1892_5-6-May 2003-ACA copy.jpg

Austen Family Papers: Correspondence and Social Materials, 1892

PI

Version: 15 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:55:12 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:19:02 PM

Added description

Description

Austen Family Papers: Correspondence and Social Materials, 1892

Overview

This collection comprises the digitized personal papers of Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) and her contemporaries, focusing on the year 1892. It includes handwritten letters, envelopes, social invitations, and calling cards, all rendered as high‑resolution JPEG scans with accompanying OCR‑derived transcriptions. The materials are housed in the Alice Austen House Museum’s Austen Family Papers (MS 1) and are accessible through the museum’s online portal.

Background

Alice Austen was a pioneering photographer and socialite in Staten Island whose extensive correspondence network reflected the social fabric of late‑Victorian upper‑middle‑class America. The 1892 collection captures a snapshot of Austen’s personal and professional life, documenting her interactions with friends, family, and business associates across New York, New England, and the broader United States. The collection was assembled by the museum’s archivists during a digitization project that preserved the original paper artifacts and provided searchable transcriptions.

Contents

  • Personal letters: 19th‑century handwritten notes from Julia T. Martin, Trude, Henry Gilman, J. Lloyd Nichols, and others, covering topics such as travel plans, social gatherings, family news, and the photographer’s business dealings.
  • Envelopes and address labels: 11 scanned envelopes addressed to Austen and her relatives, illustrating Victorian correspondence practices and geographic reach.
  • Social invitations and calling cards: Three formal invitations (a dance at Arrochar Park, a wedding at Saint Mary’s Church, and a Harvard Class Day) issued by the Dreslands, Bonners, and the Pi Eta Society, respectively.
  • Negative sleeves: Photographic accessories referenced in the letters, indicating Austen’s active studio work.
  • Metadata: Detailed subject tags (social life, travel, photography, family relationships) and place references (Staten Island, Albany, Boston, Cambridge, New Brunswick, Concord, etc.) accompany each item.

Scope

The collection is confined to the calendar year 1892 and documents Austen’s social, familial, and business interactions across New York, New England, and the Midwest. It excludes other years of the Austen Family Papers and does not contain photographs, diaries, or business ledgers. The materials are in English and provide a rich, multifaceted view of Victorian social networks, travel logistics, and the professional life of a pioneering female photographer.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@file_pinax:document {title: "Austen Family Papers: Correspondence and Social Materials, 1892", creator: ["Alice Austen","Julia L. Martin","Julia T. Martin","Lou","Henry Gilman","J. Lloyd Nichols","Trude","Minnie","Mary M. Brown","Mr & Mrs Henry Dresland","Mr & Mrs Edward H. Bonner","The Pi Eta Society"], institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1892, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Social life","Victorian era","Friendship","Family relationships","Travel","University events","Weddings","Invitations","Calling cards","Photography","Staten Island"], description: "A collection of correspondence, envelopes, and social invitations from the Austen Family Papers, primarily from 1892.", place: [@staten_island,@albany,@bennington,@lumpkinville,@cambridge_massachusetts,@boston,@new_brunwick_nj,@concord,@pennington_nj,@williamstown,@newtown,@new_london,@willimantic,@norwich,@richmond_county,@harshill,@salem,@southampton,@worcester,@arrochar_park,@saint_marys_church,@massachusetts_hall]}

@concord:place {state: @massachusetts, country: @united_states}

@file_1892_5_6_may_2003_aca_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", description: "OCR text of a handwritten letter containing personal notes and health references", ocr: true}

@file_1892_6_27_june_9001_martin_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", description: "OCR text of a handwritten note with address details for a Boston hotel", ocr: true}

@file_1892_5_6_may_2003_aca_copy_jpg -> part of -> @file_pinax

@file_1892_6_27_june_9001_martin_copy_jpg -> part of -> @file_pinax

@freddie:person {first_name: "Freddie"}

@lorna:person {first_name: "Lorna"}

@aunt_sallie:person {first_name: "Sallie", relationship: "aunt"}

@mrs_c:person {title: "Mrs.", last_name: "C"}

@grandpy:person {nickname: "Grandpy"}

@mr_o:person {title: "Mr.", last_name: "O"}

@mr_clark:person {full_name: "Mr. Clark", location: @hudson}

@hudson:place {type: "town"}

@dr:person {title: "Dr."}

@glen_stantionn:place {name: "Glen Stantionn", type: "hospital"}

@pepsords:place {name: "Pepsords"}

@miss_weston:person {title: "Miss", last_name: "Weston"}

@rosebank:place {name: "Rosebank"}

@hotel_bulletham_island:place {type: "hotel", name: "Hotel Bulletham Island"}

@beacon_st:place {name: "Beacon Street", type: "street"}

@freddie -> mentioned in -> @file_1892_5_6_may_2003_aca_copy_jpg

@lorna -> mentioned in -> @file_1892_5_6_may_2003_aca_copy_jpg

@aunt_sallie -> mentioned in -> @file_1892_5_6_may_2003_aca_copy_jpg

@mrs_c -> mentioned in -> @file_1892_5_6_may_2003_aca_copy_jpg

@grandpy -> mentioned in -> @file_1892_5_6_may_2003_aca_copy_jpg

@mr_o -> mentioned in -> @file_1892_5_6_may_2003_aca_copy_jpg

@mr_clark -> mentioned in -> @file_1892_5_6_may_2003_aca_copy_jpg

@dr -> mentioned in -> @file_1892_5_6_may_2003_aca_copy_jpg

@glen_stantionn -> mentioned in -> @file_1892_5_6_may_2003_aca_copy_jpg

@pepsords -> mentioned in -> @file_1892_5_6_may_2003_aca_copy_jpg

@miss_weston -> mentioned in -> @file_1892_6_27_june_9001_martin_copy_jpg

@rosebank -> mentioned in -> @file_1892_6_27_june_9001_martin_copy_jpg

@hotel_bulletham_island -> mentioned in -> @file_1892_6_27_june_9001_martin_copy_jpg

@beacon_st -> mentioned in -> @file_1892_6_27_june_9001_martin_copy_jpg

@boston -> mentioned in -> @file_1892_6_27_june_9001_martin_copy_jpg

@alice_austen -> central figure in -> @file_pinax

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @julia_l_martin

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @julia_t_martin

@julia_l_martin -> same as -> @julia_t_martin

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_6001

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_6002

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_6003

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_6004

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_6005

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_6006

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_3002

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_3003

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_3004

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_3005

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_3006

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_3007

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1892_06_23_henry_gilman

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1892_06_13_julia_t_martin

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1892_06_13_julia_t_martin_2

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1892_06_13_julia_t_martin_3

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1892_06_13_julia_t_martin_4

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1892_06_13_julia_t_martin_5

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1892_06_13_julia_t_martin_6

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1892_06_17_or_24_june_8002

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1892_06_17_or_24_june_8003

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1892_06_23_trude_6001

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1892_06_23_trude_6002

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1892_06_23_trude_6003

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1892_06_23_trude_6004

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1892_06_23_trude_6005

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1892_06_23_trude_6006

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1892_06_23_minnie

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1892_06_23_mary_brown_8002

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1892_06_23_mary_brown_8003

@alice_austen -> mentioned in -> @file_1892_5_6_may_2003_aca_copy_jpg

@alice_austen -> mentioned in -> @file_1892_6_27_june_9001_martin_copy_jpg

@julia_l_martin -> wrote -> @letter_3002

@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @letter_3002

@trude -> wrote -> @letter_6001

@trude -> wrote -> @letter_6002

@trude -> wrote -> @letter_6003

@trude -> wrote -> @letter_6004

@trude -> wrote -> @letter_6005

@trude -> wrote -> @letter_6006

@minnie -> wrote -> @letter_1892_06_23_minny_to_alice

@mary_m_brown -> wrote -> @letter_1892_06_17_or_24_june_8002

@mary_m_brown -> wrote -> @letter_1892_06_17_or_24_june_8003

@lou -> wrote -> @file_1892_5_31_may_10001_lou_copy_jpg

@henry_gilman -> wrote -> @letter_1892_06_23_henry_gilman

@j_osgood_nichols -> wrote -> @j_osgood_nichols_correspondence:event

@j_osgood_nichols -> wrote -> @j_osgood_nichols_correspondence:event

@j_osgood_nichols -> mentioned -> @harshill

@j_osgood_nichols -> mentioned -> @beck

@j_osgood_nichols -> mentioned -> @pudding_spread

@j_osgood_nichols -> mentioned -> @gymnasium_spread

@j_osgood_nichols -> mentioned -> @two

@j_osgood_nichols -> mentioned -> @tall_tickets

@j_osgood_nichols -> asked -> @frank {action: "obtain tickets for ball game"}

@j_osgood_nichols -> arranged -> cards {recipients: [@alice_austen, @mrs_richards], destination: @beck, related_event: @pudding_spread, purpose: "thank the Gym"}

Metadata

Files (2)

1892_5-6-May 2003-ACA copy.jpgJPEG
1.17 MB
OCR Text

Afraid you were a little 2d & the remaining Lotion, for Freddie said her mother wanted work done, and Mother was wild for a dressmaker. If Lorna hurts, I want her to do something for me too, and if Aunt Sallie for the clothespins to take her off. I asked how Mrs C. was, and Freddie said she had been 'examin'd', and she 'doesn't' find'd that something wrong, but felt 'sickened' and that she would take a treatinent for it at the hospital Glen Stantionn. She's be 'v' going to the Pepsords, the Lord. I didn't to know Tuesday, and walked around a good deal, the town materials as well, them to me very pretty. Your Grandpy went to the third office the other day, it is on the sixth street. He said he thought Mr O. S. definitely fine looking man, and so very polite and pleasant. Mr Clark of Hudson. Dr. walked home with your G. this afternoon, gushed over the house, stayed a long time, when he has gone your Grandpy called me to ask if I knew who that man was who had just left, said

1892_6-27- June 9001-martin copy.jpgJPEG
364.27 KB
OCR Text

Miss Weston Rosebank Hotel Bulletham Island Beacon St. Boston Mass.

Version History (10 versions)

  • ✓ v15 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:55:12 PM
    "Added description"
  • v14 · 12/9/2025, 9:18:13 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v13 · 12/9/2025, 7:59:49 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v12 · 12/9/2025, 7:29:29 PM · View this version
    "Reorganized into 10 groups"
  • v11 · 12/9/2025, 7:29:28 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29E4EHCA3P2P8E6K3RJVF0"
  • v10 · 12/9/2025, 7:29:27 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29E34WYNY70XFTVT47BBVG"
  • v9 · 12/9/2025, 7:29:25 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29E1SRRS25QDVPZBNBHMKW"
  • v8 · 12/9/2025, 7:29:24 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29E06BT3YJJRPTG1ZNBM74"
  • v7 · 12/9/2025, 7:29:22 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29DYTYPYHXE2KN6RVMRECY"
  • v6 · 12/9/2025, 7:29:20 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29DWWRAE8N632PYJDMYAEP"

More versions available (pagination not yet implemented)

Additional Components

reorganization-description.txt
# Reorganization Summary

The files were organized primarily by correspondent and secondarily by document type. Letters from the same person were grouped together chronologically (May vs June 1892). Envelopes and addresses were separated into their own group as they serve a different archival purpose than the letter contents. Formal invitations and calling cards were grouped separately as they represent distinct social artifacts. Two files remained ungrouped due to unclear content or incomplete context.

## Groups Created

- **Julia_Martin_Correspondence_May_1892**: Letters from Julia Martin to Alice Austen in May 1892 discussing social events, personal news, and mutual friends
- **Julia_Martin_Correspondence_June_1892**: Letters from Julia Martin to Alice Austen in June 1892 discussing travel plans, social visits, and personal reflections
- **Lou_Correspondence_May_1892**: Letter from Lou discussing Alice's upcoming visit to Boston and Harvard events
- **Henry_Gilman_Correspondence_June_1892**: Letters from Henry Gilman discussing travel plans and Boston visit
- **J_Osgood_Nichols_Correspondence_June_1892**: Letter from J. Osgood Nichols about Harvard events and spread invitations
- **Trude_Correspondence_June_1892**: Letters from Trude discussing social plans and Boston activities
- **Minnie_Correspondence_June_1892**: Letter from Minnie with personal news and social updates
- **Mary_Brown_Correspondence_June_1892**: Letter from Mary M. Brown about Boston travel arrangements
- **Envelopes_Addresses**: Envelopes and address labels showing mailing information
- **Invitations_Calling_Cards**: Formal invitations and calling cards

Parent

01KC262WQ37K459G497B8PSG7H

Children (10)