1888_7-15-July 4002-strong copy.jpg

Alice Austen Correspondence with Bessie Strong

PI

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

Added description

Description

Alice Austen Correspondence with Bessie Strong

Overview

This collection comprises a set of handwritten letters exchanged in July 1888 between Alice Austen (Elizabeth Alice Austen, 1866‑1952) and her friend Bessie Strong. The letters were digitized as four JPEG scans (pages 4002‑4005) and a fifth image of the original page, each accompanied by OCR‑derived transcriptions. The documents are dated 3 July 1888 and 15 July 1888, and were written from New Brunswick, New Jersey, with references to visits in Littleton and Piermont.

Background

Bessie Strong was a close companion of Austen, sharing social and photographic interests. The correspondence reflects the social milieu of late‑Victorian Staten Island and surrounding New Jersey communities. Austen, a pioneering photographer, often discussed her work and the sale of photographs in these letters. The letters were preserved in the Alice Austen House Museum’s archival holdings (MS1) and provide insight into Austen’s personal network and daily life.

Contents

  • Four JPEG scans (pages 4002‑4005) of Bessie Strong’s letters to Austen, each containing handwritten text, dates, and place stamps.
  • OCR transcriptions of the scanned pages, offering searchable text for research.
  • Subject matter includes:
- Family visits – postponement of a planned visit due to Strong’s mother’s health. - Social events – tennis matches, an Army reception following the Fourth of July, and a dance. - Photography – references to photographs taken at Ella Macaulay’s home and the “Rogue’s Gallery.” - Travel plans – upcoming visits to Piermont and Littleton. - Personal reflections – apologies for delays, expressions of friendship, and future visit arrangements.

Scope

The collection covers a brief period in July 1888, focusing on the social and familial interactions of Austen and Strong in the New Jersey–New York region. It documents upper‑middle‑class leisure activities, such as tennis and receptions, and Austen’s early photographic practice. The collection is limited to the four scanned pages and their OCR transcriptions; it does not include any additional letters or related materials beyond those captured in the digitized images.

Raw Cheimarros Data

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

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

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

@collection_alice_austen_correspondence:collection {title: "Alice Austen Correspondence with Bessie Strong", creator: @bessie_strong, institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1888_07_15, language: "en", subjects: ["Personal correspondence", "Social life", "Family visits", "Photography", "Victorian-era social customs"], places: [@new_brunswick, @littleton, @piermont]}

@new_brunswick:place {state: "New Jersey", country: @united_states}

@littleton:place {state: "New Jersey", country: @united_states}

@piermont:place {state: "New York", country: @united_states}

@staten_island:place {state: "New York", country: @united_states}

@date_1866

@date_1952

@date_1888_07_15

@date_1888_07_03

@file_pinax:file {title: "Alice Austen Correspondence with Bessie Strong", type: "metadata"} 

@file_1888_7_15_july_4002_strong_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", description: "OCR page 4002 of Bessie Strong's letter to Alice Austen"}

@file_1888_7_15_july_4003_strong_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", description: "OCR page 4003 of Bessie Strong's letter to Alice Austen"}

@file_1888_7_15_july_4004_strong_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", description: "OCR page 4004 of Bessie Strong's letter to Alice Austen"}

@file_1888_7_15_july_4005_strong_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", description: "OCR page 4005 of Bessie Strong's letter to Alice Austen"}

@letter_1888_07_03:document {author: @bessie_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1888_07_03, location: @new_brunswick, summary: "Apology for postponing visit due to mother's health; mentions upcoming visits to Piermont, tennis, Army reception, photography, and photographs taken at Ella Macaulay's"} 

@file_1888_7_15_july_4002_strong_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_07_03

@bessie_strong -> wrote -> @letter_1888_07_03

@dwyer:person {full_name: "Messrs. Dwyer"} 

@morgan:person {full_name: "Messrs. Morgan"} 

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

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

@letter_1888_07_03 -> mentions -> @dwyer

@letter_1888_07_03 -> mentions -> @morgan

@letter_1888_07_03 -> mentions -> @edith_deshler

@letter_1888_07_03 -> mentions -> @ella_macaulay

@letter_1888_07_03 -> mentions -> @photography:concept {description: "Practice of taking and selling photographs"}

@letter_1888_07_03 -> mentions -> @tennis:concept {description: "Playing tennis during social gatherings"}

@letter_1888_07_03 -> mentions -> @army_reception:event {description: "President's reception after Fourth of July"}

Metadata

Files (4)

1888_7-15-July 4002-strong copy.jpgJPEG
903.12 KB
OCR Text

New Brunswick July 3 My dear Alice: Your letter arrived. I was just about to write you that I shall have to put off my visit after all. Though it turned out not as I had planned, I shall later than I thought in leaving home. Mother left Friday for Littleton.

1888_7-15-July 4003-strong copy.jpgJPEG
878.56 KB
OCR Text

Mass., to be gone a week or more, and I cannot possibly leave until her return. This was an unexpected move, but Mother needed the rest and change and it seemed best she should take it now. It is awfully kind of you to want me to visit you, but I cannot arrange it without giving up or postponing my Piermont visit, and as it is two years since I was there, I feel that

1888_7-15-July 4004-strong copy.jpgJPEG
1.81 MB
OCR Text

was such an enjoyable one in my recollection. It was just one week of continuous fun, ending with the dance in the Army after the President's reception. We loafered on the Fourth of July, at tennis, as usual. Four of us, Messrs. Dwyer and Morgan, Edith Deshler and myself had our cameras there and took groups. Mr. Dwyer took tea with us in the evening (he was spending that week in town,) and afterward Nothing must interfere with that. I don't see how you can call my visits "flying." I usually stay till the last gun is fired. You are my editor as regards visits anyway and I want you to come here either in the Fall or Winter whenever there is the most fun in prospect. I am thoroughly chagrined about that room drill, and that you would not be here for commencement. There never

1888_7-15-July 4005-strong copy.jpgJPEG
1.94 MB
OCR Text

Adjourned to the tennis grounds where we renewed our youth in trackers, playing cross-tag, etc.; had two boxes of candy, and some peanuts; I set off a few firecrackers then the crowd came home with me, and we danced till enthusiasm gave out. It seemed odd to have Dr. one here staying with us; you know you were the two previous years on that day. Please pardon my beginning this letter on a half sheet of paper but I did not realize my blunder until I had written a page. I am ever so sorry not to be able to visit you but you see from this. Some future day I hope plans will run more smoothly. Wish you could see some of the photographs I took out at Ella Macaulay's last Thursday; clever in afternoon, and some very fine "Rogue's Gallery" is going to be a work of art. But it is three o'clock and I am

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:35:14 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:16:27 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:44:32 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:22:14 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Correspondence_Bessie_Strong"

Parent

01KC28TTNA95H5GBNB0G7GZH3A

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