick, NJ, Brooklyn, NY, Washington, DC, Pasadena, CA, Bennington, VT, Schenectady, NY, Bethlehem, PA, Budd's Lake, NJ, Clifton, NJ, Flushing, NY, Newport, RI, Fishkill, NY, Bay Head, NJ, Mount Chunk, PA, Glen Onoko, PA, Berkely, PA, Muncy, PA, Europe, Louisville, KY, Philadelphia, PA, New York, NY, Troy, NY, Williamstown, MA, Ross Emmons, NJ, Wallop's Island, VA, Sedro, WA, Seattle, WA, San Francisco, CA, Montreal, Canada, Canada
Source
PINAX

Version History (6 versions)

  • ✓ v6 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:54:56 PM
    "Added description"
  • v5 · 12/9/2025, 9:15:18 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v4 · 12/9/2025, 7:59:27 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 7:27:05 PM · View this version
    "Reorganized into 11 groups"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:27:03 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC299PCXHY40S44YB93FE7GQ"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:18:57 PM · View this version
    "Alphabetical chunk 5/5 (1 files)"

Additional Components

reorganization-description.txt
# Reorganization Summary

The files have been organized primarily by correspondent (Julia Martin, Julie Bredt, Violet Ward, Bessie Strong, etc.) and document type (wedding invitations, social event invitations, calling cards). Letters from Alice's mother are grouped separately as family correspondence. Photography business materials are grouped separately. The organization maintains chronological order within correspondent groups when dates are present. A few newspaper clippings remain ungrouped due to lack of contextual information.

## Groups Created

- **Julia_T_Martin_Correspondence**: Letters from Julia T. Martin, Alice Austen's close friend in Albany, detailing social life, family matters, and personal reflections
- **Julie_Bredt_Correspondence**: Letters from Julie Bredt discussing travel, social activities, and personal updates
- **Violet_Ward_Correspondence**: Letters from Violet M.E. Ward discussing photography and travel
- **Bessie_Strong_Correspondence**: Letters from Elisabeth (Bessie) Strong detailing social events, health matters, and personal news
- **Henry_Gilman_Correspondence**: Letters from Henry K. Gilman with social invitations and personal reflections
- **Wedding_Invitations**: Formal wedding invitations received by Alice Austen
- **Social_Event_Invitations**: Invitations to various social gatherings and events
- **Photography_Business**: Materials related to Alice Austen's photography business
- **Family_Correspondence**: Letters from Alice Austen's mother and other family members
- **Miscellaneous_Correspondence**: Various letters from other correspondents
- **Calling_Cards**: Victorian-era social calling cards

Parent

↑ 01KC26188K193W7W71439N1C7Q

Children (1)