1890 Sept 1001 Julia Martin.jpg

Julia Martin Correspondence Collection

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:37:19 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:24:33 PM

Added description

Description

Julia Martin Correspondence Collection (September 1890)

Overview

This digitized collection comprises four handwritten letters written by Julia T. Martin (later Julia J. Weston) to her friend, photographer Elizabeth Alice Austen, dated September 1, 17, 20, and 25, 1890. Each letter is preserved as a high‑resolution JPG scan, accompanied by a photograph of “Mrs S” that Alice Austen sent to Julia. The materials are part of the Austen Family Papers (MS1) housed at the Alice Austen House Museum and were catalogued in the Pinax digital repository.

Background

Julia Martin was a close friend of Austen, residing in Albany, New York. The correspondence reflects the social milieu of late‑Victorian Staten Island and Albany, illustrating the friendship’s exchange of photographs, invitations to social visits, and personal news. The letters were created in September 1890, a period when Austen was actively photographing and selling her images, including those from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. The collection was acquired by the Alice Austen House Museum and digitized to preserve the handwritten originals and associated photographic material.

Contents

  • Four letters (Sept 1, 17, 20, 25 1890) in English, each scanned as a JPG image.
  • Photograph of Mrs S (sent by Austen to Martin), also digitized.
  • Metadata for each item: creator, date, location (Staten Island, Albany, Williamson Town), subjects (correspondence, Victorian social life, photographs, friendship).
  • OCR text excerpts provide a glimpse of the letters’ content, revealing discussions of social visits, photographs, and personal matters.

Scope

The collection is confined to a single month in 1890 and documents personal correspondence between two friends. It covers social life, photography, and personal relationships within the upper‑middle‑class Staten Island community. The collection is a subset of the broader Austen Family Papers, which span 1883‑1898, and does not include other years’ correspondence or additional material types such as calling cards or negative sleeves.

Raw Cheimarros Data

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

@julia_martin:person {full_name: "Julia T. Martin", later_name: "Julia J. Weston", location: @albany}

@julie_bredt:person {full_name: "Julie Bredt"}

@violet_ward:person {full_name: "Violet M.E. Ward"}

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

@bessie_strong:person {full_name: "Bessie Strong"}

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

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

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

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

@pinax_collection:document {title: "Julia Martin Correspondence Collection", creator: @julia_martin, institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1890_09_17, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Personal letters","Victorian social life","Friendship","Staten Island","Albany","Photographs","Social visits"]}

@file_pinax -> documents -> @pinax_collection



@letter_1890_sept_1001:document {author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, when: @date_1890_09_01, location: @staten_island, content: "Miss Alice Austin Clinton Staten Island"}

@julia_martin -> wrote -> @letter_1890_sept_1001

@letter_1890_sept_1001 -> addressed to -> @alice_austen



@letter_1890_sept_1002:document {author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, when: @date_1890_09_17, location: @albany, content: "I may have company arriving later day... I have been spending the morning here & we have been having a great time... I think of the day it would be the..."} 

@julia_martin -> wrote -> @letter_1890_sept_1002

@letter_1890_sept_1002 -> addressed to -> @alice_austen



@letter_1890_sept_1003:document {author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, when: @date_1890_09_20, location: @albany, content: "Will I think you have had enough of balour trash... I have not been to see my \"Idol\"... I am greatly obliged to you for the photograph... I want to see the other photos so much..."} 

@julia_martin -> wrote -> @letter_1890_sept_1003

@letter_1890_sept_1003 -> addressed to -> @alice_austen



@letter_1890_sept_1004:document {author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, when: @date_1890_09_25, location: @albany, content: "I don't have a moment to myself... Let you know with surety we have a successful week... I shall give you a photograph from your home of yours Ch... Had off for Williamson town yesterday..."} 

@julia_martin -> wrote -> @letter_1890_sept_1004

@letter_1890_sept_1004 -> addressed to -> @alice_austen



@photograph_mrs_s:document {type: "photograph", subject: "Mrs S.", sender: @alice_austen, recipient: @julia_martin, mentioned_in: @letter_1890_sept_1003}

@alice_austen -> sent -> @photograph_mrs_s

@julia_martin -> received -> @photograph_mrs_s



@file_1890_sept_1001_julia_martin_jpg -> asset -> @letter_1890_sept_1001

@file_1890_sept_1002_julia_martin_jpg -> asset -> @letter_1890_sept_1002

@file_1890_sept_1003_julia_martin_jpg -> asset -> @letter_1890_sept_1003

@file_1890_sept_1004_julia_martin_jpg -> asset -> @letter_1890_sept_1004  

Metadata

Files (4)

1890 Sept 1001 Julia Martin.jpgJPEG
737.18 KB
OCR Text

Miss Alice Austin Clinton Staten Island

1890 Sept 1002 Julia Martin.jpgJPEG
2.24 MB
OCR Text

I may have company arriving later day. If so you will see me Sunday my little friend surely. And 23 Ell St. Albany Sept. 17/90. see with your own eyes the long list of dates. My dear Alex. I've been spending the morning here & we have been having a great time. Indeed my heart is quite watched on two places the night side with Rev. Mr. H. the other with the deacon. The latter shook me thoroughly this morn & when it cleared off I am to have an other cheer. I think of the day it would be the What is more pleasant when visiting than to think it's pour utterly without caring for the day one after the other. & In spite of all I have had a most delightful visit & am sorry it must go home home to an end.

1890 Sept 1003 Julia Martin.jpgJPEG
2.49 MB
OCR Text

but investment, as he has horses & money etc. Will I think you have had enough of balour trash, it must be the rain makes me sentimental. Woe be, I have not been to see my "Idol" as you call her. It all fell through, so I have to content myself with looking at her photograph for which I am greatly obliged to you. It is not bad, neither is it Mrs S. at her best. Mrs Cooper's is very good I think. I suppose Mrs S. has written thanking you for the pictures, & I am overcome with jealousy. She is a trump & no doubt about it. As I can not get a letter from her, I have been to Mrs Cooper's & gotten a hat box of hers & shall keep it always with most tender care - & seeing it has belonged to her, I know it will preserve my hat from harm - I want to see the other photos so much & think I will make a tour to your house Sunday afternoon. Miss Slyter is at home. I called on her

1890 Sept 1004 Julia Martin.jpgJPEG
2.26 MB
OCR Text

I don't have a moment to myself but will write you soon. Well really I haven't any news at all & if I take to writing may well scare myself in my mind until Sunday. Let you know with surety we have a successful week & will be glad to see you for yourself before we leave. Write and let us call at your house & exercise our old friends next Tuesday. I have not heard from Edith yet. Strange as it may sound better. I shall give you a photograph from your home of yours Ch. I had quite a pleasant day & was busy teaching & sewing today & my brother & sister-in-law were in a cheerful way all day. Had off for Williamson town yesterday all had gone away except the old lady. Alice & her brother Mrs. D. Weston. Springly Julia J. Weston. Have been a swallow this week. Thank you has not been true you think is the reason I feel so unglamorous. If always I feel so out, are you told how I feel?

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:37:19 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:23:26 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:46:18 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:24:33 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Julia_Martin_Correspondence"

Parent

01KC28TVV2J2JZTHFKX1G16VQJ

No children (leaf entity)