Alice Austen Letter Transcriptions, 1890

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:37:22 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:24:40 PM

Added description

Description

Alice Austen Letter Transcriptions, 1890

Overview

This digital collection comprises typed transcriptions of personal letters sent to Elizabeth Alice Austen in 1890. The materials were produced by the Alice Austen House Museum as part of its Austen Family Papers series, which documents the life and work of the pioneering Staten Island photographer. The collection is presented in a single Word‑processing file (1890‑Letter‑transcriptions.docx) that contains the transcribed text of each letter, along with marginal notes and contextual information. The collection is in English and is organized by the year of the correspondence.

Background

Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a prominent American photographer who operated a successful studio on Staten Island. Her correspondence offers a window into her social network, business dealings, and personal relationships during the late Victorian era. The 1890 transcriptions were compiled by the museum to preserve the original handwritten letters, many of which were written by close friends and family members such as Julia T. Martin of Albany, Julie Bredt, Violet M.E. Ward, Isabella King (a photography buyer), and Bessie Strong. The transcriptions also reference events and objects that were significant to Austen, including the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago and the purchase of a Steinway piano.

Contents

  • Transcribed letters (≈ 30–40 pages): Each letter is reproduced in typed form, preserving the original content and tone.
  • Marginal notes: Brief annotations identify the sender, date, and any relevant contextual details.
  • Metadata: The file includes descriptive tags such as “Correspondence,” “Personal letters,” “Victorian era,” “Social life,” and “Staten Island.”
  • References to contemporaneous events: Several letters mention upcoming social gatherings (skating parties, sleigh rides, church events, whist parties) and Austen’s photography business, including sales at the World’s Columbian Exposition.
  • Family and personal matters: The letters contain sympathy for the death of Austen’s grandfather (April 1894) and discussions of her purchase of a Steinway piano.

Scope

The collection covers the year 1890 exclusively, focusing on letters received by Alice Austen from friends and family in Staten Island and Albany. It provides insight into her social life, business activities, and personal relationships during the Victorian era. The collection is limited to transcriptions of handwritten correspondence and does not include the original letters, photographs, or ancillary items such as calling cards or negative sleeves. It is part of the larger Austen Family Papers, which span 1883‑1898 and include additional year‑based folders of letters, photographs, and related materials.

Raw Cheimarros Data

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

@alice_austen_letter_transcriptions:document {title: "Alice Austen Letter Transcriptions, 1890", creator: @alice_austen, year: @date_1890, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Personal letters","Victorian era","Social life","Staten Island"], description: "Transcriptions of personal letters to Alice Austen from friends and family in 1890, providing insight into her social life and relationships during the Victorian era.", place: [@staten_island, @albany]}

@file_pinax:file {title: "Alice Austen Letter Transcriptions, 1890", creator: @alice_austen, created: @date_1890, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Personal letters","Victorian era","Social life","Staten Island"], description: "Metadata for the collection of 1890 letter transcriptions.", place: [@staten_island, @albany]}

@file_1890_letter_transcriptions_docx:file {type: "Image/Asset with OCR", description: "OCR asset for 1890 letter transcriptions (no OCR text available)."}

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

@julie_bredt:person {full_name: "Julie Bredt", relationship: "friend"}

@violet_m_e_ward:person {full_name: "Violet M.E. Ward", relationship: "friend"}

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

@bessie_strong:person {full_name: "Bessie Strong", relationship: "friend"}

@julia_t_martin -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1890, via: @alice_austen_letter_transcriptions}
@julie_bredt -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1890, via: @alice_austen_letter_transcriptions}
@violet_m_e_ward -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1890, via: @alice_austen_letter_transcriptions}
@isabella_king -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1890, via: @alice_austen_letter_transcriptions}
@bessie_strong -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1890, via: @alice_austen_letter_transcriptions}

@alice_austen_photography_business:organization {founder: @alice_austen, activity: "selling photographs", location: @staten_island}

@alice_austen_photography_business -> sold photographs at -> @worlds_columbian_exposition:event {year: @date_1893, location: @chicago}

@steinway_piano:concept {type: "musical instrument", manufacturer: "Steinway & Sons"}

@alice_austen -> purchased -> @steinway_piano {when: @date_1894, context: "correspondence about buying a piano"}

Metadata

Title
Alice Austen Letter Transcriptions, 1890
Type
Collection
Creator
Alice Austen
Institution
Alice Austen House
Created
1890
Language
en
Subjects
Correspondence, Personal letters, Victorian era, Social life, Staten Island
Place
Staten Island, NY, Albany, NY
Source
PINAX

Files (1)

1890-Letter-transcriptions.docxVND.OPENXMLFORMATS-OFFICEDOCUMENT.WORDPROCESSINGML.DOCUMENT
59.42 KB

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:37:22 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:23:43 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:46:17 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:24:40 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Letter_Transcriptions"

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