Alice Austen Correspondence with Elisabeth Strong

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:35:14 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:22:08 PM

Added description

Description

Elisabeth Strong Correspondence to Alice Austen (1888)

Overview

This collection comprises three hand‑written letters from Elisabeth Strong to photographer Elizabeth Alice Austen, dated March 16, June 23, and July 15, 1888. Each letter has been digitized as a high‑resolution JPG scan and accompanied by a typed transcription. The materials are part of the Alice Austen House Museum’s archival holdings and were digitized by the PINAX project.

Background

Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering American photographer based in Staten Island, New York. In the late 19th century she was a central figure in the island’s upper‑middle‑class social circles. Elisabeth Strong, a close friend and correspondent, resided in the same community and frequently visited Austen’s home at Rose Bank P.O. The letters reflect the Victorian etiquette and social life of the period, as well as Austen’s burgeoning photography business.

Contents

  • March 16, 1888 – A birthday greeting that includes a small photograph of Austen’s room, illustrating the personal intimacy of the friendship.
  • June 23, 1888 – A detailed account of a series of social events: a high‑tea hosted by Helen Woodbridge, a West End Home Club tea, a Glee Club concert, and a junior exhibition. The letter also mentions a photography session in which Austen and Edith Deshler worked together.
  • July 15, 1888 – A brief closing note that confirms the address of Austen’s residence and thanks Strong for her correspondence.

The transcriptions capture the informal tone, references to music (Steinway piano purchase), family matters, and the broader cultural milieu of Staten Island and New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Scope

The collection covers a four‑month span in 1888, offering a snapshot of personal and social interactions among Staten Island’s Victorian elite. It includes only the three letters and their transcriptions; no ancillary materials such as photographs of the letters or related documents are present. The collection is valuable for researchers studying late‑Victorian social networks, the early career of Alice Austen, and the role of women in 19th‑century American photography.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@collection_alice_austen_correspondence:document {title: "Alice Austen Correspondence with Elisabeth Strong", creator: @elizabeth_strong, date_range: {start: @date_1888_03_16, end: @date_1888_07_15}, subjects: ["Personal correspondence","Victorian social life","Photography","Family relationships","Social events","Music"]}

@file_pinax -> documents -> @collection_alice_austen_correspondence


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

@elizabeth_strong:person {full_name: "Elisabeth Strong"}

@julia_t_martin:person {full_name: "Julia T. Martin", location: @albany_ny}

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

@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"}

@mr_duryee:person {full_name: "Mr. Duryee"}

@mr_dwyer:person {full_name: "Mr. Dwyer"}

@mr_pagen_dorph:person {full_name: "Mr. Pagen-dorph"}

@mr_ranney:person {full_name: "Mr. Ranney"}

@edith_deshler:person {full_name: "Edith Deshler"}

@max:person {full_name: "Max"}

@ella_macaulay:person {full_name: "Ella Macaulay"}

@charles_scudley:person {full_name: "Charles Scudley"}

@margaret_bovain:person {full_name: "Margaret Bovain"}

@dr_theodore_cuyler:person {full_name: "Dr. Theodore Cuyler"}

@messrs_etting_damarest_sudder:organization {members: ["Etting","Damarest","Sudder"]}


@rose_bank_po:place {address: "Rose Bank P.O.", city: "Staten Island", county: "Richmond Co.", state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

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

@new_brunswick_nj:place {city: "New Brunswick", state: @new_jersey, country: @united_states}


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

@miss_woodbridge_of_chicago:person {full_name: "Miss Woodbridge", relation: "cousin of Helen Woodbridge", origin: "Chicago"}

@high_tea_1888_06_23:event {when: @date_1888_06_23, host: @helen_woodbridge, guest: @miss_woodbridge_of_chicago, location: @rose_bank_po}

@west_end_home_club_tea_1888_06_23:event {when: @date_1888_06_23, host: @ella_macaulay, location: @rose_bank_po}

@glee_club_concert_1888_06_23:event {when: @date_1888_06_23, location: @rose_bank_po}

@junior_exhibition_1888_06_23:event {when: @date_1888_06_23, location: @rose_bank_po}

@commencement_1888_06_23:event {when: @date_1888_06_23, location: @rose_bank_po}

@photography_session_1888_06_23:event {when: @date_1888_06_23, participants: [@alice_austen, @edith_deshler]}

@worlds_columbian_exposition_1893:event {year: @date_1893, description: "World's Columbian Exposition (Chicago)"}

@steinway_piano_purchase:transaction {buyer: @alice_austen, item: "Steinway piano"}

@photograph:document {type: "photograph"}

@alice_austen -> sold -> @photograph {buyer: @isabella_king, context: @worlds_columbian_exposition_1893}


@letter_1888_03_16:document {author: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, when: @date_1888_03_16, location: @rose_bank_po, content: "Birthday wishes and picture of room"}

@file_1888_3_16_mar_2001_strong_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_03_16

@file_1888_3_16_mar_2002_strong_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_03_16

@file_1888_3_16_mar_2003_strong_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_03_16

@file_1888_3_16_mar_2004_strong_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_03_16

@file_1888_3_16_mar_2005_strong_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_03_16


@letter_1888_06_23:document {author: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, when: @date_1888_06_23, location: @rose_bank_po, content: "Social events, high tea, photography session, club teas, concerts, exhibitions, and personal anecdotes"}

@file_1888_6_23_june_3001_strong_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_06_23

@file_1888_6_23_june_3002_strong_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_06_23

@file_1888_6_23_june_3003_strong_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_06_23

@file_1888_6_23_june_3004_strong_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_06_23

@file_1888_6_23_june_3005_strong_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_06_23

@file_1888_6_23_june_3006_strong_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_06_23

@file_1888_6_23_june_3007_strong_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_06_23

@file_1888_6_23_june_3008_strong_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_06_23

@file_1888_6_23_june_3009_strong_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_06_23


@letter_1888_07_15:document {author: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, when: @date_1888_07_15, location: @rose_bank_po, content: "Address and brief closing"}

@file_1888_7_15_july_4001_strong_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_07_15


@mr_duryee -> praised -> @alice_austen {context: "photographs"}

@mr_duryee -> visited -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1888_06_23}

@edith_deshler -> taught -> @alice_austen {subject: "photography"}

@mr_duryee -> provided -> @ticket {event: @junior_exhibition_1888_06_23, recipient: @alice_austen}

@mr_duryee -> provided -> @ticket {event: @commencement_1888_06_23, recipient: @alice_austen}

Metadata

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:35:14 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:16:20 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:44:26 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:22:08 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Personal_Correspondence_Elisabeth_Strong"

Additional Components (15)

Click to expand and load individual components

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1888_3-16-Mar 2002-strong copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_3-16-Mar 2003-strong copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_3-16-Mar 2004-strong copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_3-16-Mar 2005-strong copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_6-23-June 3001-strong copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_6-23-June 3002-strong copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_6-23-June 3003-strong copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_6-23-June 3004-strong copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_6-23-June 3005-strong copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_6-23-June 3006-strong copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_6-23-June 3007-strong copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_6-23-June 3008-strong copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_6-23-June 3009-strong copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_7-15-July 4001-strong copy.jpg.ref.json

Parent

01KC28TRPA1HZPR4F90NQBADGP

No children (leaf entity)