1885_6-june 3001 copy.jpg

Alice Austen Social Lists and Group Photos Collection

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:34:15 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:22:16 PM

Added description

Description

Alice Austen Social Lists and Group Photos Collection

Overview

The Alice Austen Social Lists and Group Photos Collection is a digitized assemblage of photographs, handwritten notes, and social lists compiled by Elizabeth Alice Austen in 1885. The collection is housed at the Alice Austen House museum in Staten Island, New York, and is available online through the museum’s digital archive. It consists of two primary image files—one depicting a haircut event and another capturing a large group portrait—along with accompanying textual annotations that document the social milieu of the period.

Background

Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering American photographer and a prominent figure in Staten Island’s upper‑middle‑class society. In 1885, she maintained a detailed record of her social engagements, photographing friends and family and preserving notes on events such as haircuts, parties, and gatherings. The collection reflects her dual role as both photographer and social chronicler, offering insight into Victorian social customs and the everyday life of her community.

Contents

  • Photographs:
    • - 1885‑6‑June 3001 copy.jpg – a close‑up of Lisbeth’s haircut (June 10, 1883). - 1885‑7‑21‑July 4002 Hartwell copy.jpg – a group portrait taken on July 21, 1885, featuring 17 individuals, including Alice Austen herself, her parents, and a range of friends and neighbors.
  • Notes: OCR‑extracted annotations provide context for each image, naming participants and describing the event.
  • Social Lists: The collection’s title indicates that additional lists of attendees and event details were maintained, though only the two images and their notes survive in the digitized set.

Scope

The collection covers a single year, 1885, and is geographically centered on Staten Island, New York. It documents social life, group photographs, and Victorian‑era customs among a network of family and friends. The material is in English, with no specified copyright restrictions, and is intended for scholarly and public use. The collection offers a valuable snapshot of the social fabric of late‑19th‑century Staten Island, illustrating the role of photography in recording community life.

Raw Cheimarros Data

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

@alice_austen_house:organization {type: "museum", location: @staten_island_ny}

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

@alice_austen_social_lists_collection:collection {title: "Alice Austen Social Lists and Group Photos Collection", created: @date_1885, description: "Photographs and notes related to Alice Austen's social circle and group events in 1885.", subjects: ["Social life","Group photographs","Victorian era","Staten Island","Family","Friends"]}

@file_pinax:metadata {type: "PINAX", title: "Alice Austen Social Lists and Group Photos Collection", creator: @alice_austen, institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1885, language: "en", place: @staten_island_ny}

@file_1885_6_june_3001_copy_jpg:asset {type: "image", date: @date_1885_06, ocr: "Lisbeth's hair cut June 10/83"}

@lisbeth:person {full_name: "Lisbeth"}

@note_lisbeth_haircut:event {date: @date_1883_06_10, subject: @lisbeth, description: "Hair cut"}

@file_1885_7_21_july_4002_hartwell_copy_jpg:asset {type: "image", date: @date_1885_07_21, ocr: "Bessie Hill; Nettie Hill; Bessie Strong; Eva Hartwell; Emily Neilson; Annie Ogilby; Alice Austin; Mrs. P. Y. Austen; Charlie Deshler; Fred Deshler; Harry Beebe; Charlie Ludlow; Gary Nelson; Thirston Chalker; Bob Ogilby; Dorie Strong; Dr. P. Y. Austen"}

@bessie_hill:person {full_name: "Bessie Hill"}
@nettie_hill:person {full_name: "Nettie Hill"}
@bessie_strong:person {full_name: "Bessie Strong"}
@eva_hartwell:person {full_name: "Eva Hartwell"}
@emily_neilson:person {full_name: "Emily Neilson"}
@annie_ogilby:person {full_name: "Annie Ogilby"}
@alice_austin:person {alias_of: @alice_austen}
@mrs_p_y_austen:person {full_name: "Mrs. P. Y. Austen"}
@dr_p_y_austen:person {full_name: "Dr. P. Y. Austen"}
@charlie_deshler:person {full_name: "Charlie Deshler"}
@fred_deshler:person {full_name: "Fred Deshler"}
@harry_beebe:person {full_name: "Harry Beebe"}
@charlie_ludlow:person {full_name: "Charlie Ludlow"}
@gary_nelson:person {full_name: "Gary Nelson"}
@thirston_chalker:person {full_name: "Thirston Chalker"}
@bob_ogilby:person {full_name: "Bob Ogilby"}
@dorie_strong:person {full_name: "Dorie Strong"}

@group_photo_july_21_1885:event {date: @date_1885_07_21, location: @staten_island_ny, participants: [@bessie_hill, @nettie_hill, @bessie_strong, @eva_hartwell, @emily_neilson, @annie_ogilby, @alice_austin, @mrs_p_y_austen, @charlie_deshler, @fred_deshler, @harry_beebe, @charlie_ludlow, @gary_nelson, @thirston_chalker, @bob_ogilby, @dorie_strong, @dr_p_y_austen]}

@alice_austen_social_lists_collection -> created by -> @alice_austen

@alice_austen_social_lists_collection -> held by -> @alice_austen_house

@alice_austen_social_lists_collection -> location -> @staten_island_ny

@alice_austen_social_lists_collection -> includes file -> @file_1885_6_june_3001_copy_jpg

@alice_austen_social_lists_collection -> includes file -> @file_1885_7_21_july_4002_hartwell_copy_jpg

@file_pinax -> documents -> @alice_austen_social_lists_collection

@file_1885_6_june_3001_copy_jpg -> contains -> @note_lisbeth_haircut

@note_lisbeth_haircut -> about -> @lisbeth

@file_1885_7_21_july_4002_hartwell_copy_jpg -> depicts -> @group_photo_july_21_1885

@group_photo_july_21_1885 -> participants -> [@bessie_hill, @nettie_hill, @bessie_strong, @eva_hartwell, @emily_neilson, @annie_ogilby, @alice_austin, @mrs_p_y_austen, @charlie_deshler, @fred_deshler, @harry_beebe, @charlie_ludlow, @gary_nelson, @thirston_chalker, @bob_ogilby, @dorie_strong, @dr_p_y_austen]

Metadata

Title
Alice Austen Social Lists and Group Photos Collection
Type
Collection
Creator
Austen, Alice
Institution
Alice Austen House
Created
1885
Language
en
Subjects
Social life, Group photographs, Victorian era, Staten Island, Family, Friends
Place
Staten Island, NY
Source
PINAX

Files (2)

1885_6-june 3001 copy.jpgJPEG
164.54 KB
OCR Text

Lisbeth's hair cut June 10/83

1885_7-21-July 4002-Hartwell copy.jpgJPEG
282.27 KB
OCR Text

Bessie Hill Nettie Hill Bessie Strong Eva Hartwell Emily Neilson Annie Ogilby Alice Austin Mrs. P. Y. Austen Charlie Deshler Fred Deshler Harry Beebe Charlie Ludlow Gary Nelson Thirston Chalker Bob Ogilby Dorie Strong Dr. P. Y. Austen

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:34:15 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:14:49 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, 7:22:16 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Social_Lists_and_Group_Photos"

Parent

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