Alice Austen Correspondence with Trude Eccleston, 1888

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:35:29 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:22:17 PM

Added description

Description

Correspondence of Trude Eccleston to Alice Austen, 1888

Overview

This collection comprises 15 handwritten letters written by Trude Eccleston to Elizabeth Alice Austen in 1888, together with high‑resolution JPEG scans of the originals and typed transcriptions. The documents are dated July 20, July 27, and August 27, 1888, and are presented in three chronological folders. The materials are stored digitally by the Alice Austen House Museum and are available in English.

Background

Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering American photographer and a prominent figure in Staten Island’s upper‑middle‑class society. The letters were sent from various locations in New York State, including Lake Mahopac, Rosebank, Fishkill‑on‑Hudson, and Vandal House, reflecting the mobility of the period’s social elite. The collection is part of the larger Austen Family Papers (MS1) and offers a window into the personal networks that supported Austen’s photographic practice and social life.

Contents

  • Letters (15): Five letters dated July 20, five dated July 27, and five dated August 27. The correspondence covers a range of subjects: daily observations of lake outings, descriptions of social events (dance parties, tennis, and music at Deans), requests for supplies (cotton cloths), travel arrangements, and personal updates on family and friends.
  • Photographs (JPG scans): Digitized images of the original letters, envelopes, and calling cards, preserving the visual texture of the handwritten text.
  • Transcriptions (TXT files): Typed versions of each letter, facilitating textual analysis while retaining the original content.

Key themes include late‑Victorian social life, the role of photography in personal and commercial contexts, travel itineraries, and domestic concerns such as clothing and music.

Scope

The collection is confined to the year 1888 and focuses on the social milieu of Staten Island’s upper‑middle‑class families. It documents interactions between Alice Austen and her friend Trude Eccleston, as well as references to other contemporaries (e.g., Julia T. Martin, Violet M. E. Ward, and Isabella King). The geographic span covers Lake Mahopac, Rosebank, Fishkill‑on‑Hudson, and Vandal House, illustrating the broader regional network of the era. The materials are valuable for scholars of Victorian social history, photography, and New York State cultural studies.

Raw Cheimarros Data

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

@trude_eccleston:person {full_name: "Trude Eccleston"}

@linda_eccleston:person {full_name: "Linda Eccleston"}

@julia_t_martin:person {full_name: "Julia T. Martin", 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"}
@bessie_strong:person {full_name: "Bessie Strong"}

@miss_collins:person {title: "Miss", surname: "Collins"}
@mr_brown:person {title: "Mr.", surname: "Brown"}
@mr_hammers:person {title: "Mr.", surname: "Hammers"}
@mr_van_rensselaer:person {title: "Mr.", surname: "Van Rensselaer"}
@j_g_h_gusten:person {initials: "J. G. H.", surname: "Gusten"}
@phillip_lord:person {full_name: "Phillip Lord"}
@mr_week:person {title: "Mr.", surname: "Week"}
@mr_potts:person {title: "Mr.", surname: "Potts"}

@lake_mahopac:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@lake_nahopac:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states, alias_of: @lake_mahopac}
@staten_island:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@rosebank:place {city: "Staten Island", state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@fishkill_on_hudson:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@dutchess_co:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@vandal_house:place {city: "Staten Island", state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@thompson_house_station:place {city: "Staten Island", state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@grand_central_depot:place {city: "New York", state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@albany:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

@date_1866:date_1866
@date_1952:date_1952
@date_1888_07_20:date_1888_07_20
@date_1888_07_27:date_1888_07_27
@date_1888_08_27:date_1888_08_27

@letter_1888_07_20_1:document {date: @date_1888_07_20, sender: @trude_eccleston, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @lake_mahopac, content: "Weather description, rowing on the lake, house remarks, desire to read in a shady nook."}
@letter_1888_07_20_2:document {date: @date_1888_07_20, sender: @trude_eccleston, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @lake_mahopac, content: "Observations about two girls, an episcopal minister, a Jewish family, evening concerts."}
@letter_1888_07_20_3:document {date: @date_1888_07_20, sender: @trude_eccleston, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @lake_mahopac, content: "Garble; mentions a new room, table, tennis, and a street with a tennis court."}
@letter_1888_07_20_4:document {date: @date_1888_07_20, sender: @trude_eccleston, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @lake_mahopac, content: "Request to Mr. Brown for cotton cloths, payment details, clothing needs."}
@letter_1888_07_20_5:document {date: @date_1888_07_20, sender: @trude_eccleston, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @lake_mahopac, content: "Music at Deans, tennis suit, making a flannel shirt, request for news."}
@letter_1888_07_20_6:document {date: @date_1888_07_20, sender: @trude_eccleston, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @lake_mahopac, content: "Travel plans with Papa, meeting at Thompson house station, farewell."}
@letter_1888_07_27_1:document {date: @date_1888_07_27, sender: @trude_eccleston, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @rosebank, content: "Header address; no body text captured."}
@letter_1888_07_27_2:document {date: @date_1888_07_27, sender: @trude_eccleston, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @rosebank, content: "Arrival settled, visitors, race at Deane horse, jolly ride, being the only girl."}
@letter_1888_07_27_3:document {date: @date_1888_07_27, sender: @trude_eccleston, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @rosebank, content: "Travel arrangements, Grand Central depot, trunk shipment, meeting Papa on Sunday."}
@letter_1888_07_27_4:document {date: @date_1888_07_27, sender: @trude_eccleston, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @rosebank, content: "Tennis, islands, hammocks, sewing, meals, description of the palace and company rooms."}
@letter_1888_07_27_5:document {date: @date_1888_07_27, sender: @trude_eccleston, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @rosebank, content: "Morning breeze, birds, request for yellow gloves, postal service issues, family greetings."}
@letter_1888_08_27_1:document {date: @date_1888_08_27, sender: @trude_eccleston, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @fishkill_on_hudson, content: "Header with Miss Alice Austin, Mrs. J. T. Van Rensselaer, care of J. G. H. Gusten."}
@letter_1888_08_27_2:document {date: @date_1888_08_27, sender: @trude_eccleston, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @vandal_house, content: "Dance party description, colored lights, fountain dancing, crowds, Vandal House, Lake Nahopac."}
@letter_1888_08_27_3:document {date: @date_1888_08_27, sender: @trude_eccleston, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @vandal_house, content: "Tennis group, camera inquiry, payment for pictures, mention of Mrs. B., earnings."}
@letter_1888_08_27_4:document {date: @date_1888_08_27, sender: @trude_eccleston, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @vandal_house, content: "Tennis, poem commission, Howard reference."}
@letter_1888_08_27_5:document {date: @date_1888_08_27, sender: @trude_eccleston, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @vandal_house, content: "Paddling, fishing, loneliness, Collins family, departure plans, friendship."}

@file_pinax -> documents -> @letter_1888_07_20_1
@file_pinax -> documents -> @letter_1888_07_20_2
@file_pinax -> documents -> @letter_1888_07_20_3
@file_pinax -> documents -> @letter_1888_07_20_4
@file_pinax -> documents -> @letter_1888_07_20_5
@file_pinax -> documents -> @letter_1888_07_20_6
@file_pinax -> documents -> @letter_1888_07_27_1
@file_pinax -> documents -> @letter_1888_07_27_2
@file_pinax -> documents -> @letter_1888_07_27_3
@file_pinax -> documents -> @letter_1888_07_27_4
@file_pinax -> documents -> @letter_1888_07_27_5
@file_pinax -> documents -> @letter_1888_08_27_1
@file_pinax -> documents -> @letter_1888_08_27_2
@file_pinax -> documents -> @letter_1888_08_27_3
@file_pinax -> documents -> @letter_1888_08_27_4
@file_pinax -> documents -> @letter_1888_08_27_5

@file_1888_7_20_trude_eccelston_july_20001_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_07_20_1
@file_1888_7_20_trude_eccelston_july_20002_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_07_20_2
@file_1888_7_20_trude_eccelston_july_20003_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_07_20_3
@file_1888_7_20_trude_eccelston_july_20004_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_07_20_4
@file_1888_7_20_trude_eccelston_july_20005_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_07_20_5
@file_1888_7_20_trude_eccelston_july_20006_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_07_20_6

@file_1888_7_27_july_3001_trude_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_07_27_1
@file_1888_7_27_july_3002_trude_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_07_27_2
@file_1888_7_27_july_3003_trude_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_07_27_3
@file_1888_7_27_july_3004_trude_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_07_27_4
@file_1888_7_27_july_3005_trude_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_07_27_5

@file_1888_8_27_aug_4001_trude_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_08_27_1
@file_1888_8_27_aug_4002_trude_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_08_27_2
@file_1888_8_27_aug_4003_trude_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_08_27_3
@file_1888_8_27_aug_4004_trude_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_08_27_4
@file_1888_8_27_aug_4005_trude_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1888_08_27_5

@trude_eccleston -> wrote -> @letter_1888_07_20_1
@trude_eccleston -> wrote -> @letter_1888_07_20_2
@trude_eccleston -> wrote -> @letter_1888_07_20_3
@trude_eccleston -> wrote -> @letter_1888_07_20_4
@trude_eccleston -> wrote -> @letter_1888_07_20_5
@trude_eccleston -> wrote -> @letter_1888_07_20_6
@trude_eccleston -> wrote -> @letter_1888_07_27_1
@trude_eccleston -> wrote -> @letter_1888_07_27_2
@trude_eccleston -> wrote -> @letter_1888_07_27_3
@trude_eccleston -> wrote -> @letter_1888_07_27_4
@trude_eccleston -> wrote -> @letter_1888_07_27_5
@trude_eccleston -> wrote -> @letter_1888_08_27_1
@trude_eccleston -> wrote -> @letter_1888_08_27_2
@trude_eccleston -> wrote -> @letter_1888_08_27_3
@trude_eccleston -> wrote -> @letter_1888_08_27_4
@trude_eccleston -> wrote -> @letter_1888_08_27_5

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1888_07_20_1
@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1888_07_20_2
@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1888_07_20_3
@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1888_07_20_4
@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1888_07_20_5
@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1888_07_20_6
@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1888_07_27_1
@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1888_07_27_2
@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1888_07_27_3
@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1888_07_27_4
@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1888_07_27_5
@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1888_08_27_1
@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1888_08_27_2
@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1888_08_27_3
@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1888_08_27_4
@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1888_08_27_5

@trude_eccleston -> mentioned -> @miss_collins
@trude_eccleston -> mentioned -> @mr_brown
@trude_eccleston -> mentioned -> @mr_hammers
@trude_eccleston -> mentioned -> @mr_van_rensselaer
@trude_eccleston -> mentioned -> @j_g_h_gusten
@trude_eccleston -> mentioned -> @phillip_lord
@trude_eccleston -> mentioned -> @mr_week
@trude_eccleston -> mentioned -> @mr_potts

@letter_1888_07_20_4 -> requests -> @cotton_cloths:document {type: "cotton cloths", supplier: @mr_brown}
@letter_1888_07_20_5 -> mentions -> @music_event:concept {venue: "Deans", activity: "music"}
@letter_1888_07_20_6 -> plans -> @travel:concept {meeting_point: @thompson_house_station, companion: "Papa"}

@letter_1888_08_27_2 -> describes -> @dance_party:concept {lights: ["red", "green", "blue"], location: @vandal_house, lake: @lake_nahopac}
@letter_1888_08_27_3 -> inquires -> @camera:concept {owner: @alice_austen}
@letter_1888_08_27_5 -> expresses -> @loneliness:concept {feeling: "lonely"}

Metadata

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:35:29 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:18:15 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:44:52 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:22:17 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Correspondence_Trude_Eccleston"

Additional Components (16)

Click to expand and load individual components

1888_7-20-Trude Eccelston July 20001 copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_7-20-Trude Eccelston July 20002 copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_7-20-Trude Eccelston July 20003 copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_7-20-Trude Eccelston July 20004 copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_7-20-Trude Eccelston July 20005 copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_7-20-Trude Eccelston July 20006 copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_7-27-July 3001-Trude copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_7-27-July 3002-Trude copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_7-27-July 3003-Trude copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_7-27-July 3004-Trude copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_7-27-July 3005-Trude copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_8-27-Aug 4001-Trude copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_8-27-Aug 4002-Trude copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_8-27-Aug 4003-Trude copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_8-27-Aug 4004-Trude copy.jpg.ref.json
1888_8-27-Aug 4005-Trude copy.jpg.ref.json

Parent

01KC28TTNA95H5GBNB0G7GZH3A

No children (leaf entity)