Austen Family Papers: Alice Austen Correspondence and Related Materials, 1892

PI

Version: 11 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:55:27 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:19:06 PM

Added description

Description

Austen Family Papers: Alice Austen Correspondence and Related Materials, 1892

Overview

This digitized collection gathers the personal letters, envelopes, and brief notes addressed to Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) that were produced in 1892. It is part of the Alice Austen House Museum’s Austen Family Papers (MS 1) and is available in the public domain through the museum’s PINAX repository. The material is presented as high‑resolution JPEG scans of the originals, accompanied by OCR‑derived transcriptions. The collection is organized by sender and date, with separate folders for correspondence with Julia T. Martin, Julie L. Bredt, Henry Gilman, A. Minshall Hopper, and for envelopes and short notes.

Background

Alice Austen was a pioneering Staten Island photographer whose home served as a social hub for the upper‑middle‑class community of late‑Victorian New York. The 1892 correspondence reflects her active engagement in both her photographic practice and her extensive social network. The letters were written on period stationery and later digitized for preservation and scholarly use.

Contents

  • Correspondence with Julia T. Martin (July 30–August 22, 1892): five‑part multipart letters discussing travel to Watkins Glen and Nantucket, social gatherings, and mutual acquaintances.
  • Letters from Julie L. Bredt (July 1892): five letters detailing her summer stays at the Eaglesmere Hotel and Englewood, including observations of local life.
  • Letters from Henry Gilman (July 1892): two letters inviting Austen to New York social venues and discussing contemporary events.
  • Letters from A. Minshall Hopper (August 11, 1892): ten letters covering photographic critique, charitable offers to Life, travel plans to Cresson and Baltimore, and personal reflections.
  • Envelope Collection (July–August 1892): ten envelopes from diverse locations (Staten Island, Watkins, Newport, Fishkill‑on‑Hudson, New York City) that illustrate Victorian postal practices.
  • Short Notes (July–August 1892): five brief messages from John B. Lugg, touching on social events, photography logistics, and everyday concerns.

Scope

The collection covers a single calendar year, 1892, and includes only materials addressed to Austen. It does not contain replies, business records, or unrelated documents. The material offers a window into the social, cultural, and professional life of a prominent Staten Island photographer and her upper‑middle‑class network during the late‑Victorian era.

Raw Cheimarros Data

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@a_minshall_hopper -> creator of -> @file_pinax

@john_b_lugg -> creator of -> @file_pinax

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@file_pinax -> documents -> @alice_austen_short_notes_collection

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@file_pinax -> about -> [@photography, @tennis, @baseball, @victorian_era]

@watkins_glen:place {description: "Watkins Glen, New York"}

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@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @henry_gilman

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @a_minshall_hopper

@alice_austen -> received -> @envelope_6001

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@alice_austen -> received -> @envelope_1001_bredt

@alice_austen -> received -> @envelope_aug_1001_nyc_maybe_sarahann

@alice_austen -> received -> @envelope_aug_2001_gregg

@alice_austen -> received -> @envelope_aug_3001_hopper

@alice_austen -> received -> @envelope_mr_hopper_unknown_sender

@alice_austen -> received -> @envelope_aug_1001_martin

@alice_austen -> received -> @envelope_aug_4001_martin

@alice_austen -> received -> @envelope_aug_4002_martin

@alice_austen -> mentioned in -> @letter_1892_07_30_1

@alice_austen -> mentioned in -> @letter_1892_07_30_2

@alice_austen -> mentioned in -> @letter_1892_08_11_1

@alice_austen -> mentioned in -> @letter_1892_08_11_2

@alice_austen -> mentioned in -> @letter_1892_08_22

@alice_austen -> associated with -> @staten_island

@alice_austen -> associated with -> @watkins_glen

@alice_austen -> associated with -> @eaglesmere_hotel

@alice_austen -> associated with -> @englewood

@alice_austen -> associated with -> @clifton

@alice_austen -> associated with -> @cresson_pa

@alice_austen -> associated with -> @baltimore_md

@alice_austen -> associated with -> @newport_ri

@alice_austen -> associated with -> @fishkill_on_hudson

@alice_austen -> associated with -> @wheat_point

@pinax_collection -> contains -> [@file_1892_7_30_july_6002_martin_copy_jpg, @file_1892_7_30_july_6003_martin_copy_jpg, @file_1892_7_30_july_6004_martin_copy_jpg, @file_1892_7_30_july_6005_martin_copy_jpg, @file_1892_8_2_aug_1002_martin_copy_jpg, @file_1892_8_2_aug_1003_martin_copy_jpg, @file_1892_8_2_aug_1004_martin_copy_jpg, @file_1892_8_22_aug_4004_martin_copy_jpg] {when: @date_1892_07_30, end: @date_1892_08_22}

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@alice_austen_envelope_collection_1892 -> contains -> @envelope_aug_1001_nyc_maybe_sarahann

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@alice_austen_envelope_collection_1892 -> contains -> @envelope_aug_1001_martin

@alice_austen_envelope_collection_1892 -> contains -> @envelope_aug_4001_martin

@alice_austen_envelope_collection_1892 -> contains -> @envelope_aug_4002_martin

@alice_austen_short_notes_collection -> contains -> @letter_1892_07_30_1

@alice_austen_short_notes_collection -> contains -> @letter_1892_07_30_2

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@alice_austen_short_notes_collection -> contains -> @letter_1892_08_11_2

@alice_austen_short_notes_collection -> contains -> @letter_1892_08_22

@letter_1892_07_30_1 -> mentions -> @miss_e_dean:person {full_name: "Miss E. Dean"}

@letter_1892_07_30_2 -> mentions -> @court_receiver:person {role: "court receiver"}

@letter_1892_08_11_1 -> mentions -> @miss_audley:person {full_name: "Miss Audley"}

@letter_1892_08_22 -> mentions -> @miss_strong:person {full_name: "Miss Strong"}

@letter_3002 -> mentions -> @e_d_leffingwell

@letter_3003 -> mentions -> @uncle_willie

@letter_3004 -> mentions -> @miss_gulick

@letter_3007 -> mentions -> @miss_eccleston

@letter_3009 -> mentions -> @clarence

@letter_3010 -> gives address -> @mountain_house

@letter_3010 -> gives address -> @baltimore_md

@letter_3011 -> signed as -> @lucan:person {full_name: "Lucan"}

Metadata

Version History (10 versions)

  • ✓ v11 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:55:27 PM
    "Added description"
  • v10 · 12/9/2025, 9:17:54 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v9 · 12/9/2025, 8:00:12 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v8 · 12/9/2025, 7:33:26 PM · View this version
    "Reorganized into 6 groups"
  • v7 · 12/9/2025, 7:33:25 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29NBAY90PEWTZB18Y6TC6Q"
  • v6 · 12/9/2025, 7:33:23 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29N9DFWJGZFK80N6PTFGWS"
  • v5 · 12/9/2025, 7:33:21 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29N82PXH7Q2EFA9H281FWK"
  • v4 · 12/9/2025, 7:33:20 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29N6VXD9KPK2G2DZS68TJQ"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 7:33:18 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29N53V8QK938G6W468BC2C"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:33:17 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29N3SFMXYKYCPNN5EF4T3E"

Additional Components

reorganization-description.txt
# Reorganization Summary

Files were organized primarily by correspondent, with separate groups for envelopes and short notes. The correspondence groups reflect Alice Austen's key relationships (Julia Martin, Julie Bredt, Henry Gilman, and A. Minshall Hopper), while envelopes were grouped separately as they contain primarily addressing/postmark information rather than substantive content. Short notes and calling cards were separated into their own group due to their distinct format and content type.

## Groups Created

- **Correspondence_Julia_Martin**: Letters from Julia T. Martin discussing social activities, personal updates, and mutual acquaintances
- **Correspondence_Julie_Bredt**: Letters from Julie Bredt discussing summer travels, family matters, and social activities
- **Correspondence_Henry_Gilman**: Letters from Henry Gilman discussing social plans, photography, and personal updates
- **Correspondence_A_M_Hopper**: Letters from A. Minshall Hopper discussing photography business, social activities at Glen Springs, and personal updates
- **Envelopes**: Envelopes addressed to Alice Austen with postmarks and sender information
- **Short_Notes**: Brief messages and calling cards

Parent

01KC262WQ37K459G497B8PSG7H

Children (6)