Austen Family Papers: Alice Austen Correspondence and Related Materials, 1892
PI
Version: 12 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:55:11 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:18:57 PM
Added description
Description
Austen Family Papers: Miscellaneous Correspondence Collection
Overview
The Miscellaneous Correspondence Collection contains two handwritten letters dated 5 March 1892, preserved in the Alice Austen House archives. The letters are scanned as JPEG images and accompanied by typed transcriptions. They are part of the broader Austen Family Papers, which document the personal and professional life of Staten Island photographer Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952).Background
Alice Austen was a pioneering American photographer whose studio and social circles spanned late‑Victorian New York. Her correspondence network included family members, friends, and business associates. The letters in this collection were written by her mother—referred to in the manuscripts as “Mama”—to Alice, reflecting everyday concerns, social events, and news from London. The material illustrates the transatlantic ties of a Staten Island family and the domestic concerns that accompanied Austen’s burgeoning photographic career.Contents
- Letter 8004: A message from Mama to Alice that mentions the death of the Duke of Clarence as reported in the London News, the McAndrews’ voyage aboard the Majestic during a storm, visits to Pond Street Bank, and a friendly note to Lottie.
- Letter 8005: A letter from Mama to Alice discussing plans to visit “Little James,” a trip to St. Malonic, a knitted bonnet for Auntie, observations about local weather, a post‑carrier named Samoi, and a mention of Willie the Girl’s use of a hair product called Trisphim.
Scope
The collection covers a single date (5 March 1892) and includes two letters in English. It focuses on family correspondence, local social events, and news from London, offering insight into the daily life of a Staten Island family during the late nineteenth century. The materials are accessible to researchers through the Alice Austen House’s digital archive.Raw Cheimarros Data
@austen_family_papers_collection:collection {title: "Austen Family Papers: Alice Austen Correspondence and Related Materials, 1892", creator: [@alice_austen, @julia_t_martin, @julie_bredt, @elizabeth_strong, @h_h_gilmore, @trudie_eccleston], institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1892, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Victorian social life","Friendship","Family relationships","Photography","Music","Fashion","Social events","Envelopes","Victorian-era postal system","Staten Island history","19th century photography","Death and bereavement"], description: "Personal letters, envelopes, and related materials spanning 1892, discussing social events, personal matters, and family relationships.", places: [@albany_new_york, @staten_island_new_york, @new_brunswick, @flushing_li, @boston, @london, @st_malonic]}
@alice_austen_house -> holds -> @file_pinax
@file_pinax -> documents -> @austen_family_papers_collection
@austen_family_papers_collection -> contains -> @alice_austen_julia_martin_correspondence
@austen_family_papers_collection -> contains -> @alice_austen_julie_bredt_correspondence
@austen_family_papers_collection -> contains -> @strong_to_austen_1892_04_13
@austen_family_papers_collection -> contains -> @austen_family_papers_misc_corr
@alice_austen -> contributed to -> @austen_family_papers_collection
@julia_t_martin -> contributed to -> @austen_family_papers_collection
@julie_bredt -> contributed to -> @austen_family_papers_collection
@elizabeth_strong -> contributed to -> @austen_family_papers_collection
@h_h_gilmore -> contributed to -> @austen_family_papers_collection
@trudie_eccleston -> contributed to -> @austen_family_papers_collection
@file_1892_3_9_march_3002_martin_copy_jpg -> asset of -> @alice_austen_julia_martin_correspondence
@austen_family_papers_collection -> covers -> @photography_business
@austen_family_papers_collection -> covers -> @victorian_social_life
@austen_family_papers_collection -> covers -> @death_and_bereavement
@austen_family_papers_collection -> covers -> @family_matters
@austen_family_papers_collection -> covers -> @personal_letters
@austen_family_papers_collection -> covers -> @envelopes
@alice_austen_julia_martin_correspondence -> involves -> @julia_t_martin
@alice_austen_julie_bredt_correspondence -> involves -> @julie_bredt
@strong_to_austen_1892_04_13 -> involves -> @elizabeth_strong
@austen_family_papers_misc_corr -> involves -> @h_h_gilmore
@austen_family_papers_misc_corr -> involves -> @trudie_eccleston
@alice_austen -> associated with -> @photography
@alice_austen -> associated with -> @victorian_social_life
@alice_austen -> associated with -> @family_matters
@alice_austen -> associated with -> @death_and_bereavement
@alice_austen -> associated with -> @personal_letters
@alice_austen -> associated with -> @envelopes
@alice_austen -> associated with -> @music
@alice_austen -> associated with -> @fashion
@alice_austen -> associated with -> @social_events
@alice_austen -> associated with -> @19th_century_photography
@alice_austen -> associated with -> @staten_island_history
@alice_austen -> associated with -> @victorian_era_postal_system
@alice_austen -> associated with -> @death_and_bereavement
@alice_austen -> associated with -> @family_relationships
@alice_austen -> associated with -> @friendship
@alice_austen -> associated with -> @correspondence
@alice_austen -> associated with -> @envelopes
@alice_austen -> associated with -> @victorian_social_life
@alice_austen -> associated with -> @photography_business
@alice_austen -> associated with -> @victorian_social_life
@alice_austen -> associated with -> @victorian_social_life
---Metadata
Files (1)
1892_3-9-March 3002-martin copy.jpgJPEG
OCR Text
There is no text in this image.
Version History (10 versions)
- ✓ v12 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:55:11 PM
"Added description" - v11 · 12/9/2025, 9:17:35 PM · View this version
"Added knowledge graph extraction" - v10 · 12/9/2025, 7:59:44 PM · View this version
"Added PINAX metadata" - v9 · 12/9/2025, 7:29:13 PM · View this version
"Reorganized into 7 groups" - v8 · 12/9/2025, 7:29:11 PM · View this version
"Added child entity 01KC29DM0HNTM6499VW37628YA" - v7 · 12/9/2025, 7:29:10 PM · View this version
"Added child entity 01KC29DJR8VV4X8XBXCG2H499N" - v6 · 12/9/2025, 7:29:09 PM · View this version
"Added child entity 01KC29DHEZ4FCW44AX0W22KNFJ" - v5 · 12/9/2025, 7:29:07 PM · View this version
"Added child entity 01KC29DG0FCMQDW8B243BXMEFG" - v4 · 12/9/2025, 7:29:06 PM · View this version
"Added child entity 01KC29DEK05JFCE20KYMGG5BCT" - v3 · 12/9/2025, 7:29:04 PM · View this version
"Added child entity 01KC29DD6DXA9XYNHXBBEGMRVQ"
More versions available (pagination not yet implemented)
Additional Components
reorganization-description.txt
# Reorganization Summary Files were organized primarily by correspondent, as most content consists of personal letters to Alice Austen. Secondary organization was done by document type (envelopes). The ungrouped file contains no text content and could not be categorized meaningfully. ## Groups Created - **Correspondence_Julia_Martin**: Letters from Julia Martin to Alice Austen discussing social life, dress-making, and personal updates - **Correspondence_Julie_Bredt**: Letters from Julie Bredt discussing social events, photography, and personal relationships - **Correspondence_Elizabeth_Strong**: Letters from Elizabeth Strong discussing social events, choir meetings, and personal updates - **Correspondence_HH_Gilmore**: Letters from H.H. Gilmore discussing personal matters and social plans - **Envelopes**: Envelopes addressed to Alice Austen - **Correspondence_Trudie**: Letters from Trudie discussing social events and personal updates - **Correspondence_Miscellaneous**: Miscellaneous letters from unidentified or less frequent correspondents