1886_11- unknown sender nov 1886001-NYC copy.jpg

Alice Austen Personal Correspondence Collection, 1886

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:53:50 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:20:04 PM

Added description

Description

Alice Austen Personal Correspondence Collection, 1886

Overview

This digitized collection comprises five handwritten letters and one related correspondence addressed to or from Elizabeth Alice Austen in the year 1886. The materials are presented as high‑resolution JPEG scans of the original envelopes and pages, accompanied by OCR‑derived text. The collection is part of the Alice Austen House Museum’s archival holdings and is catalogued under the broader Alice Austen Papers (MS1).

Background

Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering American photographer based in Staten Island, New York. In addition to her photographic career, Austen maintained an extensive network of friends, family, and business associates. The 1886 correspondence reflects her social life during the late Victorian era, illustrating the customs of letter writing, travel, and domestic affairs among the upper‑middle class of the region.

Contents

  • Letters to Alice Austen:
  • - May 11, 1886 – from Miss Mumm, Stapleton, Staten Island. - November 13, 1886 – from Miss Alice Austin, addressed “Care of Mr. F.H. Austin,” New York City. - December 31, 1886 – from Miss Alice Austin, Clifton P.O., Saline, Oregon. - November 1886 – an anonymous letter, “For Miss Alice in Stapleton, P.V. S.J.A.” - December 31, 1886 – a letter from Alice W. Tolfair to her cousin Trip, Saline, Oregon.
  • Associated Materials: OCR‑text of each letter, metadata on sender, recipient, and location, and the original scanned images.

The letters touch on themes such as social gatherings (tea parties, whist games), travel (mentions of Oregon and New York City), family events, and personal relationships among Austen’s acquaintances.

Scope

The collection covers the calendar year 1886, with correspondence originating from Staten Island, New York City, and Saline, Oregon. It includes personal letters, envelopes, and a single related letter, providing a snapshot of Austen’s social network and the broader Victorian social milieu. The materials are in English and are accessible through the Alice Austen House Museum’s digital archive.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth_year: @date_1866, death_year: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer", location: @staten_island}

@staten_island:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

@alice_austen_house:organization {type: "museum", location: @staten_island}

@alice_austen_personal_correspondence_collection:document {title: "Alice Austen Personal Correspondence Collection, 1886", created: @date_1886, creator: @alice_austen, institution: @alice_austen_house, subjects: ["Personal correspondence","Victorian social life","Staten Island history","Family history"], description: "A collection of personal letters and envelopes addressed to Alice Austen in 1886, providing insights into her social life and connections."}


@saline_oregon:place {state: @oregon, country: @united_states}

@new_york_city:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

@stapleton:place {city: @staten_island}


@miss_mumm:person {title: "Miss", surname: "Mumm"}

@mr_f_h_austen:person {title: "Mr.", initials: "F.H.", surname: "Austin"}

@alice_w_tolfair:person {full_name: "Alice W. Tolfair"}

@miss_vanderphul:person {title: "Miss", surname: "Vanderphul"}

@trip_cousin:person {relation: "cousin", nickname: "Trip"}


@letter_may_11_1886:document {date: @date_1886_05_11, sender: @miss_mumm, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @staten_island, ocr_text: "Mrs. Alice T. Austen\nMiss Mumm\nStapleton\nStaten Island"}

@letter_nov_13_1886:document {date: @date_1886_11_13, recipient: @alice_austen, care_of: @mr_f_h_austen, location: @new_york_city, ocr_text: "Miss Alice Austin\nCare of Mr. F.H. Austin\nStaten Island N.Y."}

@letter_dec_31_1886_telfair1:document {date: @date_1886_12_31, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @saline_oregon, ocr_text: "Miss Alice Austin\nClifton P.O.\nSaline, Oregon"}

@letter_nov_unknown_1886:document {date: @date_1886_11, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @staten_island, ocr_text: "For Miss Alice in Stapleton, P.V.\nS.J.A.", note: "unknown sender"}

@letter_dec_31_1886_telfair2:document {date: @date_1886_12_31, sender: @alice_w_tolfair, recipient: @trip_cousin, location: @saline_oregon, ocr_text: "My dear Trip Cousin,\n\nOn Thursday June eight (6) I am going to give a little tea to Miss Vanderphul the lady to whom my brother is engaged; I very much hope to have you come over to it (407). Very sincerely,\n\nAlice W. Tolfair"}


@alice_austen_personal_correspondence_collection -> contains -> [@letter_may_11_1886, @letter_nov_13_1886, @letter_dec_31_1886_telfair1, @letter_nov_unknown_1886, @letter_dec_31_1886_telfair2]

@miss_mumm -> wrote -> @letter_may_11_1886

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_may_11_1886

@mr_f_h_austen -> care_of -> @letter_nov_13_1886

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_nov_13_1886

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_dec_31_1886_telfair1

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_nov_unknown_1886

@alice_w_tolfair -> wrote -> @letter_dec_31_1886_telfair2

@trip_cousin -> received -> @letter_dec_31_1886_telfair2

Metadata

Files (5)

1886_11- unknown sender nov 1886001-NYC copy.jpgJPEG
410.73 KB
OCR Text

For Miss Alice in Stapleton, P.V. S.J.A.

1886_11-13-Nov 1001 copy.jpgJPEG
268.88 KB
OCR Text

Miss Alice Austin Care of Mr. F.H. Austin Staten Island N.Y.

1886_12-31-Dec 1001-telfair copy.jpgJPEG
338.79 KB
OCR Text

Miss Alice Austin Clifton P.O. Saline, Oregon

1886_12-31-Dec 1002-telfair copy.jpgJPEG
606.18 KB
OCR Text

My dear Trip Cousin, On Thursday June eight (6) I am going to give a little tea to Miss Vanderphul the lady to whom my brother is engaged; I very much hope to have you come over to it (407). Very sincerely, Alice W. Tolfair

1886_5-11-May-Miss-Munn.jpgJPEG
286.69 KB
OCR Text

Mrs. Alice T. Austen Miss Mumm Stapleton Staten Island

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:53:50 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 9:12:36 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:57:42 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:20:04 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Personal_Correspondence_1886"

Parent

01KC2603RXSQ1RZSHR5X73CGFA

No children (leaf entity)