Alice Austen Envelopes and Address Cards Collection
PI
Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:35:01 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:22:13 PM
Added description
Description
Alice Austen Envelopes and Address Cards Collection (1888)
Overview
This collection comprises digitized photographs of envelopes, address cards, and a calling card addressed to Elizabeth Alice Austen in 1888. The materials are scanned images (JPEG) with accompanying OCR text, representing the physical items that were sent to Austen in that year. The collection is part of the larger Austen Family Papers (MS1) housed at the Alice Austen House Museum in Staten Island, New York.Background
Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering American photographer and a prominent member of Staten Island’s upper‑middle‑class society. The Alice Austen House preserves her personal papers, which include correspondence, photographs, and related ephemera. The 1888 envelope and address card sub‑collection reflects Austen’s social network and the Victorian‑era postal practices of the time.Contents
- Envelopes: 15 scanned envelopes dated between April and June 1888, addressed to “Miss Alice Austen” or “Miss Alice Austin.” - Examples include envelopes from Rosebank, Staten Island; New Brunswick, New York; and the Stapleton Post Office. - OCR text records sender names, addresses, and dates.
- Address Card: A single calling card dated 5 May 1888, titled “First Vice President,” with locations Clinton, Staten Island, and Brooklyn.
- Metadata: Each item is linked to a digital record that includes creator, date, and place information.
- Correspondents: Names such as Julia T. Martin (Albany), Julie Bredt, Violet M.E. Ward, Isabella King, and Bessie Strong appear in the envelope sender fields or in the OCR text.
Scope
The collection covers a single calendar year (1888) and documents postal items sent to Austen from various locations in New York State and Canada. It illustrates the social customs of the era—sending invitations, greetings, and business notices—while also providing insight into Austen’s personal and professional relationships. The materials are limited to envelopes and address cards; other types of correspondence (letters, photographs, negatives) are found in separate folders of the Austen Family Papers.Raw Cheimarros Data
@alice_austen_envelopes_and_address_cards_collection:document {title: "Alice Austen Envelopes and Address Cards Collection", creator: "Various", institution: "Alice Austen House", created: @date_1888, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Envelopes","Address Cards","Victorian-era Social Practices","Staten Island History"]}
@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth_year: @date_1866, death_year: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer", residence: @staten_island}
@julia_t_martin:person {full_name: "Julia T. Martin", relationship: "close friend", location: @albany}
@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"}
@rosebank:place {city: "Staten Island", borough: "Richmond", state: "NY", country: "United States"}
@richmond_co:place {state: "NY", country: "United States"}
@staten_island:place {state: "NY", country: "United States"}
@new_brunswick:place {province: "New Brunswick", country: "Canada"}
@clinton:place {town: "Clinton", state: "NY", country: "United States"}
@stapleton:place {town: "Stapleton", state: "NY", country: "United States"}
@rockaway:place {neighborhood: "Rockaway", borough: "Queens", state: "NY", country: "United States"}
@marvin_island:place {island: "Marvin Island", state: "NY", country: "United States"}
@brooklyn:place {borough: "Brooklyn", state: "NY", country: "United States"}
@gatun_island:place {island: "Gatun Island", country: "Panama"}
@envelope_1888_04_11:document {recipient: @alice_austen, address: "Rosebank R.P.S., Gatun Island", date: @date_1888_04_11, location: @rosebank, extra_location: @gatun_island}
@file_1888_4_11_april_3001_copy_jpg -> represents -> @envelope_1888_04_11
@envelope_1888_04:document {recipient: @alice_austen, address: "Rollbank P.S.", date: @date_1888_04, location: @rosebank}
@file_1888_4_april_1002_copy_jpg -> represents -> @envelope_1888_04
@envelope_1888_05_29:document {recipient: @alice_austen, address: "Rosebank P.O., Richmond Co., Staten Island", sender_location: @new_brunswick, date: @date_1888_05_29, location: @rosebank, county: @richmond_co, borough: @staten_island}
@file_1888_5_29_may_2001_strong_copy_jpg -> represents -> @envelope_1888_05_29
@calling_card_1888_05_05:document {title: "First Vice President", locations: [@clinton, @staten_island, @brooklyn], date: @date_1888_05_05}
@file_1888_5_5_may_3001_violet_copy_jpg -> represents -> @calling_card_1888_05_05
@envelope_1888_05_07_1001:document {recipient: @alice_austen, address: "Rosebank, S.L.", date: @date_1888_05_07, location: @rosebank}
@file_1888_5_7_may_1001_babbitt_copy_jpg -> represents -> @envelope_1888_05_07_1001
@envelope_1888_05_07_4001:document {recipient: @alice_austen, address: "Stapleton Post Office, Staten Island, Rosebank", date: @date_1888_05_07, location: @stapleton}
@file_1888_5_7_may_4001_ece_envelope_jpg -> represents -> @envelope_1888_05_07_4001
@envelope_1888_05:document {recipient: @alice_austen, address: "Rockaway, Marvin Island, N.Y.", date: @date_1888_05, location: @rockaway, island: @marvin_island}
@file_1888_5_may_5001_hetty_macfarland_jpg -> represents -> @envelope_1888_05
@envelope_1888_06_13:document {sender: "Mr Alice C Austin", date: @date_1888_06_13}
@file_1888_6_13_june_4001_copy_jpg -> represents -> @envelope_1888_06_13
@envelope_1888_06_23:document {recipient: @alice_austen, address: "Rose Bank P.O., Richmond Co., Staten Island", date: @date_1888_06_23, location: @rosebank, county: @richmond_co, borough: @staten_island}
@file_1888_6_23_june_3001_strong_copy_jpg -> represents -> @envelope_1888_06_23
@julia_t_martin -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen {type: "letter", period: {start: @date_1888, end: @date_1898}}
@julie_bredt -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen {type: "letter", period: {start: @date_1888, end: @date_1898}}
@violet_m_e_ward -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen {type: "letter", period: {start: @date_1888, end: @date_1898}}
@isabella_king -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen {type: "letter", period: {start: @date_1888, end: @date_1898}}
@bessie_strong -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen {type: "letter", period: {start: @date_1888, end: @date_1898}}Metadata
Files (9)
1888_4-11-April 3001 copy.jpgJPEG
OCR Text
Miss Alice Austen Rosebank R.P.S. Gatun Island
1888_4-April 1002 copy.jpgJPEG
OCR Text
For Miss Alice Austin Rollbank P.S. Answer
1888_5-29-May 2001-strong copy.jpgJPEG
OCR Text
Miss Alice Austin Rosebank P.O. Richmond Co. Staten Island NEW BRUNSWICK MAY 29 1888
1888_5-5-May 3001-Violet copy.jpgJPEG
OCR Text
First Vice President Clinton Staten Island Brooklyn
1888_5-7-May 1001-Babbitt copy.jpgJPEG
OCR Text
Miss Alice Ann Rosebank S.L.
1888_5-7-May 4001 ece envelope.jpgJPEG
OCR Text
Miss Alice Austen Stapleton Post Office Staten Island Rosebank
1888_5-May 5001-Hetty-MacFarland.jpgJPEG
OCR Text
Miss Alice Austin Rockaway Marvin Island N.Y.
1888_6-13-June 4001 copy.jpgJPEG
OCR Text
Mr Alice C Austin
1888_6-23-June 3001-strong copy.jpgJPEG
OCR Text
Miss Alice Austen Rose Bank P.O. Richmond Co. Staten Island
Version History (4 versions)
- ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:35:01 PM
"Added description" - v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:16:02 PM · View this version
"Added knowledge graph extraction" - v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:44:14 PM · View this version
"Added PINAX metadata" - v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:22:13 PM · View this version
"Reorganization group: Envelopes_Address_Cards"
Parent
No children (leaf entity)