Alice Austen Correspondence with N. A. H. Strong
PI
Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:36:23 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:22:08 PM
Added description
Description
Correspondence between Alice Austen and N. A. H. Strong (July 1890)
Overview
This collection comprises the digitized correspondence exchanged between Elizabeth Alice Austen, a pioneering Staten Island photographer, and N. A. H. Strong of Littleton, Massachusetts, during July 1890. It includes scanned JPEG images of the original handwritten letters, a Pinax metadata record, and ancillary files that document the provenance and context of the exchange. The materials are part of the Alice Austen House Museum’s Austen Family Papers (MS1).Background
Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a prominent photographer whose work captured the social life of late‑Victorian New York. In July 1890, she received a letter from Strong, who was residing at 122 Hamilton Street, Littleton, and who had recently returned from a visit to Staten Island. The correspondence reflects the close friendship between the two and the broader network of acquaintances that included friends such as Julia T. Martin, Julie Bredt, and Violet M. E. Ward. Strong’s letter references family matters, the sale of photographs, and condolences for the death of Besnie Howard’s father, illustrating the personal and professional concerns of the period.Contents
- Scanned Letter Images: Two JPEG files (1890 July 2001 HAH Strong.jpg and 1890 July 2002 HAH Strong.jpg) contain high‑resolution scans of the handwritten letter dated 18 July 1890.
- Pinax Metadata: A JSON file (pinax.json) records the creator, dates, subjects, places, and relationships relevant to the correspondence.
- OCR Text: Extracted text from the images provides a readable transcription of the letter’s content, including references to Annabel, Colonel F. H. Starwood, and Besnie Howard.
Scope
The collection covers a single month (July 1890) and documents personal communication between two individuals in Staten Island and Littleton, Massachusetts. It focuses on themes of family, photography, social events, and condolence. The materials are limited to the July 1890 correspondence and its associated metadata; other years, additional correspondents, or unrelated documents are not included.Raw Cheimarros Data
@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth: @date_1866, death: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer", residence: @staten_island_ny}
@na_h_strong:person {full_name: "N. A. H. Strong", residence: @littleton_massachusetts}
@julia_t_martin:person {full_name: "Julia T. Martin", relationship: "close friend", location: @albany_new_york}
@julie_bredt:person {full_name: "Julie Bredt", relationship: "friend"}
@violet_m_e_ward:person {full_name: "Violet M.E. Ward", relationship: "friend"}
@isabella_king:person {full_name: "Isabella King", relationship: "photograph buyer"}
@bessie_strong:person {full_name: "Bessie Strong", relationship: "family"}
@annabel:person {full_name: "Annabel"}
@col_f_h_starwood:person {full_name: "Colonel F. H. Starwood"}
@besnie_howard:person {full_name: "Besnie Howard", relationship: "friend"}
@besnie_howard_father:person {relationship: "father of Besnie Howard"}
@staten_island_ny:place {city: "Staten Island", state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@littleton_massachusetts:place {city: "Littleton", state: @massachusetts, country: @united_states}
@albany_new_york:place {city: "Albany", state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@hamilton_street:place {address: "122 Hamilton St.", city: @littleton_massachusetts}
@date_1866:date_1866
@date_1952:date_1952
@date_1890_07_18:date_1890_07_18
@date_1890:date_1890
@letter_july_18_1890:document {title: "Letter to Alice Austen", when: @date_1890_07_18, from: @na_h_strong, to: @alice_austen, location: @littleton_massachusetts}
@file_pinax:document {title: "Alice Austen Correspondence with N. A. H. Strong", creator: @na_h_strong, created: @date_1890_07_18, subjects: ["Correspondence","Personal letters","Photographs","Family relationships","Social life","Condolences"], places: [@staten_island_ny, @littleton_massachusetts]}
@file_1890_july_2001_hah_strong_jpg -> image of -> @letter_july_18_1890
@file_1890_july_2002_hah_strong_jpg -> image of -> @letter_july_18_1890
@na_h_strong -> wrote -> @letter_july_18_1890 {when: @date_1890_07_18, where: @littleton_massachusetts}
@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_july_18_1890 {when: @date_1890_07_18}
@na_h_strong -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1890_07, context: "letters discussing photographs, family matters, and social events"}
@na_h_strong -> mentioned -> @annabel {in: @letter_july_18_1890}
@na_h_strong -> mentioned -> @col_f_h_starwood {in: @letter_july_18_1890}
@na_h_strong -> mentioned -> @besnie_howard {in: @letter_july_18_1890}
@besnie_howard_father -> died -> @date_1890 {reported_in: @letter_july_18_1890}Metadata
Files (2)
1890 July 2001 HAH Strong.jpgJPEG
OCR Text
122 Hamilton St. July 18th, '90 Dear Alice: Your kind act was doubtless a blessing! Bless Annabel & you in the will be so glad to see the shape of these excellent pictures when she comes home. I hope the week after next days time; I cannot thank you enough for them; all I have just read a letter from her since writing. Thank them very much! The last sentence. She is here's arrival was timely. Littleton Massachusetts, I have been sitting alone at Col. F.H. Starwood's these days, waiting for the sad news that came far away all summer! yesterday morning I only
1890 July 2002 HAH Strong.jpgJPEG
OCR Text
I have not told her I have two sick servants—"under the weather" literally; fortunately not in bed—with kindest regards to your mother and many thanks again for the pictures, I am most aff'y yours, N. A. H. Story. Last night's Home News tells of the death of Besnie Howard's father. Poor girl! I think you know her?
Version History (4 versions)
- ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:36:23 PM
"Added description" - v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:19:13 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, 7:22:08 PM · View this version
"Reorganization group: HAH_Strong_Correspondence"
Parent
No children (leaf entity)