1890 Feb 3 5001  Trudie Eccleston.jpg

Trudie Eccleston Correspondence Collection

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:36:23 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:22:06 PM

Added description

Description

Trudie Eccleston Correspondence Collection

Overview

The Trudie Eccleston Correspondence Collection is a small, digitized set of six handwritten letters written by Trudie Eccleston to her friend, photographer Elizabeth Alice Austen. The letters were composed on February 3, 1890, and have been preserved as high‑resolution JPEG scans. Each scan includes an OCR transcription that captures the main content of the original hand‑written text. The collection is held by the Alice Austen House Museum in Staten Island, New York, and is in the public domain.

Background

Trudie Eccleston was a contemporary of Alice Austen, residing in the same social circle of upper‑middle‑class Staten Island families during the late Victorian era. The letters were created in the context of a bustling social calendar that included opera performances, charity balls, and local assemblies. The correspondence reflects the everyday concerns and social engagements of the period, offering insight into the cultural life of the island and its connections to broader American society (e.g., references to St. Louis, Missouri).

Contents

The collection contains six letters, each addressing a different set of acquaintances or events. Themes include:
  • Opera and Music – mentions of the opera Tristan & Isolde and plans to attend performances.
  • Social Events – references to a charity ball, St. Valentine’s party, a Downing dance class, and a Governor’s Island gathering.
  • Personal Relations – greetings to friends such as Charlie B, Aunt Poincelle, Effie, John, Anna, Matt, Miss Amy, Miss Allen, Miss Brett, Miss De La Thes, and Audee Echols.
  • Local and National Connections – notes about travel to St. Louis and the Earl N.B. Assembly.

Each letter is accompanied by a brief OCR transcription that preserves the original phrasing, albeit with occasional typographical errors due to the automated process.

Scope

The collection covers a single day’s correspondence in early 1890, focused exclusively on letters addressed to Alice Austen. It is geographically anchored to Staten Island, with occasional references to Governors Island and St. Louis. The material is limited to personal, social, and cultural topics typical of the era and does not include business or photographic records. The collection provides a snapshot of Victorian social life and the interpersonal networks surrounding Alice Austen.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@trudie_eccleston_correspondence:collection {title: "Trudie Eccleston Correspondence Collection", creator: @trudie_eccleston, institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1890_02_03, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Social life","Opera","Victorian-era social customs","Music","Dance","Governors Island"], description: "A collection of letters from Trudie Eccleston to Alice Austen, discussing social events, opera performances, and personal matters in 1890."}


@alice_austen_house:organization {full_name: "Alice Austen House Museum", location: @staten_island}


@trudie_eccleston:person {full_name: "Trudie Eccleston"}


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


@charlie_b:person {full_name: "Charlie B."}


@aunt_poincelle:person {full_name: "Aunt Poincelle"}


@effie:person {full_name: "Effie"}


@john:person {full_name: "John"}


@anna:person {full_name: "Anna"}


@matt:person {full_name: "Matt"}


@miss_amy:person {full_name: "Miss Amy"}


@miss_allen:person {full_name: "Miss Allen"}


@miss_brett:person {full_name: "Miss Brett"}


@jack:person {full_name: "Jack"}


@audee_echols:person {full_name: "Audee Echols"}


@miss_de_la_thes:person {full_name: "Miss de la Thes"}


@st_louis:place {state: @missouri, country: @united_states}


@governors_island:place {location: @staten_island}


@tristan_isolde:document {type: "opera"}


@opera_event:event {work: @tristan_isolde, date: @date_1890_02_???, location: @staten_island}


@charity_ball:event {date: @date_1890_02_15, location: @staten_island, type: "ball"}


@st_valentines_party:event {date: @date_1890_02_14, location: @staten_island, type: "party"}


@downing_class:event {date: @date_1890_02_14, location: @staten_island, type: "class"}


@earl_nb_assembly:event {date: @date_1890_02_13, location: @staten_island, type: "assembly"}


@trudie_eccleston -> wrote -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1867_02_03, via: @file_1890_feb_3_5001_trudie_eccleston_jpg, mentions: [@charlie_b, @aunt_poincelle, @effie, @opera_event]}


@trudie_eccleston -> wrote -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1867_02_03, via: @file_1890_feb_3_5002_trudie_eccleston_jpg, mentions: [@john, @anna, @matt]}


@trudie_eccleston -> wrote -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1867_02_03, via: @file_1890_feb_3_5003_trudie_eccleston_jpg, mentions: [@tristan_isolde, @opera_event]}


@trudie_eccleston -> wrote -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1867_02_03, via: @file_1890_feb_3_5004_trudie_eccleston_jpg, mentions: [@miss_amy, @earl_nb_assembly]}


@trudie_eccleston -> wrote -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1867_02_03, via: @file_1890_feb_3_5005_trudie_eccleston_jpg, mentions: [@charity_ball, @st_valentines_party, @downing_class, @governors_island]}


@trudie_eccleston -> wrote -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1867_02_03, via: @file_1890_feb_3_5006_trudie_eccleston_jpg, mentions: [@miss_allen, @miss_de_la_thes, @miss_brett, @jack, @audee_echols]}

Metadata

Files (6)

1890 Feb 3 5001 Trudie Eccleston.jpgJPEG
1.84 MB
OCR Text

Feb. 3, 1867 My dear Alice: I am sorry from St. Louis, Mo. Charlie B. says he came. I have written your Aunt Poincelle rather like the story I sent you & she is now pleased but event will go out for a little while. I suppose you aiming to moral shop will be on hand for the Opera next Saturday will be coming home next Friday. Do you want me to write him? Effie wants to go home at times & I wrote her about you here next week in Saturday evening better treatment and I believe the very hour I am going you

1890 Feb 3 5002 Trudie Eccleston.jpgJPEG
2.05 MB
OCR Text

I am answering as best I can, for I must go now—always. Well, and fair? I am not sure if it is well with you. I am your friend, I am your brother, I am your son. I suppose you are our friend to the Romans? I am your friend! I am your friend! I am your friend! I will send you some clothes soon & I had promised them right. If he ever & some time next year, I will come home. John & Anna and Matt don't know tomorrow it is Easter till we the day after and awhile as well.

1890 Feb 3 5003 Trudie Eccleston.jpgJPEG
1001.25 KB
OCR Text

pour tea in her this Saturday, she asked me your address & I told her I would give it to her if she would come to the house & I also told her that we had Opera here Saturday and that I should not be able to come to her teas which of course made her feel very sad. "Tristan & Isolde" was simply magnificent & I did wish you could have seen it, last Saturday you did not

1890 Feb 3 5004 Trudie Eccleston.jpgJPEG
1.1 MB
OCR Text

Miss Amy thing as it was a repetition of the "Barber etc." I did not go as I was sick & did not care enough about it to make the effort. The last dancing class was June, I really had a real good time. Our last - Hesilery was very successful not y men queer to say. There is nothing going on down here this week strange to relate, I shall be busy having some clothes finished up, & visit - home or print dues for the Earl N.B. Assembly on the 13th & also something for Mrs

1890 Feb 3 5005 Trudie Eccleston.jpgJPEG
993.01 KB
OCR Text

Harpers tea on the 15th at which I receive, sending Tuesday also returning me time on Monday 21st you spare for the Charity Ball. You will be here for the next Downing Class on the 14th, it is to be St. Valentine's party if you will send me a valentine I will return the compliments & then we will be sure of one a piece every now. I went over to Governor Island to a hop last week & played all night.

1890 Feb 3 5006 Trudie Eccleston.jpgJPEG
1.06 MB
OCR Text

with Miss Allen whose sister is a Miss de la Thes & through Miss Brett & yourself one says quite well. I liked her quite well & had a jolly good time over there. Now then Alice I must write Jack a few lines (he comes home in the charity) and then go out as farewell. Remember me to Miss Brett and with lots of love for yourself. I remain as ever your loving friend Audee Echols

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:36:23 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:20:07 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:45:39 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:22:06 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Trudie_Eccleston_Correspondence"

Parent

01KC28TQPGXRMM7H20G1NZNMPR

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