1890 June 4001 Maria Bredt.jpg

Maria Bredt Correspondence Collection

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:37:05 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:24:23 PM

Added description

Description

Maria Bredt Correspondence Collection

Overview

The Maria Bredt Correspondence Collection is a digitized set of personal letters exchanged between Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952), a pioneering Staten Island photographer, and Maria Pratt (also known as Maria Bredt) in June 1890. The collection consists of scanned photographs of handwritten letters (JPEG) and accompanying typed transcriptions (TXT). It is housed in the Alice Austen House Museum’s archival holdings and represents a snapshot of mid‑late‑Victorian social life among Staten Island’s upper‑middle class.

Background

Maria Pratt, a resident of Clifton, Staten Island, and a businesswoman with Echo Crystal Suffolk Co. in Troy, New York, corresponded with Austen during a period when Austen was traveling and engaging in her photographic practice. The letters were created in June 1890 and preserved by the Austen family before being digitized for public access. The collection reflects the close friendship between Austen and Pratt, and the broader network of acquaintances that included Julia T. Martin, Julie Bredt, Violet M.E. Ward, Isabella King, and Bessie Strong.

Contents

  • Photographic scans of two letters dated 26 June 1890, including the header “Miss A. Austen, Rose Bank P.O., Clifton, Staten Island.”
  • Transcribed text of the same letters, preserving the informal tone and references to social events, travel, and business.
  • Metadata detailing dates, places (Clifton, Staten Island; Troy, New York), and subject tags such as “Correspondence,” “Personal letters,” “Social life,” and “Friendship.”
  • Contextual notes indicating that the letters discuss Austen’s anticipated visit to the “land of the prosperous rebels” (likely the United States) and mention Echo Crystal Suffolk Co.

Scope

The collection covers a single month—June 1890—and focuses exclusively on the correspondence between Alice Austen and Maria Pratt. It does not include other Austen family letters or broader business records. The material offers insight into the personal networks, travel, and social customs of the era, as well as the everyday life of a woman engaged in the early photography industry.

Raw Cheimarros Data

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

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

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

@maria_pratt:person {full_name: "Maria Pratt", also_known_as: "Maria Bredt", relation: "correspondent"}

@clifton:place {city: "Clifton", borough: "Staten Island", state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

@troy_new_york:place {city: "Troy", state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

@rose_bank:place {name: "Rose Bank P.O.", city: @clifton}

@echo_crystal_suffolk_co:organization {type: "company", location: @troy_new_york}

@maria_bredt_correspondence:collection {title: "Maria Bredt Correspondence Collection", creator: @maria_pratt, institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1890_06, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Personal letters","Social life","Friendship"], description: "Collection of correspondence between Alice Austen and Maria Pratt (Maria Bredt) in June 1890, discussing personal matters and social events.", place: [@clifton, @troy_new_york]}

@letter_1890_june_26:document {date: @date_1890_06_26, from: @maria_pratt, to: @alice_austen, sent_from: @clifton, content: "My dear Alice, I am glad to learn that you will be in the land of the prosperous rebels... Kindly to your & Maude's happy spirit unites love & best wishes yours sincerely yours Maria Pratt. Echo Crystal Suffolk Co. Troy, N.Y."}

@maria_pratt -> wrote -> @letter_1890_june_26

@letter_1890_june_26 -> addressed to -> @alice_austen

@letter_1890_june_26 -> sent from -> @clifton

@letter_1890_june_26 -> mentions -> @echo_crystal_suffolk_co

@julia_t_martin:person {full_name: "Julia T. Martin", relation: "close friend", location: @albany_new_york}

@julie_bredt:person {full_name: "Julie Bredt", relation: "correspondent"}

@violet_m_e_ward:person {full_name: "Violet M.E. Ward", relation: "correspondent"}

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

@bessie_strong:person {full_name: "Bessie Strong", relation: "correspondent"}

@julia_t_martin -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen

@julie_bredt -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen

@violet_m_e_ward -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen

@isabella_king -> purchased photographs from -> @alice_austen

@bessie_strong -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen

@albany_new_york:place {city: "Albany", state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

Metadata

Files (2)

1890 June 4001 Maria Bredt.jpgJPEG
543.98 KB
OCR Text

Miss A. Austen Rose Bank P.O. Clifton States Isl.

1890 June 4002 Maria Bredt.jpgJPEG
1.8 MB
OCR Text

June 26, 90 My dear Alice, I am glad to learn that you will be in the land of the prosperous rebels I tell you we are all spending many wonderful hours. I haven't forgot how pleased I should be to hear from you as many event & chronicles as I desire as you like to keep home topper, that is an improvement to our instrument in that country. I don't too much mind that it was in the hands of those who wouldn't forget how kind & sensible you had been to them. I am writing to acknowledge your kindness to me by being so thoughtful & patient with me. I am sorry I could not give you the pleasure of hearing from home topper, that is an event & chronicles as I have heard from home homeward cares & duties as you like to keep home topper, that is an improvement to our instrument in that country. I am sorry I could not give you the pleasure of hearing from home topper, that is an event & chronicles as I have heard from home homeward cares & duties as you like to keep home topper, that is an improvement to our instrument in that country. Kindly to your & Maude's happy spirit unites love & best wishes yours sincerely yours Maria Pratt. Echo Crystal Suffolk Co. Troy, N.Y.

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:37:05 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:21:46 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:46:03 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:24:23 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Maria_Bredt_Correspondence"

Parent

01KC28TSYZGHJP74DM3QEGNJ9S

No children (leaf entity)