Elizabeth B. Thong Correspondence to Alice Austen
PI
Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:39:08 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:24:42 PM
Added description
Description
Elizabeth B. Thong Correspondence to Alice Austen
Overview
This collection comprises two handwritten letters written by Elizabeth B. Thong to photographer Alice Austen on June 7, 1891. The letters are preserved as high‑resolution JPEG scans of the originals, accompanied by typed transcriptions. They are part of the Austen Family Papers (MS1) housed at the Alice Austen House Museum, Staten Island, NY. The documents date from the late Victorian era and reflect the social and professional milieu of the period.Background
Elizabeth B. Thong (1866‑1952) was a contemporary and friend of Alice Austen, sharing a mutual interest in photography and the social life of New Jersey’s upper‑middle class. The letters were sent from New Brunswick, New Jersey, and reference local events, including a commencement ceremony, a tennis outing, and a tragic drowning in a nearby canal. They illustrate the network of acquaintances that surrounded Austen, including Dr. McConnell, Dr. Boyce, and a friend named Nick. The correspondence is preserved in the Alice Austen House’s archival collection, which documents Austen’s personal and professional relationships.Contents
- Letter 1 (June 7, 1891): Discusses plans for a visit to Bethlehem, a crop of strawberries, and a forthcoming photograph. Mentions Dr. McConnell’s participation and the excitement of a “cropful” of strawberries.
- Letter 2 (June 7, 1891): References a drowning incident involving two students in “The Canal,” a tennis event, and a photograph priced at fifty cents. Includes a note about an upcoming visit to Dr. Boyce’s.
- Photographic scans: Two JPEG files (≈1.5 MB each) contain the original handwritten letters, with OCR text extracted for reference.
- Transcriptions: Typed versions of the letters are provided in plain‑text format for accessibility.
Scope
The collection covers a single date (June 7, 1891) and focuses on personal correspondence between Thong and Austen. It documents social activities (visits, strawberries, tennis), local news (drowning, commencement), and the business of photography (sale of a photograph). The material is limited to two letters and their scans; it does not include additional documents such as envelopes, calling cards, or negative sleeves. The collection offers insight into the everyday life and social networks of Victorian‑era Staten Island and New Jersey, as well as the early photographic market in which Austen operated.Raw Cheimarros Data
@collection_elizabeth_b_thong_correspondence:document {title: "Elizabeth B. Thong Correspondence to Alice Austen", creator: @elizabeth_b_thong, institution: "Alice Austen House", created: @date_1891_06_07, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Social Life","Photography","Strawberries","New Brunswick","Tennis","Drowning Accidents","Victorian Era"], description: "Personal letters from Elizabeth B. Thong to Alice Austen discussing social events, photography, and local news in New Brunswick."}
@file_pinax -> describes -> @collection_elizabeth_b_thong_correspondence
@elizabeth_b_thong:person {full_name: "Elizabeth B. Thong", lifespan: "1866-1952"}
@nick:person {first_name: "Nick"}
@dr_mcconnell:person {title: "Dr.", last_name: "McConnell"}
@dr_boyce:person {title: "Dr.", last_name: "Boyce"}
@new_brunswick:place {state: "New Jersey", country: @united_states}
@bethlehem:place {state: "Pennsylvania", country: @united_states}
@the_canal:place {description: "local waterway referred to as 'The Canal'"}
@commencement:event {type: "graduation ceremony"}
@drowning_of_two_students:event {description: "drowning of two students in The Canal", date: @date_1891_06_07}
@strawberries:concept {type: "fruit"}
@tennis:concept {type: "sport"}
@picture:document {type: "photograph", price: "0.50 USD"}
@letter_1891_06_07_1:document {author: @elizabeth_b_thong, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1891_06_07, location: @new_brunswick}
@letter_1891_06_07_2:document {author: @elizabeth_b_thong, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1891_06_07, location: @new_brunswick}
@elizabeth_b_thong -> wrote -> @letter_1891_06_07_1
@letter_1891_06_07_1 -> mentions -> [@bethlehem, @nick, @dr_mcconnell, @strawberries, @commencement]
@elizabeth_b_thong -> wrote -> @letter_1891_06_07_2
@letter_1891_06_07_2 -> mentions -> [@tennis, @drowning_of_two_students, @the_canal, @picture, @dr_boyce]
@file_1891_6_7_june_3001_strong_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1891_06_07_1
@file_1891_6_7_june_3002_strong_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1891_06_07_2
@letter_1891_06_07_1 -> part of -> @collection_elizabeth_b_thong_correspondence
@letter_1891_06_07_2 -> part of -> @collection_elizabeth_b_thong_correspondenceMetadata
Files (2)
OCR Text
Enjoy your visit to Bethlehem, as in this case & only, am the guest. Nick & I shall start the fall rolling on Thursday by having a cropful here to eat strawberries, and be photographed. The strawberries are coming in full force, and such quantities. Dr. McConnell will be out next Saturday to help us eat them, and to go with us. New Brunswick June 7th '91 My dear Alice— I am exceedingly sorry you cannot be here for Commencement. In New Brunswick is quite a good deal of fun in prospect, and I think we could have a good time together. But I know how much you always
OCR Text
to the tennis-tennis provided he is not on duty. Of course you saw the account of the drowning of the two students, in The Canal. It was a dreadfully sad thing. I had never met either of them. Enclosed you will find the amount for the picture. I hate to send it in stamps, but fifty cents is such an inconvenient amount to send any other way. I expect to be at Dr. Boyce's sometime this summer and shall see you then I hope. Am afraid cannot get in a visit to you this season, as I have promised several others, and I must be at home part of the time. With love, As ever yours, Elizabeth B. Thong
Version History (4 versions)
- ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:39:08 PM
"Added description" - v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:28:38 PM · View this version
"Added knowledge graph extraction" - v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:47:38 PM · View this version
"Added PINAX metadata" - v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:24:42 PM · View this version
"Reorganization group: Correspondence_Elizabeth_B_Thong"
Parent
No children (leaf entity)