1891_6-10-June 4001-ACA copy.jpg

Alice Austen Family Correspondence Collection, 1891

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:38:29 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:24:52 PM

Added description

Description

Alice Austen Family Correspondence Collection, 1891

Overview

The 1891 folder of the Alice Austen Family Correspondence Collection is a digitized set of personal letters addressed to Elizabeth Alice Austen, the pioneering Staten Island photographer. The materials were assembled in June 1891 and include scanned photographs of handwritten envelopes and letters (JPG files) along with typed transcriptions (TXT files). The collection is part of a larger series that spans 1883‑1898, organized into year‑based folders.

Background

Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a leading American photographer whose studio in Staten Island served a well‑to‑do clientele. The 1891 correspondence reflects the social milieu of upper‑middle‑class families in the late Victorian era. The letters were written by close relatives and friends—most notably Alice’s mother (“Mama”) and her friend John Evans—as well as other family members such as Lottie, Lill, and Kate Joyce. The documents were collected by the Alice Austen House Museum and are now in the public domain.

Contents

The folder contains 12 handwritten letters dated from June 10 to June 21, 1891, plus their scanned images and typed transcriptions. Themes include:
  • Family matters: updates on household logistics, travel, and the care of a trunk and a kitten.
  • Social life: references to dressmaking, visiting relatives in Boston and Lynn, and attending a “Carrolons” lunch.
  • Photography: brief mentions of Alice’s business and the sale of photographs.
  • Personal relationships: affectionate correspondence with Lottie and Lill, and mentions of friends such as Julia T. Martin and Julie Bredt.

The letters also reference locations such as Staten Island, Boston, New York, Lynn, and Canada, illustrating the geographic reach of Alice’s social network.

Scope

The collection covers a two‑week period in June 1891 and documents the daily concerns and social engagements of Alice Austen’s immediate family and close friends. It provides insight into Victorian domestic life, the role of photography in social status, and the transatlantic connections of an upper‑middle‑class New York family. The materials are available in both image and transcription formats, facilitating research into personal correspondence, social history, and the early career of Alice Austen.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@file_pinax -> documents -> @alice_austen_family_correspondence_collection:event {title: "Alice Austen Family Correspondence Collection, 1891", created: @date_1891_06, description: "Personal letters to Alice Austen from family members and friends during the summer of 1891", subjects: ["Family correspondence","Victorian social life","Photography","Staten Island","Upper-middle-class families","Personal relationships","Family matters","Music","Fashion"]}


@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth_year: @date_1866, death_year: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer", residence: @staten_island}


@john_evans:person {relation: "friend and correspondent of @alice_austen"}


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


@julie_bredt:person {full_name: "Julie Bredt"}


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


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


@bessie_strong:person {full_name: "Bessie Strong"}


@kate_joyce:person {relation: "friend/family of @alice_austen"}


@mama:person {relation: "mother of @alice_austen"}


@grandpy:person {relation: "grandfather of @alice_austen"}


@lottie:person {full_name: "Lottie", nickname: "Loll"}


@lill:person {full_name: "Lill"}


@walter_martin:person {full_name: "Walter Martin"}


@mr_hegvitch:person {full_name: "Mr. Hegvitch"}


@mr_donitt:person {full_name: "Mr. Donitt"}


@mr_martin:person {full_name: "Mr. Martin"}


@harry_lewis:person {full_name: "Harry Lewis"}


@captain:person {title: "Captain"}


@sir_frederick:person {full_name: "Sir Frederick"}


@albany:place {region: "New York State", country: @united_states}


@boston:place {state: @massachusetts, country: @united_states}


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


@lynn:place {state: @massachusetts, country: @united_states}


@canada:place {country: @canada}


@bethlehem:place {state: @new_york_state, country: @united_states}


@staten_island:place {city: "Staten Island", state: @new_york_state, country: @united_states}


@date_1866 {}


@date_1952 {}


@date_1891_06 {}


@date_1891_06_10 {}


@date_1891_06_12 {}


@date_1891_06_16 {}


@date_1891_06_21 {}


@letter_1891_06_10_1:document {author: @mama, recipient: @lottie, when: @date_1891_06_10, where: @staten_island, content: "Mama writes about the cleared plates, the trunk, and sends care to Lottie."}


@letter_1891_06_10_2:document {author: @mama, recipient: @lottie, when: @date_1891_06_10, where: @staten_island, content: "Mama mentions Lucy Short, Auntie, and a washwoman with insect‑specimen‑covered clothes."}


@letter_1891_06_12_1:document {author: @mama, recipient: @lottie, when: @date_1891_06_12, where: @boston, content: "Mama talks about staying at Bethlehem, a new dressmaker, and sending a butterfly."}


@letter_1891_06_12_2:document {author: @mama, recipient: @lottie, when: @date_1891_06_12, where: @staten_island, content: "Mama describes a ribbon dress at Altman's and mentions going to Lynn."}


@letter_1891_06_16_1:document {author: @john_evans, recipient: @lottie, when: @date_1891_06_16, where: @staten_island, content: "John Evans writes about newspaper cuttings, Harry Lewis, hot weather, and sends greetings."}


@letter_1891_06_16_2:document {author: @john_evans, recipient: @lottie, when: @date_1891_06_16, where: @staten_island, content: "John Evans mentions dogs, the Carrolons lunch, Sir Frederick in Canada, and the Trustees."}


@letter_1891_06_21:document {author: @mama, recipient: @lottie, when: @date_1891_06_21, where: @staten_island, content: "Mama writes about a kitten sent to the Shortis, Kate Joyce, and Miss Ine Davis the dressmaker."}


@mama -> wrote -> @letter_1891_06_10_1


@mama -> wrote -> @letter_1891_06_10_2


@mama -> wrote -> @letter_1891_06_12_1


@mama -> wrote -> @letter_1891_06_12_2


@john_evans -> wrote -> @letter_1891_06_16_1


@john_evans -> wrote -> @letter_1891_06_16_2


@mama -> wrote -> @letter_1891_06_21


@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @julia_t_martin


@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @julie_bredt


@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @violet_m_e_ward


@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @isabella_king


@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @bessie_strong


@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @kate_joyce


@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @john_evans


@alice_austen -> family member -> @grandpy


@alice_austen -> family member -> @mama


@alice_austen -> family member -> @lottie


@alice_austen -> family member -> @lill


@alice_austen -> lived in -> @staten_island


@john_evans -> mentioned -> @harry_lewis


@john_evans -> mentioned -> @sir_frederick


@john_evans -> mentioned -> @captain


@letter_1891_06_10_1 -> mentions -> @grandpy


@letter_1891_06_10_1 -> mentions -> @kate_joyce


@letter_1891_06_10_2 -> mentions -> @lucy_short


@letter_1891_06_12_1 -> mentions -> @bethlehem


@letter_1891_06_12_2 -> mentions -> @mr_donitt


@letter_1891_06_12_2 -> mentions -> @lynn


@letter_1891_06_16_1 -> mentions -> @harry_lewis


@letter_1891_06_16_1 -> mentions -> @new_york


@letter_1891_06_16_2 -> mentions -> @sir_frederick


@letter_1891_06_16_2 -> mentions -> @canada


@letter_1891_06_21 -> mentions -> @kate_joyce


@letter_1891_06_21 -> mentions -> @mr_hegvitch


@letter_1891_06_21 -> mentions -> @walter_martin


@letter_1891_06_21 -> mentions -> @ine_davis


@letter_1891_06_21 -> mentions -> @shortis_street


@letter_1891_06_21 -> mentions -> @dog


@letter_1891_06_21 -> mentions -> @kitty


@letter_1891_06_21 -> mentions -> @bill


@letter_1891_06_21 -> mentions -> @fred


@letter_1891_06_21 -> mentions -> @tommy


@letter_1891_06_21 -> mentions -> @chiss


@letter_1891_06_21 -> mentions -> @horseymen


@letter_1891_06_21 -> mentions -> @sallie_hargens


@letter_1891_06_21 -> mentions -> @demson_elliott


@letter_1891_06_21 -> mentions -> @ted_buckley

---

Metadata

Files (7)

1891_6-10-June 4001-ACA copy.jpgJPEG
1.14 MB
OCR Text

Wild, he cleared the plates and deposited. Katie Joyce has not come and I am going to town. I thought I cleared off the lid the last time but I have 15 items today. Your Grandpy is much impressed by the way you sent the trunk, he says he was afraid it would be lost, he cannot comprehend how you sent it ahead and then took it with you. Take very good care of yourself, do not work so hard. My dearest, from your Mama Wednesday June 10th '97 Dear Loll, You are so very good to write me too soon. I am delighted that the trunk is all right. You are a wonderful packer, so don't about that; I hope you have enough.

1891_6-10-June 4002-ACA copy.jpgJPEG
857.98 KB
OCR Text

clothes to struggle on with but we must try for more. I hope you will go to Manch & Chunk and over the Switchback Rainy, it is very onions and interesting, I wish you could be a knive also. Lucy Short came in yesterday at 10 minutes to seven, she wanted to see you Auntie Aunt a laundress, your Auntie would just see her, but I did. She had had a washwoman who sent home the clothes with insect specimens attached. She wants the other written, she can have it. Yummy came in yesterday at nine not lusky, starving, thin and very

1891_6-12-June 5001-ACA copy.jpgJPEG
1.13 MB
OCR Text

Says it is lovely. Stay at Bethlehem as long as you care to, I am only too pleased that you have a change. Your Auntie has a new dressmaker today. Mr. Donitt; he did not know the way in, so looked in the dining room window. I will write again soon. My pressing one, from your Mama Boston Islands June 12th 19__ My dearest Lill, I sent you butterfly yesterday, these are some pink lillons that belong to your dress and some tags. I think your hair would look beautiful hanging down, it is so very long. I went to town and changed the velvet lillons.

1891_6-12-June 5002-ACA copy.jpgJPEG
817 KB
OCR Text

Miss Butler was amazed, she said she had never seen such a piece of ribbon, so wimpelfoot and full of dressing. The gingham dress you liked at Altman's was on the window. It has as you said the flounce all around with two rows of velvet ribbon an inch wide. It is not as pretty as yours will be. The window was full of thin dresses, I took in the details, a cloud of ladies blocked the sidewalk during the same. I sketched one row of ribbon on my list paper. Nothing more about Mr. Martin or any one indeed. I am glad you are going to Lynn, Okoko, your Grandpa

1891_6-16-June 7001-ACA copy.jpgJPEG
1.26 MB
OCR Text

Some reason, it is the influence of a great city that you desire. Your mind is too active to be satisfied elsewhere. I have saved some newspaper cuttings. I wish you could see the Herald, that is the paper for news. It says in the piece which set out about the Bassist business, is called "the babbling Brook." The Captain saw Harry Lewis present to his sisters on Nusan. He says they were the poorest foreigners he ever saw, links in white ear-mac with a knapsack in gold. In New York yesterday it was 96° in the shade. Kate Joyce has not come today. I have written her a second letter. God bless my dear little child. Yours sincerely, John Evans Staten Island June 16th/91 My dearest Lottie, I have today got your letter of Monday which was very welcome. I am sorry it is hot down there, if it is like this here it must be dreadful. Today and yesterday were fearful. The grass is quite yellow, and one listen has given ant, but no sight of rain. Katie

1891_6-16-June 7002-ACA copy.jpgJPEG
899.3 KB
OCR Text

give the dogs a bath and they slept for hours after. All the animals are well. Chiss sleeps a good deal under my bed where it is dark and cool. Tommy is frightful from worms and want of hair. On Sunday the Carrolons sent for your auntie to come to lunch, they had fifteen in the house. The old set, Sallie Hargens and her fiancé Demson Elliott, Ted Buckley, the Horseymen, &c but these Davis was not there. Sir Frederick is in Canada. The Captain was kept busy photographing of course. I wish I had some news to send you but all is quiet. Nothing from Mrs Justin, Inc So Martin's Influenza & storms are declared correct. I believe the Trustees have made up the loss. The Bethlehem ways are too provincial for you I know, what you miss is from York though you do best here in it. Wish Bill is back to you for the

1891_6-21-June 6001-ACA copy.jpgJPEG
1.14 MB
OCR Text

We have sent the kitten to the Shortis. Willie said he would keep it from the dog. Willie's parents came to see him last Sunday and the trolleys on the train hustled into Shortis street, and pulled off her cape. Kate Joyce says that Walton Martin has come over to see Mr Hegvitch and had a long talk with him. I hear nothing about Mr Martin. Kate says the Littles are in debt all over town. Brighton stay as long as you like, best child. I hope you are having some amused heart. God bye very blessed love from Mama Slaten Island June 21st 1911 Give my kindest regards to your friend Fred. The dogs are well, poor I wonder what my dear Kitty has been doing this week? I do hope your feet are better. I was so shocked to know they were swollen. Miss Ine Davis the dress maker turned out very badly. Her sewing was dreadful, nothing crooked, and she tried to avoid pressing. Katie Joyce came.

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:38:29 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:27:19 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:47:17 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:24:52 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Family_Correspondence"

Parent

01KC28TQZF4SPVXEB8P9XQ1DZ4

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