1888_9-26-Sept 1002-strong copy.jpg

Alice Austen Correspondence with Elisabeth Strong

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:35:48 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:21:15 PM

Added description

Description

Alice Austen–Elisabeth Strong Correspondence (September 26 1888)

Overview

This collection comprises five handwritten letters exchanged on September 26, 1888, between photographer Alice Austen (Staten Island, NY) and her friend Elisabeth Strong. The letters have been digitized as high‑resolution JPEG scans and accompanied by typed transcriptions. All items are in English and are part of the Alice Austen House Museum’s digitization project (PINAX). The collection is organized by year, with this set representing a single day’s correspondence.

Background

Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering American photographer whose work documented New York society and the early photographic industry. Elisabeth Strong, a close friend and confidante, maintained regular correspondence with Austen, discussing both personal matters and Austen’s photographic practice. The letters reflect the social milieu of late‑Victorian upper‑middle‑class life in New Jersey and New York, and provide insight into the day‑to‑day activities of Austen’s circle.

Contents

  • Letter 1002: Discusses a fishing party in New Brunswick, tennis, and recent photographic developments.
  • Letter 1003: Describes a sailing excursion to Orley, mentions family members (Mrs. Austen, Irene), and reflects on photographic successes.
  • Letter 1004: Recounts a trip to Croakers and Oyster Point, details meals, and notes a launch trip.
  • Letter 1005: Covers a party at The Bramins in Philadelphia, music, dance, and travel plans to Bay Head and Colorado Springs.
  • Metadata File (pinax.json): Provides bibliographic details, subject headings (e.g., photography, social life, tennis, fishing), and place references (New Brunswick, Orley, Croakers, Oyster Point, Bay Head, Philadelphia, Colorado Springs).

Each letter is accompanied by a scanned image of the original manuscript, with OCR text extracted for reference.

Scope

The collection is limited to a single day’s correspondence (September 26, 1888) and focuses on personal and social topics—photography, sports, travel, and family. It does not include other years, other correspondents, or Austen’s own photographic negatives. The material offers a snapshot of Austen’s social network and the everyday concerns of a woman engaged in the burgeoning field of photography during the late 19th century.

Raw Cheimarros Data

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

@elisabeth_strong:person {full_name: "Elisabeth Strong", relation: "friend of Alice Austen"}

@julia_t_martin:person {full_name: "Julia T. Martin", relation: "close friend of Alice Austen", residence: @albany}

@julie_bredt:person {full_name: "Julie Bredt"}

@violet_m_e_ward:person {full_name: "Violet M.E. Ward"}

@isabella_king:person {full_name: "Isabella King", role: "photograph buyer"}

@bessie_strong:person {full_name: "Bessie Strong"}

@irene:person {first_name: "Irene"}

@hattie:person {first_name: "Hattie"}

@miss_b:person {title: "Miss B"}

@miss_emily:person {title: "Miss Emily"}

@otto_meyer:person {full_name: "Otto Meyer", relation: "son of Professor Meyer"}

@professor_meyer:person {title: "Professor Meyer"}

@helen_woodbridge:person {full_name: "Helen Woodbridge"}

@mrs_austen:person {title: "Mrs. Austen", relation: "mother of Alice Austen"}

@lewis:person {first_name: "Lewis"}

@new_brunswick:place {description: "Town in New Jersey referenced in letters"}

@orley:place {description: "Location mentioned in a letter"}

@croakers:place {description: "Area referenced in a letter"}

@oyster_point:place {description: "Waterfront location mentioned in a letter"}

@bay_head:place {description: "Coastal community in New Jersey"}

@colorado_springs:place {description: "City in Colorado"}

@philadelphia:place {description: "City in Pennsylvania"}

@staten_island:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states, description: "Borough of New York City"}

@albany:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states, description: "Capital of New York State"}

@the_bramins:place {description: "Venue of a party mentioned in a letter"}

@fishing_party:event {description: "Fishing party referenced in letter 1002"}

@sailing_trip:event {description: "Sailing trip to Orley mentioned in letter 1003"}

@party_bramins:event {description: "Party at The Bramins mentioned in letter 1005"}

@letter_1002:document {date: @date_1888_09_26, sender: @elisabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, topics: ["photography","tennis","fishing"]}

@letter_1003:document {date: @date_1888_09_26, sender: @elisabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, topics: ["photography","sailing","family"]}

@letter_1004:document {date: @date_1888_09_26, sender: @elisabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, topics: ["travel","food","social"]}

@letter_1005:document {date: @date_1888_09_26, sender: @elisabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, topics: ["music","dance","social"]}

@file_pinax:file {title: "Alice Austen Correspondence with Elisabeth Strong", creator: @elisabeth_strong, institution: "Alice Austen House", created: @date_1888_09_26, language: "en", subjects: ["Photography","Social life","Tennis","Fishing","New Brunswick","Travel","Parties","Food","Music","Family relationships"], description: "A collection of correspondence between Alice Austen and Elisabeth Strong, discussing photography, social events, and personal updates.", places: [@new_brunswick, @orley, @croakers, @oyster_point, @bay_head, @philadelphia, @colorado_springs]}

@elisabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_1002

@letter_1002 -> mentions -> @new_brunswick

@letter_1002 -> describes -> @fishing_party

@elisabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_1003

@letter_1003 -> mentions -> @orley

@letter_1003 -> mentions -> @irene

@letter_1003 -> mentions -> @mrs_austen

@letter_1003 -> describes -> @sailing_trip

@elisabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_1004

@letter_1004 -> mentions -> @croakers

@letter_1004 -> mentions -> @oyster_point

@letter_1004 -> mentions -> @lewis

@elisabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_1005

@letter_1005 -> mentions -> @philadelphia

@letter_1005 -> mentions -> @bay_head

@letter_1005 -> mentions -> @miss_b

@letter_1005 -> mentions -> @the_bramins

@letter_1005 -> mentions -> @irene

@letter_1005 -> mentions -> @hattie

@letter_1005 -> mentions -> @miss_emily

@letter_1005 -> mentions -> @otto_meyer

@letter_1005 -> mentions -> @professor_meyer

@letter_1005 -> mentions -> @helen_woodbridge

@letter_1005 -> mentions -> @colorado_springs

Metadata

Files (4)

1888_9-26-Sept 1002-strong copy.jpgJPEG
2.38 MB
OCR Text

Of course there were two or three others, among them the "Beaver Dam" picture but I expected nothing of that. The "Cherubs" are somewhat fogged but I realized at the time that I had exposed the plate too long. The photos of the fishing party are fine particularly the one taken on the pizza, and the "Fish" group. New Brunswick Sept. 26th 1888 My dear Alice:—It will be two weeks tomorrow at seven A.M. since we parted, and I imagine you have been keep up tennis and photography during the interval. My plates have nearly all been developed, and have turned out better than I had dared to hope.

1888_9-26-Sept 1003-strong copy.jpgJPEG
1.67 MB
OCR Text

is one of the clearest I have ever seen & they do all look like darkings against the white wall. I am anxious to hear what successes you had; don't you want to trade? I want some of your groups, and will send you mine. The day we went down to Orley the camera went to and I took Irene standing up in the bow in a pensive attitude. It makes quite a striking picture with the water in the background. We had such a jolly sail that day and never reached home till twelve o'clock. Irene was in one of his nonsensical moods coming home, and kept us perfectly convulsed. We might have been cold if he had not laughed so much as the temperature was pretty low, but Mrs. Austen and I were

1888_9-26-Sept 1004-strong copy.jpgJPEG
1.78 MB
OCR Text

Angel food, custard and grapefruit cake. We had ham, chicken, potato & butter. We sail down the river to Croakers, Oaks, Mills that afternoon by launch etc. We have breakfast and he teach little boys. We go together to Oyster Point at nine o'clock to anchor till seven and I will show you the last light coming in. We left about a mile from the dock and have asked and got him here and the rest here yet. He intended a "trip" at call by boat but arranged to go to the hotel. Bright has at the Passers' home. He had a night call by boat but he sent money to Lewis for his part. We had been successful.

1888_9-26-Sept 1005-strong copy.jpgJPEG
1.8 MB
OCR Text

or boys were nearly all Philadelphians and they dance so differently from most people. "Picture it, think of it," I cried at the rate of 4 round a day at Bay Head! Still I keep adding to my weight, and my clothes are getting uncomfortably紧身. Have not begun my lessons yet, but hope to very shortly. Last Friday evening went to Miss B's a pleasant party at The Bramins'. A musical followed by dancing. Irene and Hattie seemed to enjoy it too. There is another engagement just announced; Miss Emily you heard us speak at Bay Head, and Mr. Otto Meyer, a son of Professor Meyer. It is such a queer combination and everyone seems surprised. Helen Woodbridge starts for Colorado Springs by it Monday; I hate to have her go and shall miss her dreadfully. Write to

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:35:48 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:18:21 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:45:15 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:21:15 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Personal_Correspondence_Elisabeth_Strong"

Parent

01KC28TWE9MEJ66NQFR6C6B3QH

No children (leaf entity)