1891_7ish-JTM-Julia Bredt undated 2001-Martin copy.jpg

Alice Austen and Julia Martin Correspondence Collection

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:39:26 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:24:49 PM

Added description

Description

Alice Austen – Julia T. Martin Correspondence Collection (1891)

Overview

This digital collection preserves the 1891 correspondence between Elizabeth Alice Austen, a pioneering Staten Island photographer, and her close friend Julia T. Martin of Albany. The materials comprise scanned images of handwritten letters, postal cards, and related documents, each accompanied by OCR‑derived text. The collection is organized by year (all items dated 1891) and includes 12 primary items: eight letter scans, two postal cards, and a metadata file.

Background

Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a notable American photographer whose work and personal papers are housed at the Alice Austen House Museum. Julia T. Martin was a long‑time confidante and social associate of Austen, residing in Albany. The letters reflect their shared Victorian social milieu and provide insight into Austen’s personal life, travels, and the broader cultural context of late‑nineteenth‑century New York.

Contents

  • Letters (8): Handwritten correspondence discussing travel to Bennington, Schenectady, Williamstown, and Albany; social events such as tennis, musical gatherings, and parties; concerns about family health (notably a woman named Mandana Alice); and routine updates on daily life.
  • Postal Cards (2): A card addressed to Austen at Rosebank, Staten Island, and a reply from Ruggles Jake of New Jersey inviting a visit.
  • Metadata (1): JSON record summarizing the collection’s provenance, creators, subjects, and rights.
  • OCR Texts: Machine‑read transcriptions of each image, providing searchable content for researchers.

Scope

The collection covers the year 1891, focusing on personal and social correspondence between Austen and Martin. Geographic references include Bennington, Schenectady, Williamstown, Albany, and Staten Island (Rosebank). Thematic coverage spans Victorian social life, travel, family matters, health concerns, and the early professional activities of a photographer. Items are in the public domain and are available for scholarly use.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@alice_austen_julia_martin_correspondence_collection:collection {title: "Alice Austen and Julia Martin Correspondence Collection", creator: [@alice_austen, @julia_t_martin], institution: "Alice Austen House", created: @date_1891, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Victorian social life","Family relationships","Health and illness","Travel","Photography"], description: "Letters between Alice Austen and her friend Julia Martin, discussing social activities, family matters, and personal health concerns.", rights: "Public Domain"}

@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}

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

@rosebank:place {city: @staten_island, country: @united_states}

@victorian_social_life:concept {description: "Social activities among upper‑middle‑class Victorians"}

@photography_business:concept {description: "Commercial aspects of photography in the late 19th century"}

@family_matters:concept {description: "Family‑related correspondence, including illness and death"}

@music:concept {description: "Discussions about music and instruments"}

@file_pinax:file {type: "Metadata (PINAX)", title: "Alice Austen and Julia Martin Correspondence Collection"}

@alice_austen_julia_martin_correspondence_collection -> contains -> @file_pinax

@file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2001_martin_copy_jpg:file {type: "Image/Asset with OCR", year: @date_1891, description: "Letter OCR text mentioning Bennington, Schenectady, and social activities"}

@alice_austen_julia_martin_correspondence_collection -> contains -> @file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2001_martin_copy_jpg

@file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2001_martin_copy_jpg -> sent by -> @julia_t_martin

@file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2001_martin_copy_jpg -> mentions -> [@bennington, @schenectady, @alice_austen, @julie_bredt]

@file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2001_martin_copy_jpg -> discusses -> @victorian_social_life

@file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2002_martin_copy_jpg:file {type: "Image/Asset with OCR", year: @date_1891, description: "Letter OCR text describing activities in Williamstown, tennis, and visits"}

@alice_austen_julia_martin_correspondence_collection -> contains -> @file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2002_martin_copy_jpg

@file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2002_martin_copy_jpg -> sent by -> @julia_t_martin

@file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2002_martin_copy_jpg -> mentions -> [@williamstown, @alice_austen]

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@file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2003_martin_copy_jpg:file {type: "Image/Asset with OCR", year: @date_1891, description: "Letter OCR text about health of a woman named Mandana Alice and a party in Bennington"}

@alice_austen_julia_martin_correspondence_collection -> contains -> @file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2003_martin_copy_jpg

@file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2003_martin_copy_jpg -> sent by -> @julia_t_martin

@file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2003_martin_copy_jpg -> mentions -> [@bennington, @alice_austen]

@file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2003_martin_copy_jpg -> discusses -> @family_matters

@file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2004_martin_copy_jpg:file {type: "Image/Asset with OCR", year: @date_1891, description: "Letter OCR text concerning illness, nursing, and a request about Mrs. Pool"}

@alice_austen_julia_martin_correspondence_collection -> contains -> @file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2004_martin_copy_jpg

@file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2004_martin_copy_jpg -> sent by -> @julia_t_martin

@file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2004_martin_copy_jpg -> mentions -> [@alice_austen]

@file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2004_martin_copy_jpg -> discusses -> @family_matters

@file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2005_martin_copy_jpg:file {type: "Image/Asset with OCR", year: @date_1891, description: "Letter OCR text expressing concern for a woman's mental health and possible hospitalisation in Albany"}

@alice_austen_julia_martin_correspondence_collection -> contains -> @file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2005_martin_copy_jpg

@file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2005_martin_copy_jpg -> sent by -> @julia_t_martin

@file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2005_martin_copy_jpg -> mentions -> [@alice_austen, @albany]

@file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2005_martin_copy_jpg -> discusses -> @family_matters

@file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2006_martin_copy_jpg:file {type: "Image/Asset with OCR", year: @date_1891, description: "Letter OCR text about postal arrangements, book requests, and a brief note from Jill"}

@alice_austen_julia_martin_correspondence_collection -> contains -> @file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2006_martin_copy_jpg

@file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2006_martin_copy_jpg -> sent by -> @julia_t_martin

@file_1891_7ish_jtm_julia_bredt_undated_2006_martin_copy_jpg -> mentions -> [@alice_austen, @jill]

@file_1891_8_22_aug_3001_martin_copy_jpg:file {type: "Image/Asset with OCR", year: @date_1891, description: "Postal card addressed to Miss Alice Austen, Rosebank, Staten Island"}

@alice_austen_julia_martin_correspondence_collection -> contains -> @file_1891_8_22_aug_3001_martin_copy_jpg

@file_1891_8_22_aug_3001_martin_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen

@file_1891_8_22_aug_3001_martin_copy_jpg -> location -> @rosebank

@file_1891_8_22_aug_3002_martin_copy_jpg:file {type: "Image/Asset with OCR", year: @date_1891, description: "Postal card from Ruggles Jake, New Jersey, requesting a visit"}

@alice_austen_julia_martin_correspondence_collection -> contains -> @file_1891_8_22_aug_3002_martin_copy_jpg

@file_1891_8_22_aug_3002_martin_copy_jpg -> sender -> @ruggles_jake:person {full_name: "Ruggles Jake", residence: @new_jersey}

@file_1891_8_22_aug_3002_martin_copy_jpg -> recipient -> @alice_austen

@file_1891_8_22_aug_3002_martin_copy_jpg -> discusses -> @victorian_social_life

Metadata

Files (8)

1891_7ish-JTM-Julia Bredt undated 2001-Martin copy.jpgJPEG
3.99 MB
OCR Text

B. for a few days & come back. So I went on Monday. Nancy met me & after tea we all went to Mrs. Willington's, who by the way is a sister of one of my best friends at Mrs. Rogers's. Con Lourimond, & played that game of making words from our given. We played till quite late & it was so good such I had & it was so delightful to myself & felt I could do the whole day, which I certainly did. I got three big pillows & a book, went out on the piazza in one of those stately chairs & slept, dreamed, read, & thought of you all day till six, then I took tea at Mrs. Rogers's & after visited she & I with a nice Marie-Alice - Here I am back in Schenectady after a most delightful, restful visit & have come back here to take up the dirty work again. Alice, I kept thinking all the time that it was last summer & kept looking for you all the time & wondering you were with me. Bennington has waked up nicely & is really quite gay. I was so dead tired Sunday & finding I couldn't not have Mama here alone I decided to go right

1891_7ish-JTM-Julia Bredt undated 2002-Martin copy.jpgJPEG
3.28 MB
OCR Text

on the Williamstown road, & gathered ferns in the woods. Miss Emily was at a musical at Mr Libbitt's house. I did not care to go to it. On Sunday afternoon Mr Wellington, Mr King & the two Miss Clarks, quite young girls, & I played tennis at the Priestwells. They have a fine court & they have kindly & made it public hospitality so that lots of people play & it is quite fun. Do you remember their place? It is a white house standing on a small hill, on the long road to the village. Don't you remember the first time we went to the village with the donkey we got to the top of the hill & Mr Douhey would not go & a young girl was so amused. I hadn't had a game for so long I enjoyed it so much. Miss Emily then took us for a drive to the village. Miss Wellington also came & we all carried on in our usual style. The little looked as natural as ever & a woman & her brother her helping it. & I believe it is quite a success. I looked up at our window & felt like whistling & seeing you put your hand out. Mrs Stranahan was not there. Her mother had died & she had you on to the funeral. Fred was there but I did not see him. Mrs Esther told me that the Gurneys were lovely people.

1891_7ish-JTM-Julia Bredt undated 2003-Martin copy.jpgJPEG
4.15 MB
OCR Text

This afternoon arriving last evening. Mandana Alice is physically much better & stronger but mentally is a wreck. I do not think she will ever go crazy but I fear her mind will all go like nothing of the train & I find it is not possible for me to leave her here as I expected to do & very much to my regret. She does not sleep one word all night long & while quiet as far as moaning & groaning, she walks all over & about. The wife of Mr. Davis will not let her sleep alone. While I was away she was kind enough to sleep in her room & she looked worse out when I came back, & I would not suppose I guess that was a good match. Last on Thursday, yesterday Mr. Hart. I do not think we met him last summer got up a large party. Dutch treat to drive to Williamstown. There were 14 in all. His sister Miss Hart, & the two girls who live in H. Bennington in that beautiful place with the woods behind that we drove in; were among the party—the rest were all stockingers except Miss Wilmington. A Miss Patterson from the hotel was the chaperone. We all were in a four-horse wagon & really had a delightful time. I left the party there & took the train for here in

1891_7ish-JTM-Julia Bredt undated 2004-Martin copy.jpgJPEG
3.14 MB
OCR Text

on anyone. It is kind enough in them all to ask us all here & I can not tell you the kindness we have received at their hands. Harriet & Mr. Davis told me I must get a nurse as I am not strong enough to be awake at nights, but we can not do that. I slept last night in the room & slept pretty well, but every time I woke up she was awake. We lock all the doors so she can't get out. It is sad that she is out of her head, but she can't sleep, poor woman & gets up walks about in hope it will make her sleepy. Yesterday she dressed herself & came down stairs & saw some of her friends. They do not excite her in the least. In fact if they come in the morning by night she forgets when they were there. She told one of them that her husband had been away two months & she had not heard one word from him. She says her back is sore from a fall & he had & she keeps asking me if I have written Mrs. Pool to thank her for helping her. We think she has nursed them up with the pillows, for when Harriet asked her who Mrs. Pool was, she said her husband's name was John Hillhouse.

1891_7ish-JTM-Julia Bredt undated 2005-Martin copy.jpgJPEG
4.01 MB
OCR Text

but it is the only thing to be done. I feel truly sorry for her, but of all helpless, inefficient people, she is one & what is to become of her I have given up trying to solve. I do not know how long exactly I shall be here. I am sorry now I did not bring my trunk & I don't want it sent. I have a hundred & one things I want to do at home & here I am tied down. It is a queer word this! I do not know why I have burdened you with this long, still I know you will be glad to hear. She does not talk by any means this way all the time, but we all can see her memory is all gone. She had been talking of my going to Bennington & yet when I came back she asked me how Amy was & later she knew she had made a mistake & told me so. Alice it is an awful awful thing to see one's mind like this. I have made up my mind if she does not hear from Papa in another week to take her to a hospital in Albany & though her & I can stay at Mrs. Mr. Hargis'. I can not say I think this

1891_7ish-JTM-Julia Bredt undated 2006-Martin copy.jpgJPEG
2.61 MB
OCR Text

just how Mamma is. I won't repeat what I have written. I am going to get you to stop at the Post Office till Gillow is forward all letters to me. Union Street, substantially, care James E. Davis Esq. Write to me when you can & with much love Affectionately Jill If you have not given all the books away, I would like you to save the Harpers book, & some others that you think would be nice for the prison— Excuse this letter. I have just read it over, but can't write it again.

1891_8-22-Aug 3001-martin copy.jpgJPEG
351.55 KB
OCR Text

UNITED STATES POSTAL CARD. ONE CENT. NOTHING BUT THE ADDRESS TO BE ON THIS SIDE. Miss Alice Austen Rosebank, S.J. MISSSENT

1891_8-22-Aug 3002-martin copy.jpgJPEG
294.18 KB
OCR Text

Ruggles Jake N.J. Dear A - Are you at home now & would it be convenient for me to come to you for my little visit on Thursday. Please let me know at once, will you as they would rather I would come a little later to Riverdale. Love in haste J.C. M

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:39:26 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:29:03 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:47:53 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:24:49 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Correspondence_Julia_Martin"

Parent

01KC28TT5KXGCKTCP8DD89H1NR

No children (leaf entity)