Elizabeth Strong Correspondence to Alice Austen
PI
Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:38:29 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:24:42 PM
Added description
Description
Elizabeth Strong Correspondence to Alice Austen (1891)
Overview
This collection comprises five handwritten letters written by Elizabeth B. Strong to Miss E. A. Austen (later Alice Austen) between May 4 and December 8, 1891. Each letter is preserved as a high‑resolution JPEG scan of the original paper, accompanied by a typed transcription in plain text. The documents are part of the Alice Austen House Museum’s digitized holdings, catalogued under the PINAX system.Background
Elizabeth Strong was a close friend and social associate of Alice Austen, a pioneering Staten Island photographer. The letters were written while Strong resided in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and during her travels to Louisville, Kentucky, and other eastern cities. They were later returned to Staten Island, where they were addressed to Austen at her Rosebank residence. The correspondence reflects the social milieu of late‑Victorian upper‑middle‑class families in the New York metropolitan area.Contents
- Five letter scans (1891‑05‑04 to 1891‑12‑08) depicting daily life, social events, and personal concerns.
- Transcriptions of the handwritten text, providing readable versions of the original content.
- Metadata indicating dates, places of origin, and subjects such as social life, whist club, family, health, travel, photography, theater, and music.
- OCR‑extracted text from the images, useful for keyword searches.
The letters discuss a range of topics: invitations to breakfast and whist club meetings, visits to the Wintergate Theatre and the Opera House, travels to Louisville and New Brunswick, health updates on family members, and brief remarks on photography work and music purchases.
Scope
The collection covers a single year (1891) and focuses exclusively on correspondence from Elizabeth Strong to Alice Austen. It documents events and locations in Staten Island, New Brunswick, Louisville, Philadelphia, and New York. The material offers a snapshot of social networks, leisure activities, and domestic concerns among Staten Island’s upper‑middle class during the late 19th century.Raw Cheimarros Data
@staten_island:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@new_brunswick:place {state: @new_jersey, country: @united_states}
@new_jersey:place {country: @united_states}
@louisville:place {state: @kentucky, country: @united_states}
@wintergate_theatre:place {type: "theatre"}
@opera_house:place {type: "theatre"}
@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Alice Austen", birth_year: @date_1866, death_year: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer", residence: @staten_island}
@elizabeth_strong:person {full_name: "Elizabeth B. Strong", relationship: "correspondent of Alice Austen"}
@rosalie:person {first_name: "Rosalie"}
@bessie_howard:person {full_name: "Bessie Howard"}
@theodore:person {first_name: "Theodore"}
@kate:person {first_name: "Kate"}
@mr_caldwell:person {title: "Mr.", last_name: "Caldwell"}
@mr_molinoup:person {title: "Mr.", last_name: "Molinoup"}
@mr_white:person {title: "Mr.", last_name: "White"}
@dr_scott:person {title: "Dr.", last_name: "Scott"}
@agnes_huntington:person {full_name: "Agnes Huntington"}
@whist_club:organization {type: "social club"}
@ladies_club:organization {type: "social club"}
@pinax_collection:document {title: "Elizabeth Strong Correspondence to Alice Austen", creator: @elizabeth_strong, institution: "Alice Austen House", date_range: {start: @date_1891_05_04, end: @date_1891_12_08}, subjects: ["Correspondence","Social life","Whist Club","Family","Health","Travel","Photography","Theater","Music"], places: [@staten_island, @new_brunswick, @louisville, @philadelphia, @new_york]}
@date_1866
@date_1952
@date_1891_05_04
@date_1891_12_08
@date_1891_05_03
@file_pinax -> documents -> @pinax_collection:document
@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @file_1891_12_8_dec_6002_strong_copy_jpg {when: @date_1891_12_08, where: @staten_island}
@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @rosalie
@elizabeth_strong -> attended -> @whist_club {when: @date_1891_12_08, location: @bessie_howard}
@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @file_1891_5_4_may_1002_strong_copy_jpg {when: @date_1891_05_04, where: @new_brunswick}
@elizabeth_strong -> wrote from -> @new_brunswick {when: @date_1891_05_03}
@elizabeth_strong -> visited -> @louisville {when: @date_1891_05_04}
@elizabeth_strong -> attended -> @wintergate_theatre {when: @date_1891_05_04, location: @louisville}
@elizabeth_strong -> former director of -> @ladies_club {end: @date_1891_05_04}
@elizabeth_strong -> concerned about -> @eva:person {status: "health"}
@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @mr_caldwell
@elizabeth_strong -> attended -> @opera_house {when: @date_1891_05_04, event: "Irish play 'A Host of Christians'"}
@elizabeth_strong -> praised -> @dr_scott
@elizabeth_strong -> admired -> @agnes_huntington
@elizabeth_strong -> discussed -> @photography:concept {activity: "printing pictures for exchanges"}Metadata
Files (7)
OCR Text
a very jolly affair. We are delighted that everything passed off so well. Yesterday Rosalie and I were invited to a small half past eleven breakfast at Elta Macaulay's, and in the evening attended a meeting of the Whist Club at Bessie Howard's. Wednesday we have a few people to lunch, informally. You do not say what time you are coming on Friday, but we shall look you up at the earliest opportunity. Rosalie would join in love were she here. Always aff'ly, Elizabeth B. Strong
OCR Text
Miss E. A. Austen Rosebank - Staten Island.
OCR Text
Miss E. A. Austin Post Bank. Staten Island.
OCR Text
Domestic revolutions and both brothers and I were pretty well down out. We are not settled yet, as the specimen who has been posing as "cook" for a week goes tomorrow. Such a stupid I have seldom seen, and what is more she cannot learn anything. Theodore has nicknamed her "Old Shakespeare." Of course you have New Brunswick May 3rd '91 My dear Alice:- This being a rainy Sunday I have decided to remain at home or perhaps go to church this evening if it clears. Indeed I have not been to church for three Sundays; we have been passing through an series of
OCR Text
read the accounts of that horrible murder, in the papers. Don't know that I have much of interest to relate. The first two weeks after my return were spent in the house, as I contracted a fearful cold before leaving Rossville, and kept adding to it until I thought surely I was in for pneumonia. Kate ran me down of course and I have taken more nasty medicine. Spent a night at Staten Island about two weeks since. Went over to New York to shop, and ran down to Melle's late one afternoon. Left early next morning. Looked about for familiar faces on the boat but did not see many. Mr. Molinoup went down from N.Y. with me, and I had the pleasure of Mr. White's society from
OCR Text
mother, a little way from Philadelphia. I am quite anxious about her, as she does not seem to improve. But a change may be what she needs, and seeing Mr. Caldwell will help wonders doubtless. I did have such a delightful visit in Louisville. I spent six weeks there, met lots of pleasant people and had a good time generally. We were first Wintergate Theatre goers. The Island next A.M. I hear you are no longer a Director of the Ladies Club; did you get tired of the office? I doubt very much if I shall do any more tennis playing; do not believe it is a good thing for me. Did I write you how miserable Eva had been? She was finally ordered away from home by her physician, and is now with Mr. Caldwell.
OCR Text
I am "A Texas Texi;" "Shenandoah." Northern; Jefferson and Louisa; De Wolf Hopper & Co.; Agnes Huntington and Margaret Bethel. I simply cast my heart to Agnes Huntington; have heard her voice and think her the most superb creature. About the only dissipations since my return have been the card clubs. I had our thirst club here not long ago, and shall probably meet at Emily's Chambers this week. Friday night the Irish had their play "A Host of Christians" at the Opera House. It was very good, and well acted. The audience was a fine one, and so enthusiastic Dr. Scott received a perfect storm of compliments and applause. Have done nothing in photography since my return except to print some pictures for exchanges. Hope to begin work as soon as possible. Claiming and servants will permit. With much love in which mother joins, and
Version History (4 versions)
- ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:38:29 PM
"Added description" - v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:27:24 PM · View this version
"Added knowledge graph extraction" - v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:47:16 PM · View this version
"Added PINAX metadata" - v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:24:42 PM · View this version
"Reorganization group: Elizabeth_Strong_Correspondence"
Parent
No children (leaf entity)