Alice Austen Correspondence Transcripts, 1886-1887

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Description

Alice Austen Correspondence Transcripts, 1886‑1887

Overview

This collection consists of typed transcripts of personal letters addressed to Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) during the years 1886‑1887. The materials were produced by the Alice Austen House Museum and are available in digital text (.txt) and Word (.docx) formats. The transcripts preserve the content of the original handwritten correspondence while making it searchable and accessible.

Background

Alice Austen was a pioneering American photographer based in Staten Island, New York. The transcripts were compiled by the museum to document the social and professional network that surrounded Austen during the late Victorian period. The correspondents include friends and family members such as Mary (Stryker) Butler, Eloise W. Telfair, Kitty McAndrew, Mrs. L’Huillier, Mary T. Marsh, Theodore Strong, Elisabeth B. Strong, Grace Hustace Simonson, and Claire. The letters were written in English and reflect the cultural milieu of the era, covering topics from social gatherings to photography business and travel.

Contents

The collection contains nine distinct correspondents and covers subjects such as social life, Victorian etiquette, photography, family relationships, music, tennis, and travel. Representative entries include invitations to German and tea gatherings, a travel narrative describing a trip to Coney Island and Paris, and discussions of photography commissions. The transcripts capture the tone and detail of the original letters, including dates, locations (Clifton, Littleton, New York, Bay Head, Coney Island, Paris, Havre), and personal anecdotes.

Scope

The transcripts span the calendar years 1886‑1887, offering insight into the daily interactions of Austen’s social circle. The material is geographically focused on Staten Island and surrounding regions, with occasional references to New York City, New Jersey, and France. The collection is limited to typed transcripts of handwritten letters and does not include the original manuscripts. It serves as a valuable resource for scholars studying late‑19th‑century social networks, photography history, and the cultural life of upper‑middle‑class families in New York.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@file_pinax:file {title: "Alice Austen Correspondence Transcripts, 1886-1887", type: "Collection", creator: ["Mary (Stryker) Butler", "Eloise W. Telfair", "Kitty McAndrew", "Mrs. L’Huillier", "Mary T. Marsh", "Theodore Strong", "Elisabeth B. Strong", "Grace Hustace Simonson", "Claire"], institution: "Alice Austen House", created: @date_1886_01_01, end: @date_1887_12_31, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence", "Social life", "Victorian era", "Photography", "Family relationships", "Music", "Tennis", "Travel"], description: "Transcripts of personal letters to Alice Austen from friends and family, discussing social events, personal relationships, and daily life in the late 19th century.", place: [@clifton, @littleton_massachusetts, @new_york, @bay_head, @coney_island, @paris, @havre]}

@clifton:place {location: "Clifton, Staten Island, New York", country: @united_states}

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

@bay_head:place {location: "Bay Head, New Jersey", country: @united_states}

@coney_island:place {location: "Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York", country: @united_states}

@havre:place {location: "Le Havre, France", country: @france}

@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth: @date_1866, death: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer", residence: @staten_island}

@staten_island:place {location: "Staten Island, New York", country: @united_states}

@mary_stryker_butler:person {full_name: "Mary (Stryker) Butler"}

@eloise_w_telfair:person {full_name: "Eloise W. Telfair"}

@kitty_mcandrew:person {full_name: "Kitty McAndrew"}

@mrs_lhuillier:person {full_name: "Mrs. L’Huillier"}

@mary_t_marsh:person {full_name: "Mary T. Marsh"}

@theodore_strong:person {full_name: "Theodore Strong"}

@elisabeth_b_strong:person {full_name: "Elisabeth B. Strong"}

@grace_hustace_simonson:person {full_name: "Grace Hustace Simonson"}

@claire:person {full_name: "Claire"}

@date_1886_05_18

@date_1886_12_31

@date_1887_01_01

@date_1887_02_10

@date_1887_03_27

@date_1887_08_22

@date_1887_09_25

@date_1887_09_30

@mary_stryker_butler -> wrote to -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1886_05_18, where: @clifton, content: "Invitation to a informal German gathering on Saturday night"} 

@eloise_w_telfair -> wrote to -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1886_12_31, where: @new_york, content: "Invitation to a tea gathering for Miss Vanderpoel Lay on Jan 6"} 

@kitty_mcandrew -> wrote to -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1886, where: @clifton, content: "Request to spend the day with Aunt Marion arriving by train; invitation to a game of Hare & Hound"} 

@mrs_lhuillier -> wrote to -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1887_01_01, where: @clifton, content: "Invitation to a Friday evening gathering on Jan 7"} 

@mary_t_marsh -> wrote to -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1887_02_10, where: @clifton, content: "Invitation to a small German gathering on Monday evening"} 

@theodore_strong -> wrote to -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1887_03_27, where: @new_york, content: "Thanks for photograph of his dogs; request for a visit"} 

@elisabeth_b_strong -> wrote to -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1887_08_22, where: @littleton_massachusetts, content: "Travel narrative including Coney Island trip, concerts, tennis, and social visits"} 

@grace_hustace_simonson -> wrote to -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1887_09_25, where: @new_york, content: "Explanation of delayed reply; discussion of work, tennis, engagements, and family news"} 

@claire -> wrote to -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1887_09_30, where: @paris, content: "Thanks for photographs; description of travel on the Bretagne from Havre, French championship news, and social observations"}

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Additional Components

1886-1887 transcripts.txt
Letter to Alice Austen from Mary (Stryker) Butler 1886 May 18

Clifton May 18th 1886.

My dear Alice

I am going to give a little “German” to my friends on Saturday night,
and I want you to come. It will be very informal, there only being about
twelve couple. Let me know as soon as possible if you can come. We want
to begin dancing about quarter past eight on account of it being
Saturday night, but you can easily understand why I want to have it that
night. Lovingly Mary S. Butler.

Letter to Alice Austen from Eloise W. Telfair 1886 December 31

My dear Miss Austin On Wednesday Jan sixth (6) I am going to give a
little tea to Miss Vanderpoel the Lay to whom my brother is engaged; I
very much hope to have you come over to it (4 to 7) Very sincerely
Eloise W. Telfair

Letter to Alice Austen from Kitty McAndrew ca. 1886

Dear Alice, I write you this to ask you to spend the day with us
tomorrow (Saturday) Aunt Marion is coming up in the ten train, which
leaves the Landing at a quarter before ten, so you can come with her.
[Lu?] Marsh is coming too, and we are going to have a game of Hare &
[Hound?] Please come in an old dress as we are going to run through the
woods. Hoping to see you I remain your friend Kitty McAndrew.

Letter to Alice Austen from Mrs. L’Huillier 1887 January 1

Mrs. L.’Huillier requests the pleasure of your company on Friday evening
January 7th 1887 at 8 o’clock R.S.V.P. Clifton January 1st 1887

Letter to Alice Austen from Mary T. Marsh 1887 February 10

Clifton Feb 10th [in another handwriting: 1887] My dear Alice David is
going to have a small [German?] on Monday evening, and we will all be
very glad if you will join us also Sincerely yours Mary T. Marsh.

Letter to Alice Austen from Theodore Strong 1887 March 27

Dear Alice I am very glad to have the likeness of my dogs preserved in
something more durable than the memory, and greatly appreciate your
kindness in sending me their photograph. I expect to write you again
very soon asking you to come and make me a visit as it seems very dull
and gray here without you. With kind regards to those of your family who
may remember me and with pious regards to yourself, I remain

Very sincerely yours

Theodore Strong

March twenty seventh.

Letter to Alice Austen from Elisabeth B. Strong 1887 August 22

Littleton, Mass.

Aug. 22d/’87

My dear Alice:

-- Doubtless by this time you are settled in Bay Head, are familiar with
its points of interest, and have bathed in its waters. I reached
Littleton about six o’clock on Friday, rather tired in spite of a most
pleasant and comfortable journey. My time on the cars was occupied in
reading; (I had two New York papers, “Hyperion,” “A Modern Circe,” and
“Life,”)—eating, and sleeping, with occasional attacks of admiring the
scenery. Ate my lunch when he reached Springfield, and after that was so
dead tired that I dozed nearly all the way to Worcester. My cousin was
at the depot in Boston, to meet me, and also Ned Whitman who came in his
mother’s place. But I must tell you about the Coney Island trip; it was
perfectly delightful! Found on reaching uncle’s, that I need not go up
until the 2.40 boat, so had an abundance of time. Mr. VerPlanck was
waiting for me at the boat, and then as we were not to meet Cousin Kate
until 5.26! he took me up to see the “Sigma Phi” Club House on Lexington
Ave. They have recently rented it, and furnished it very nicely and feel
reasonably proud of it. Then we took the 34th Street ferry for Long
Island City, and as it was had a long time to wait. Just missed the 5.35
train for Coney Island, so made the best of it and waited for the six.
Dined on the piazza of the “Manhattan,” and feasted on music as well as
on more substantial things, for the “band Concert” was in progress. The
fire-works were magnificent; there was a special programme for Thurs.
Friday and Sat. But Cousin Kate did not enjoy the firing a bit; she
jumped every time a gun or cannon went off. After fireworks came another
concert, and then home, reaching that “haven of rest” about twelve.
Gilmore’s orchestra is simply glorious, I could have listened to it all
night (if I had not been going off early the next A.M. Mr. VerPlanck
went to the City with me on the 7.30 boat and saw me started on my way.
Shall have tennis after all, as there is a set near my uncle’s, and my
cousin “the collegian” has offered his services. Lillie Mason will
arrive in a day or two; have had a letter from her this A.M. also one
from Etta, who sends you her love. My paper has given out, so I must
bring this to a close. We have a “spree” in prospect for Friday about
which I will write some other time. My address for the present will be
care Hon. J.A. Harewood., Littleton Mass.

Always aff’ly yours Elisabeth

Joseph is still my most devoted; and his younger brother is following in
his footsteps. I have entirely lost my heart to the latter.

Letter to Alice Austen from Grace Hustace Simonson, September 25

2290 Fourth Ave N.Y. Sept 25th [187?] Dear Alice, I suppose you think I
am never going to answer your letter. I think myself very remiss in not
having done it before, but really so many things have happened to
prevent that I think I am excusable. Shortly after I received your
letter we moved, and [then?] getting to rights again [and?] sometimes [I
find? Or this? or since?] [When or then?] I have been very busy. I have
a position that takes nearly all my time. I design for art needlework of
all kinds and a hundred and one other things in fact they think [I can?]
do [most?] anything. It keeps me pretty busy but I like it and it pays
well. [I?] seem to agree with me well for [one word] feeling much better
than I have for a long time. [One illegible word , possibly What?] have
you been doing With yourself all [holiday?]? I saw your name in the
paper several times so suppose you are still interested in tennis. I saw
also in the paper some time ago the announcement of Julie’s engagement
to Mr Lord. Are they going to be married soon? Some friends of ours met
the Marsh’s this summer, (the [Currifields? or Cussifields?]) and I
heard of them last Sunday I wish you would [give my] love to Julie
[next?] [two or three illegible words] written to her this [summer?] but
you see how it was. I often think of you all and wish I could see you
one in a while but really the fates seem against it. Though I still hope
we will some day. Are there any more people engaged or married. Bella is
not yet, is she? My cousin Sophie was married to Mr Ogden this [one
illegible word]; that made quite a little [stir?] [three illegible
words] [family?] [I?] suppose [Lou or you?] will be the next one, will
[I hope?] [you?] will find [a?] splendid man. Give my love to your
mother [and?] hoping to here [sic] from you before very long. I am with
ever so much love Your friend Grace

Letter to Alice Austen from Claire 1887 September 30

Sept. 30th 87.

My dear Alice:

-- I received the photographs which pleased me very much as I wanted to
show my cousins our house. I think they are just splendid, they are so
clear, & I am very very much obliged for them. I would ask you to write
but I am afraid I would not get your letter as we expect to sail on the
Bretagne which leaves Havre on the 22nd of October. I enjoyed my trip
splendidly & I am having a lovely time now with my cousins. We are all
very much excited for on Sunday Paul runs for the Championship of France
& as he is already Champion of the Seine we have great hopes of his
winning. I am so glad for I think that he will come back with us, I have
the hardest time to write in this house for all the boys are around one
& make a terrible racket & Gaston, the youngest, shakes the table all
the time & kisses me every once in a while. I have seen a good many of
my old friends & have made a good many new ones, of course the old ones
have changed very much but the are all very nice to me. We go out
shopping almost every day & it seems very natural to me to be in Paris I
remember every place very much better than mamma. I have to stop for
papa is just back from Belgium & I have to see him. My love to all &
every body Yours with love Claire.

Parent

01KC2603RXSQ1RZSHR5X73CGFA

No children (leaf entity)