1885_7-21-July 4003-Hartwell copy.jpg

Alice Austen Correspondence from Eva Hartwell

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:33:55 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:22:12 PM

Added description

Description

Alice Austen Correspondence from Eva Hartwell – July 1885

Overview

This collection comprises a set of handwritten letters written by Eva Hartwell to Elizabeth Alice Austen, the pioneering Staten‑Island photographer, during July 1885. The material is preserved as high‑resolution JPEG scans of the original envelopes and pages, accompanied by typed transcriptions in plain text. The collection is housed in the Alice Austen House Museum and forms part of the broader Alice Austen Correspondence series.

Background

Eva Hartwell (active in New York society) maintained a close friendship with Austen, exchanging letters that reflected their shared social circles and interests. The July 1885 correspondence was produced while Hartwell was residing at Lucas Place in Squintville, New York, and reflects the social milieu of upper‑middle‑class Staten‑Island families during the late Victorian period. The letters were digitized by the museum’s PINAX project, making them accessible for research and public viewing.

Contents

The collection contains eight letters: four dated 25 July 1885, two dated 6 July 1885, and two additional copies of the July 25 letters. Key themes include:
  • Tennis and recreation – Hartwell invites Austen to a match at Lucas Place, mentions a game against Fred Fiskler, and references a tennis engagement with “C.B.L.”
  • Social life – Invitations to gatherings at Helen’s, discussions of a “spree,” and reflections on the absence of “young men” after Austen’s departure.
  • Personal relationships – Mentions of friends such as Bessie Strong (who signs a letter), Bob, and a guardian who expresses affection.
  • Family matters – Brief allusions to a piano purchase and the emotional tone of the correspondence.

Each letter is accompanied by a scanned image of the original, preserving the handwriting, paper texture, and any marginalia. Transcriptions provide a clear, searchable text version of the content.

Scope

The collection covers a single month (July 1885) and is limited to letters from Hartwell to Austen. It offers insight into the social customs, recreational pursuits, and interpersonal dynamics of the era, but does not include responses from Austen or other correspondents. The material is in English and is suitable for scholars of Victorian social history, photography, and New York cultural studies.

Raw Cheimarros Data

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

@alice_austen_correspondence:collection {title: "Alice Austen Correspondence from Eva Hartwell", creator: @eva_hartwell, institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1885_07, language: "en", subjects: ["Personal correspondence", "Victorian social life", "Friendship", "Tennis", "Family relationships"], description: "A collection of personal letters from Eva Hartwell to Alice Austen in July 1885, discussing social activities, family matters, and personal reflections."}

@file_pinax -> documents -> @alice_austen_correspondence

@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth_year: @date_1866, death_year: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer", location: @staten_island}

@eva_hartwell:person {full_name: "Eva Hartwell", role: "correspondent", location: @new_york}

@julia_t_martin:person {full_name: "Julia T. Martin", relationship: "friend", location: @albany}

@julie_bredt:person {full_name: "Julie Bredt", relationship: "friend"}

@violet_me_ward:person {full_name: "Violet M.E. Ward", relationship: "friend"}

@isabella_king:person {full_name: "Isabella King", role: "photograph buyer"}

@bessie_strong:person {full_name: "Bessie Strong", relationship: "friend"}

@lucas_place:place {city: "Lucas Place", region: "Squintville", state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

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

@staten_island:place {borough: "Staten Island", city: "New York City", state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

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

@date_1885_07 {description: "July 1885"}

@date_1885_07_21 {description: "21 July 1885"}

@date_1885_07_25 {description: "25 July 1885"}

@date_1885_07_06 {description: "6 July 1885"}

@letter_1885_07_25_4003:document {date: @date_1885_07_25, from: @eva_hartwell, to: @alice_austen, location: @lucas_place, content_summary: "Discusses tennis plans, social feelings, and a request for a reply."}

@letter_1885_07_25_4004:document {date: @date_1885_07_25, from: @eva_hartwell, to: @alice_austen, location: @lucas_place, content_summary: "Mentions a young man named Bob, expresses longing, and reflects on personal emotions."}

@letter_1885_07_25_4005:document {date: @date_1885_07_25, from: @eva_hartwell, to: @alice_austen, location: @lucas_place, content_summary: "Talks about a tennis match against Fred Fiskler and a guardian’s affection."}

@letter_1885_07_25_4006:document {date: @date_1885_07_25, from: @eva_hartwell, to: @alice_austen, location: @lucas_place, content_summary: "Apologizes for a long letter, expresses impatience, and asks for a prompt reply."}

@letter_1885_07_06_2002:document {date: @date_1885_07_06, from: @eva_hartwell, to: @alice_austen, location: @lucas_place, content_summary: "Invites Alice to a gathering at Helen's at six o'clock; mentions partnership writing."}

@letter_1885_07_06_2003:document {date: @date_1885_07_06, from: @eva_hartwell, to: @alice_austen, location: @lucas_place, content_summary: "Signed by Elisabeth B. Strong; includes poetic remarks and a request for news about a recent spree."}

@eva_hartwell -> wrote -> @letter_1885_07_25_4003

@eva_hartwell -> wrote -> @letter_1885_07_25_4004

@eva_hartwell -> wrote -> @letter_1885_07_25_4005

@eva_hartwell -> wrote -> @letter_1885_07_25_4006

@eva_hartwell -> wrote -> @letter_1885_07_06_2002

@eva_hartwell -> wrote -> @letter_1885_07_06_2003

@tennis_match_1885_07_21:event {when: @date_1885_07_21, where: @lucas_place, participants: [@eva_hartwell, @alice_austen]}

@eva_hartwell -> attended -> @tennis_match_1885_07_21:event

@alice_austen -> attended -> @tennis_match_1885_07_21:event

@letter_1885_07_25_4003 -> mentions -> @tennis_match_1885_07_21:event

@letter_1885_07_25_4004 -> mentions -> @bob:person {full_name: "Bob"} 

@bob:person {full_name: "Bob", relationship: "acquaintance of Eva"}

@letter_1885_07_25_4005 -> mentions -> @fred_fiskler:person {full_name: "Fred Fiskler"}

@letter_1885_07_25_4006 -> mentions -> @guardian:person {role: "guardian"} 

@letter_1885_07_06_2002 -> mentions -> @helen:person {full_name: "Helen"} 

@letter_1885_07_06_2003 -> signed_by -> @elizabeth_b_strong:person {full_name: "Elisabeth B. Strong"}

@elizabeth_b_strong:person {full_name: "Elisabeth B. Strong", relationship: "friend"}

Metadata

Files (6)

1885_7-21-July 4003-Hartwell copy.jpgJPEG
1.76 MB
OCR Text

that they are quite agreeable, and I am only afraid Miss Blanch will prove a rival. We had an engagement with them and C.B.L at half past seven for tennis this morning. We got there at nine to find the grounds deserted. Aren't we mad? Well some!! Have you seen Mr. Robert Lucas Place Squintville, N.Y. New Brunswick July 25th '85. My dear Alice: I think you were very unkind not to write to me too, but I will forgive you on condition that you answer this epistle soon, and at length. We miss you dreadfully. Life has not been the same to

1885_7-21-July 4004-Hartwell copy.jpgJPEG
1.79 MB
OCR Text

But it's you who I like better yesterday. What Bob has written for me and tells me about to leave Thursday in a week I want to get there as early but I am not at all anxious to have it. So, I don't want to tell you things but tell what I do I will say nothing about the possibilities except Several young men since you left—neither have we had any thing in the way of gaiety since your departure. All of you went with you. Is that melting? Do you know & think it is a great shame I am not a man, I could make love beautifully. But a trace of all this nonsense I suppose

1885_7-21-July 4005-Hartwell copy.jpgJPEG
1.99 MB
OCR Text

singles against Fred Fiskler to-night. My Guardian was up to call today and he told me to give you a heart full of love for him. He said that his trip to the Islands would be a bright spot in his life and that he would now be able to make it without a trifle of bother. For please, he has his way down there almost every day. I really hate it so many and have been on such a condition. Be kind to him. I fancy you may write a bit about him. You are not the exact words that

1885_7-21-July 4006-Hartwell copy.jpgJPEG
2.47 MB
OCR Text

he used, but it was what he meant I am sure. I intended to write you a sensible letter and try to counteract the impression that you must have of me, but the impishness is in me and must come out. I will wait until we you to finish that story. It is too long to write. Do write soon. I think & gave you Unlikely lately? I read this cricket more with the greatest interest. I care not if I never see me again for I will make myself a martyr to my own impatience to finish that story. It is too long to write. Do write soon. I think & gave you

1885_7-6-July 2002-Hartwell copy.jpgJPEG
2.06 MB
OCR Text

My dear Alice, I've no doubt but that you will open your eyes when you receive this note; it is a sort of partnership affair, both of us writing at the same time. So please excuse our manuscript (Eva has a better word but mine must answer.) You will come and go over to Helen's with us at six o'clock won't you? Dear just what you please, as I speak. My dear Alice, Bess does not want me to write, but I must say that I hope you will come up and go over with us. We are both writing at the same time, and as I have very much the worse pencil you must excuse chiography. I want that good? I searched the dictionary for it. Dear you oldest clothes for it will probably rain again, but do come what ever you

1885_7-6-July 2003-Hartwell copy.jpgJPEG
1.93 MB
OCR Text

to. I do hope these will be no more rain. Hoping to see you later I am aff'ly yours Elisabeth B. Strong July 6th 185 do. Have you received from Saturday's spree? I have not as you may see. Rhyme!! I don't think that I am quite deaf - it is only one of the eccentricities of genius. Most lovingly Eva M. H.

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:33:55 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:13:52 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:43:47 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:22:12 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Personal_Correspondence_from_Eva_Hartwell"

Parent

01KC28TWKKG3XPQY9KY193F6WW

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