1891_12-Dec 3001 copy.jpg

Alice Austen Calling Cards Collection

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:38:31 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:24:49 PM

Added description

Description

Alice Austen Calling Cards Collection

Overview

The Alice Austen Calling Cards Collection is a digitized assemblage of Victorian‑era calling cards created in 1891. The collection is part of the Alice Austen Papers (MS1) housed at the Alice Austen House Museum in Staten Island, New York. It consists of high‑resolution JPEG scans of four original cards, each accompanied by OCR‑derived text and metadata that record the sender, recipient, address, and, in some cases, a schedule of visits.

Background

Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering photographer and a prominent member of Staten Island’s upper‑middle‑class society. Calling cards were a key element of Victorian social etiquette, serving as a polite introduction and a record of one’s social engagements. The cards in this collection were produced by Austen and her acquaintances, reflecting the social networks of the time and the geographic reach of the community, which included Rosebank, Clifton, and neighboring New Jersey.

Contents

  • Miss Alice Austen – “Miss Austen, Roseback P.O., Staten Island.”
  • Mrs. John B. Eccleston – “Mrs. John B. Eccleston, Maple Avenue, Clifton, S.I.” with a list of Mondays in December.
  • Miss Alice Custer – “Miss Alice Custer, Rosebank P.O., Clifton, N.J.”
  • Miss E. A. Austin – “Miss E. A. Austin, Post Bank, Staten Island.”

Each card is captured as a JPEG image (sizes ranging from 220 KB to 406 KB) and includes OCR text that reproduces the printed content. The digital files are linked to their original metadata, which records the creator, date, language, subjects, and places associated with each card.

Scope

The collection covers the single calendar year 1891 and focuses on the social customs of the Victorian era as practiced by the Staten Island community. It includes only calling cards from the specified year and does not encompass other forms of correspondence, photographs, or documents from the broader Alice Austen Papers. The geographic scope is limited to Staten Island, Clifton, Rosebank, and New Jersey, offering a snapshot of the social milieu of late‑19th‑century New York City suburbs.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@alice_austen_calling_cards_collection:collection {title: "Alice Austen Calling Cards Collection", creator: [@alice_austen], institution: "Alice Austen House", created: @date_1891, language: "en", subjects: ["Calling cards","Victorian social customs","Staten Island history","Rosebank"], places: [@staten_island, @clifton, @rosebank, @new_jersey]}

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

@john_b_eccleston:person {full_name: "John B. Eccleston"}

@alice_custer:person {full_name: "Alice Custer"}

@e_a_austin:person {full_name: "E. A. Austin"}

@rosebank:place {neighborhood: "Rosebank", borough: @staten_island, state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

@clifton:place {neighborhood: "Clifton", borough: @staten_island, state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

@staten_island:place {borough: "Staten Island", city: "New York City", state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

@new_jersey:place {state: "New Jersey", country: @united_states}

@calling_card_1891_12_dec_3001:document {type: "calling card"}

@alice_austen -> sent -> @calling_card_1891_12_dec_3001:document {when: @date_1891_12, where: @rosebank}

@file_1891_12_dec_3001_copy_jpg -> depicts -> @calling_card_1891_12_dec_3001:document

@calling_card_1891_12_john_eccleston:document {type: "calling card"}

@john_b_eccleston -> sent -> @calling_card_1891_12_john_eccleston:document {when: @date_1891_12, where: @clifton, dates: [@date_1891_12_14, @date_1891_12_21, @date_1891_12_28]}

@file_1891_12_john_eccleston_calling_card001_copy_jpg -> depicts -> @calling_card_1891_12_john_eccleston:document

@calling_card_1891_02_10_feb_4002:document {type: "calling card"}

@alice_custer -> sent -> @calling_card_1891_02_10_feb_4002:document {when: @date_1891_02_10, where: @rosebank, destination_state: @new_jersey}

@file_1891_2_10_feb_4002_rosebank_copy_jpg -> depicts -> @calling_card_1891_02_10_feb_4002:document

@calling_card_1891_05_04_may_1001:document {type: "calling card"}

@e_a_austin -> sent -> @calling_card_1891_05_04_may_1001:document {when: @date_1891_05_04, where: @staten_island}

@file_1891_5_4_may_1001_strong_copy_jpg -> depicts -> @calling_card_1891_05_04_may_1001:document

Metadata

Title
Alice Austen Calling Cards Collection
Type
Collection
Creator
Alice Austen
Institution
Alice Austen House
Created
1891
Language
en
Subjects
Calling cards, Victorian social customs, Staten Island history, Rosebank
Place
Staten Island, Clifton, Rosebank, New Jersey
Source
PINAX

Files (4)

1891_12-Dec 3001 copy.jpgJPEG
300.92 KB
OCR Text

Miss Austen Roseback P.O. Staten Island

1891_12-John Eccleston Calling card001 copy.jpgJPEG
341.52 KB
OCR Text

Mrs. John B. Eccleston. Maple Avenue, Clifton, S.I. Mondays in December 14th, 21st, 28th, 91

1891_2-10-Feb 4002-rosebank copy.jpgJPEG
214.86 KB
OCR Text

Miss Alice Custer, Rosebank P.O. Clifton N.J.

1891_5-4-May 1001-strong copy.jpgJPEG
396.91 KB
OCR Text

Miss E. A. Austin Post Bank. Staten Island.

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:38:31 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:25:30 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:47:13 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:24:49 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Calling_Cards"

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