1890 May 1001 Julia Martin.jpg

Julia Martin Correspondence Collection

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:37:03 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:24:28 PM

Added description

Description

Julia T. Martin Correspondence Collection

Overview

The Julia T. Martin Correspondence Collection is a digitized set of handwritten letters sent by Julia T. Martin to photographer Elizabeth Alice Austen in May 1890. The collection is housed at the Alice Austen House Museum in Staten Island, New York, and is part of the broader Austen Family Papers. It contains two primary documents—letters dated 10 May 1890—presented as high‑resolution JPEG scans of the originals and accompanying typed transcriptions.

Background

Julia T. Martin (born in Albany, New York) was a close friend of Alice Austen and frequently visited her in Staten Island. The letters were written during a brief visit to the Austen household and reflect the social and cultural milieu of upper‑middle‑class New York society at the turn of the century. The correspondence is preserved in the museum’s archival collection to illuminate the personal networks that supported Austen’s photographic career and to provide context for her social life and business activities.

Contents

  • Letter 1 (10 May 1890) – A brief note addressed to “Miss Alice Austin” (likely a misspelling of “Austen”) that identifies the sender’s location (Staten Island, N.Y.) and mentions a social gathering.
  • Letter 2 (10 May 1890) – A longer, more detailed letter that references several contemporaries (Edward Hovee, Miss Addams, Mr. Brown, Ralph, Mr. Smith), locations (29 West 14th St, Detroit, New York City), and social events. The letter also alludes to photography, specifically a request to capture a group portrait for Hovee.
  • Photographic Evidence – JPEG scans of the handwritten letters, each accompanied by OCR‑derived text.
  • Transcriptions – Typed versions of the letters in plain text format, facilitating textual analysis.

Scope

The collection covers a single month (May 1890) and focuses exclusively on correspondence from Julia T. Martin to Alice Austen. It documents social interactions, travel, and photographic business matters within the upper‑middle‑class circles of Staten Island, Albany, Detroit, and New York City. The collection does not include letters from Austen to Martin or other correspondents, nor does it contain any ancillary materials such as photographs taken by Austen during the period.

Raw Cheimarros Data

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

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

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

@detroit:place {state: @michigan, country: @united_states}

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

@west_14th_st_29:place {address: "29 West 14th St", city: @new_york_city}

@date_1866:date_1866

@date_1952:date_1952

@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 of Alice Austen", residence: @albany}

@edward_hovee:person {full_name: "Edward Hovee"}

@miss_addams:person {full_name: "Miss Addams"}

@mr_brown:person {full_name: "Mr. Brown"}

@ralph:person {full_name: "Ralph"}

@mr_smith:person {full_name: "Mr. Smith"}

@date_1890_05:date_1890_05

@julia_martin_correspondence_collection:collection {title: "Julia Martin Correspondence Collection", creator: @julia_t_martin, institution: @alice_austen_house_museum, created: @date_1890_05, description: "Correspondence from Julia T. Martin to Alice Austen, discussing social activities, photography, and personal matters.", subjects: ["Correspondence","Personal letters","Social life","Photography","Upper-middle-class families","Staten Island"]}

@file_pinax -> documents -> @julia_martin_correspondence_collection

@letter_1890_may_1001:document {date: @date_1890_05, sender: @julia_t_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, type: "letter", content: "Miss Alice Austin\nBoutunk P.H.\nStaten Island.\nN.Y."}

@file_1890_may_1001_julia_martin_jpg -> depicts -> @letter_1890_may_1001

@julia_martin_correspondence_collection -> contains -> @letter_1890_may_1001

@letter_1890_may_1002:document {date: @date_1890_05, sender: @julia_t_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, type: "letter", content: "I saw the Infleys! ... My dear Alice, ... Why did you not go up more often & take the picture of us all to Edward Hovee. 29 West 14th St is Miss Addams' & I know much from. ... Ralph came right over to tell me & has been here nearly all this morning."}

@file_1890_may_1002_julia_martin_jpg -> depicts -> @letter_1890_may_1002

@julia_martin_correspondence_collection -> contains -> @letter_1890_may_1002

@letter_1890_may_1002 -> mentions -> @edward_hovee

@letter_1890_may_1002 -> mentions -> @miss_addams

@letter_1890_may_1002 -> mentions -> @mr_brown

@letter_1890_may_1002 -> mentions -> @ralph

@letter_1890_may_1002 -> mentions -> @mr_smith

@letter_1890_may_1002 -> mentions -> @west_14th_st_29

@letter_1890_may_1002 -> mentions -> @detroit

@letter_1890_may_1002 -> mentions -> @staten_island

@letter_1890_may_1002 -> mentions -> @new_york_city

Metadata

Files (2)

1890 May 1001 Julia Martin.jpgJPEG
632.48 KB
OCR Text

Miss Alice Austin Boutunk P.H. Staten Island. N.Y.

1890 May 1002 julia martin.jpgJPEG
2.53 MB
OCR Text

I saw the Infleys! They said they hoped to see you before they return to Detroit. The latter part of next week. Why oh why can't go up more often & take the picture of us all to Edward Hovee. 29 West 14th St is Miss Addams' & I know much from. I am going to write to you. Personal I know you will be glad to hear from me, & I hope to hear from you soon, & believe do not get tomorrow. I am truly sorry to have come to town & leave you— that isn't said for effect at all, but nearly all true morning. He wanted up to town on business so glad to see you here. Day in and out that season over Mr. Brown he came back My dear Alice, Why did you not go up more often & take the picture of us all to Edward Hovee. 29 West 14th St is Miss Addams' & I know much from. I am going to write to you. Personal I know you will be delighted to see you. I slept for these early winter day morning & Madam & Mr. Smith met me at the station & I had a very ungraceful welcome from all. Ralph came right over to tell me & has been here nearly all this morning. He

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:37:03 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:21:56 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:46:06 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:24:28 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Julia_Martin_Correspondence"

Parent

01KC28TSYZGHJP74DM3QEGNJ9S

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