Alice Austen Social Event Invitations Collection, 1888
PI
Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:34:46 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:22:10 PM
Added description
Description
Alice Austen Social Event Invitations Collection, 1888
Overview
This collection comprises nine digitized images of handwritten and printed invitations addressed to Elizabeth Alice Austen in 1888. The materials were produced by a range of hosts—friends, family, and local clubs—and were intended for social gatherings typical of upper‑middle‑class Staten Island society during the late Victorian era. Each item is scanned in high resolution and accompanied by OCR‑extracted text, making the content searchable.Background
Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering photographer whose home in Grymes Hill later became the Alice Austen House Museum. The invitations reflect the social milieu in which Austen lived, illustrating the networks of friends and acquaintances that surrounded her. The collection is part of the museum’s digitized holdings and provides insight into the everyday social life of the period.Contents
The nine images include invitations to:- A gathering hosted by Tiny MacGregor (April 21, 1888).
- The P.I.F. Club reception at Mrs. A. M. Andarise’s residence (April 2, 1888).
- A lunch with A.E.G. Mc. Wark at Grymes Hill (May 11, 1888).
- The “Broom Lift” charity event for the Ladies Tennis Club at Fort Bradsworth Grounds (end‑June, 1888).
- The wedding of Edith P. Austen to Dr. George Gilfillan Cochran in Brooklyn (June 30, 1888).
- A Progressive Euchre card‑game evening hosted by Mr. and Mrs. William G. Harrel in Rosebank (June 20, 1888).
Each invitation is addressed to Alice Austen, indicating her active participation in these social circles. The texts reveal customary Victorian etiquette, including RSVP instructions and polite invitations.
Scope
The collection covers a single calendar year (1888) and is geographically focused on Staten Island, with events also in Brooklyn. It documents social customs, networking among the upper‑middle class, and the role of women in organizing and attending community events. The materials are in English and are available through the Alice Austen House Museum’s digital repository.Raw Cheimarros Data
@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth_year: @date_1866, death_year: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer", residence: @staten_island}
@alice_austen_house:organization {name: "Alice Austen House Museum", type: "museum", location: @staten_island}
@file_pinax:document {title: "Alice Austen Social Event Invitations Collection, 1888", creator: "Various", institution: "Alice Austen House", created: @date_1888, subjects: ["Social events","Invitations","Victorian-era social life","Staten Island","Upper-middle-class families","19th century social customs"], place: [@staten_island, @grymes_hill, @brooklyn, @rosebank]}
@grymes_hill:place {borough: @staten_island}
@rosebank:place {borough: @staten_island}
@fort_bradsworth_grounds:place {description: "grounds in Staten Island used for public events"}
@tiny_macgregor:person {full_name: "Tiny MacGregor"}
@event_tiny_macgregor:event {when: @date_1888_04_21, description: "social gathering hosted by Tiny MacGregor"}
@tiny_macgregor -> hosted -> @event_tiny_macgregor
@alice_austen -> invited to -> @event_tiny_macgregor
@pif_club:organization {name: "P.I.F. Club"}
@mrs_a_m_andarise:person {full_name: "Mrs. A. M. Andarise"}
@event_pif_club_april2:event {when: @date_1888_04_02, time: "19:30", location: @mrs_a_m_andarise, description: "social reception at Mrs. Andarise's residence"}
@pif_club -> invited -> @alice_austen {event: @event_pif_club_april2}
@mrs_a_m_andarise -> host -> @event_pif_club_april2
@a_e_g_mc_wark:person {full_name: "A. E. G. Mc. Wark"}
@event_lunch_may11:event {when: @date_1888_05_11, time: "13:00", location: @grymes_hill, description: "lunch invitation"}
@a_e_g_mc_wark -> invited -> @alice_austen {event: @event_lunch_may11}
@alice_austen -> attended -> @event_lunch_may11
@lieut_e_b_babbit:person {full_name: "Lieut. E. B. Babbit"}
@ladies_tennis_club:organization {name: "Ladies Tennis Club"}
@event_broom_lift:event {when: @date_1888_06_30, location: @fort_bradsworth_grounds, purpose: "benefit of Ladies Tennis Club", description: "Broom Lift charity event"}
@lieut_e_b_babbit -> organized -> @event_broom_lift
@ladies_tennis_club -> beneficiary of -> @event_broom_lift
@alice_austen -> invited to -> @event_broom_lift
@mrs_j_frank_emmons:person {full_name: "Mrs. J. Frank Emmons"}
@emily_babbitt:person {full_name: "Emily Babbitt"}
@mr_mrs_david_e_austen:person {full_name: "Mr. & Mrs. David E. Austen"}
@edith_p_austen:person {full_name: "Edith P. Austen"}
@george_gilfillan_cochran:person {full_name: "George Gilfillan Cochran", title: "M.D."}
@event_austen_wedding:event {when: @date_1888_06_30, location: @brooklyn, description: "marriage of Edith P. Austen to George Gilfillan Cochran"}
@mr_mrs_david_e_austen -> announced -> @event_austen_wedding
@edith_p_austen -> married to -> @george_gilfillan_cochran
@mr_mrs_william_g_harrel:person {full_name: "Mr. & Mrs. William G. Harrel"}
@event_progressive_euchre:event {when: @date_1888_06_20, time: "20:00", location: @rosebank, description: "Progressive Euchre card game evening"}
@mr_mrs_william_g_harrel -> invited -> @alice_austen {event: @event_progressive_euchre}
@alice_austen -> attended -> @event_progressive_euchreMetadata
Files (7)
OCR Text
READ THIS OVER AND BE IN CLOVER Dear Miss Austin, Can't you come and spend next Friday evening with us? We are going to have a few friends in, to make a little fun that I hope you can join us. Please come early. Yours sincerely, Tiny MacGregor
OCR Text
The P.I.F. Club requests the pleasure of your company at the residence of Mrs. A. M. Andarise Monday April 2nd, 1888 at half past seven. R.S.V.P. Box 43.
OCR Text
My dear Alice Will you take lunch with me on Friday 11th May at one o'clock. Very cordially, A. E. G. Mc. Wark "Orestes" Grymes Hill 5th May 88 Compliments of Daten Island
OCR Text
You are invited to take part in a Broom Lieft to be given the end of June, on the Fort Bradsworth grounds, for the benefit of the Ladies Tennis Club. Please reply as soon as possible to Lieut. E.B. Babbit. The first meeting for organization will be held Friday May 11 at 4:30 p.m. at the house of
OCR Text
Mrs. J. Frank Emmons, and it is important that all who are to take part should then attend. Emily Babbitt For F. Bradsworth May 7.
OCR Text
Mr. & Mrs. David E. Austen announce the marriage of their daughter Edith P. to George Gilfillan Cochran, M.D. on Saturday, June thirtieth, Eighteen hundred and eighty-eight Brooklyn
OCR Text
Mr. and Mrs. William G. Harrel request the pleasure of your company at Progressive Euchre, on Wednesday evening, June twentieth, at eight o'clock Rosebank Staten Island R.S.V.P. 1888
Version History (4 versions)
- ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:34:46 PM
"Added description" - v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:15:56 PM · View this version
"Added knowledge graph extraction" - v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:44:13 PM · View this version
"Added PINAX metadata" - v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:22:10 PM · View this version
"Reorganization group: Invitations_Social_Events"
Parent
No children (leaf entity)