1885_6-22-june 3002-trude copy.jpg

Alice Austen Personal Correspondence from Trude Collection

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:34:12 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:22:08 PM

Added description

Description

Trude Correspondence to Alice Austen, June 1885

Overview

This collection comprises six handwritten letters written by “Trude” to Elizabeth Alice Austen on 22 June 1885. The letters were digitized as JPEG scans and are available through the Alice Austen House Museum’s PINAX portal. They provide a snapshot of mid‑Victorian social life in Staten Island and nearby Ridgewood, New Jersey, and illustrate the close friendship between Austen and her contemporaries.

Background

Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering photographer and socialite of Staten Island. Her network of friends—many of whom were active in local theater, music, and charitable events—often corresponded with her about community happenings. Trude, a friend and correspondent, writes from the H. Tolman Rectory in Staten Island and from Ridgewood, NJ, reflecting the mobility of Austen’s social circle. The letters were preserved in the museum’s archival holdings and digitized in 2024.

Contents

The six letters discuss a range of topics:
  • Theater and performance: The “Mary role” children’s play, rehearsals, and the “Castle” production at the club rooms.
  • Community events: A circus visit, a Presbyterian Church fair, and fundraising activities involving local families such as the Bartons and Bartlers.
  • Personal updates: Trude’s travels to Ridgewood, mentions of friends (Freddie Ecelot, Lindie Evelots, Florence Hodges, Birtwistle), and reflections on the social scene.
  • Financial notes: Ticket sales for the children’s play ($70 – $100 ).

Each letter is accompanied by a scanned image with OCR text, enabling quick reference to the original handwriting.

Scope

The collection covers a single day (22 June 1885) and reflects the social, cultural, and theatrical life of Staten Island’s upper‑middle‑class community. It is limited to personal correspondence between Trude and Alice Austen and does not include other archival materials such as photographs or business records. The collection is valuable for researchers studying Victorian social networks, local theater history, and the personal life of Alice Austen.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@file_pinax:file {title: "Alice Austen Personal Correspondence from Trude Collection", creator: [@trude], institution: "Alice Austen House", created: @date_1885_06_22, language: "en", subjects: ["Personal correspondence","Social life","Theater performances","Community events","Victorian-era social customs"], description: "A collection of personal letters from Trude to Alice Austen in 1885, discussing social events, theater performances, and community activities in Staten Island.", place: ["@staten_island_ny","@ridgewood_nj"]}


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


@ridgewood_nj:place {state: @new_jersey, country: @united_states}


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


@trude:person {role: "correspondent", relationship: "friend of Alice Austen"}


@date_1866


@date_1952


@h_tolman_rectory:place {name: "H. Tolman Rectory", location: @staten_island_ny}


@florence_hodges:person {occupation: "theatre participant"}


@birtwistle:person {role: "musician"}


@freddie_ecelot:person {relationship: "friend of Alice Austen"}


@lindie_evelots:person {relationship: "friend of Alice Austen"}


@mrs_lee_kay:person {title: "Mrs."}


@miss_wise:person {title: "Miss"}


@mr_walker:person {title: "Mr."}


@miss_bechtel:person {title: "Miss"}


@bartlers:person {family: "Bartler family"}


@bartons:person {family: "Barton family"}


@mary_role:event {type: "theatrical production", description: "play in which children perform the role of Mary"}


@circus:event {type: "performance", description: "local circus event"}


@presbyterian_fair:event {type: "fair", location: @presbyterian_church, description: "fair held at the Presbyterian Church"}


@presbyterian_church:place {location: @staten_island_ny}


@castle_play:event {type: "theatrical performance", title: "Castle", venue: @club_rooms, description: "play performed at The Club rooms"}


@club_rooms:place {location: @staten_island_ny}


@letter_1885_06_22_3002:document {when: @date_1885_06_22, location: @h_tolman_rectory, excerpt: "My dear Alice, ... the Mary role ... children have sold $70.00 worth of tickets ..."} 


@letter_1885_06_22_3003:document {when: @date_1885_06_22, location: @h_tolman_rectory, excerpt: "have never had a full rehearsal yet ... Birtwistle is coming to play for us ..."} 


@letter_1885_06_22_3004:document {when: @date_1885_06_22, location: @ridgewood_nj, excerpt: "\"Land knows.\" Will you be home in time for the circus? ..."} 


@letter_1885_06_22_3005:document {when: @date_1885_06_22, location: @h_tolman_rectory, excerpt: "poorest actor and Miss Williams ... fair at the Presbyterian Church ... Yours friend Freddie Ecelot"} 


@letter_1885_06_22_3006:document {when: @date_1885_06_22, location: @h_tolman_rectory, excerpt: "poorest actor and Miss Williams ... fair at the Presbyterian Church ... Yours friend Lindie Evelots"} 


@trude -> wrote -> @letter_1885_06_22_3002 {when: @date_1885_06_22}


@trude -> wrote -> @letter_1885_06_22_3003 {when: @date_1885_06_22}


@trude -> wrote -> @letter_1885_06_22_3004 {when: @date_1885_06_22}


@trude -> wrote -> @letter_1885_06_22_3005 {when: @date_1885_06_22}


@trude -> wrote -> @letter_1885_06_22_3006 {when: @date_1885_06_22}


@letter_1885_06_22_3002 -> addressed to -> @alice_austen


@letter_1885_06_22_3003 -> addressed to -> @alice_austen


@letter_1885_06_22_3004 -> addressed to -> @alice_austen


@letter_1885_06_22_3005 -> addressed to -> @alice_austen


@letter_1885_06_22_3006 -> addressed to -> @alice_austen


@letter_1885_06_22_3002 -> mentions -> @mary_role


@letter_1885_06_22_3002 -> mentions -> @florence_hodges


@letter_1885_06_22_3002 -> mentions -> @birtwistle


@letter_1885_06_22_3003 -> mentions -> @mary_role


@letter_1885_06_22_3003 -> mentions -> @birtwistle


@letter_1885_06_22_3004 -> mentions -> @circus


@letter_1885_06_22_3005 -> mentions -> @presbyterian_fair


@letter_1885_06_22_3005 -> mentions -> @freddie_ecelot


@letter_1885_06_22_3006 -> mentions -> @presbyterian_fair


@letter_1885_06_22_3006 -> mentions -> @lindie_evelots


@letter_1885_06_22_3004 -> mentions -> @mrs_lee_kay


@letter_1885_06_22_3004 -> mentions -> @miss_wise


@letter_1885_06_22_3004 -> mentions -> @mr_walker


@letter_1885_06_22_3005 -> mentions -> @miss_bechtel


@letter_1885_06_22_3005 -> mentions -> @bartlers


@letter_1885_06_22_3005 -> mentions -> @bartons

Metadata

Files (5)

1885_6-22-june 3002-trude copy.jpgJPEG
2.02 MB
OCR Text

H. Tolman Rectory June 22nd My dear Alice, It was very nice of you to write me when you are so busy having a good time, I speak from experience as you know. I hope you will get this scrawl before you leave for home as I have not delayed in answering. Of course you are anxious to hear how we are coming on with the Mary role, I really think they have improved a little in some ways but Alice it is the most discouraging thing we have ever undertaken. I think it will be all right, anyway it will please the ordinance we expect will be here. The children have sold $70.00 worth of tickets themselves, isn't that splendid, and they are still selling some, it is splendid! The interest they are taking in it, I think we will easily make $100.00. We have all joined Florence Hodges very hard to work with she has so much to say for herself and she wants home the curtain this way & the stage that way so that we are almost wild. I believe it is all settled amicably at last, but for how long

1885_6-22-june 3003-Trude copy.jpgJPEG
2.04 MB
OCR Text

have never had a full rehearsal yet, last time three boys were missing, I think that if we had to practice much longer we would not have any boys as they are getting tired and disgusted as well as the committee...and I don't blame them one bit, it is oursh not weather. We have the stage all up and all the dresses are made, I must say they are not very beautiful! I think they are too long, but I guess they will do, we are going to make the children sing, it is so much better it drowns the noise they make a little, I hope that Renew the step in the beginning have forgotten it or so it seems, so we just let them hop anyway they want to. We have had one rehearsal on the stage and we have another this aft & one Tuesday eve of every thing, Birtwistle is coming to play for us and I expect it will go much better when he plays. We have the old merry gole from the German Club rooms, with a wheel on the top, so the string don't get mixed up any more which is one blessing, as you can judge from the tone of my letter, I am not very enthusiastic over it, but everyone seems

1885_6-22-june 3004-Trude copy.jpgJPEG
880.79 KB
OCR Text

"Land knows." Will you be home in time for the circus? I have been away on a visit for a few days at Ridgewood N.J. at The Palmers and had a splendid time brought Gertrude back with me for over Sunday, she has gone home. You haven't missed anything down here as far as I can find out except that play at The Club rooms "Castle", which I hear was a great success, I was away & did not go but Howard has told me all about it, Mrs. Lee Kay looked magnificently & so did Miss Wise, the old vol. Mr. Walker was the

1885_6-22-june 3005-Trude copy.jpgJPEG
906.92 KB
OCR Text

poorst actor and Miss Williams did not do well as she had a part that did not suit her at all. A lovely saucy kind of a part. Then there has been a fair at the Presbyterian Church where I should imagine they raised cash from all I hear from the Bartons. Miss Bechtel was there in full glory behind the flower table. Now Alice I might keep on for ever in this strain but I am smoking hot and awfully hungry. You must be having an awfully jolly time and you will have to tell me all when you get home. I miss you dreadfully so do come home soon. Lots of love Your friend Freddie Ecelot

1885_6-22-june 3006-Trude copy.jpgJPEG
909.55 KB
OCR Text

poorest actor and Miss Williams did not do well as she had a part that did not suit her at all. A lovely saucy kind of a part. Then there has been a fair at the Presbyterian Church where I should imagine they raised cash from all I hear from the Bartlers. Miss Bechtel was there in full glory behind the flower table. Now Alice I might keep on for ever in this strain but I am smoking hot and awfully hungry. You must be having an awfully jolly time and you will have to tell me all when you get home. I miss you dreadfully so do come home soon. Lots of love Yours friend Lindie Evelots

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:34:12 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:13:52 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:43:59 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:22:08 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Personal_Correspondence_from_Trude"

Parent

01KC28TWKKG3XPQY9KY193F6WW

No children (leaf entity)