Alice Austen Miscellaneous Correspondence Collection, 1891
PI
Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:39:53 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:24:56 PM
Added description
Description
Alice Austen Miscellaneous Correspondence Collection, 1891
Overview
The Alice Austen Miscellaneous Correspondence Collection, 1891, is a digitized assemblage of personal letters, calling cards, and related ephemera from the Austen Family Papers housed at the Alice Austen House Museum. The collection comprises scanned images of handwritten and printed documents in English, all dated to the year 1891. It is organized by year and includes a variety of document types, such as private correspondence, an advertisement, and a brief letter from a clergyman.Background
Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering American photographer and a prominent member of Staten Island’s upper‑middle‑class society. The 1891 correspondence reflects her social network, family ties, and business activities. The materials were curated by the museum to preserve the personal and professional life of Austen and her contemporaries, offering insight into late‑Victorian social customs and the early photographic industry.Contents
The collection contains:- Personal letters to and from Alice Austen, addressed to friends and relatives such as Julia T. Martin, Mary Hood, Alice Butler, Lottie, and others. Topics include social events (e.g., skating parties, church gatherings), family news (grandfather’s death, births), and business matters (sales of photographs from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition).
- Calling cards and other social tokens that illustrate the etiquette of the era.
- An advertisement for a horse‑and‑carriage service in Clifton, New Jersey, reflecting Austen’s commercial interests.
- A letter from Rev. Dr. John C. Eccleston to the chairman of a local church, demonstrating Austen’s connections to community institutions.
- Miscellaneous documents that include notes on travel, household arrangements, and references to contemporary cultural figures.
Scope
The collection covers the calendar year 1891, with geographic references to Staten Island (New York), Hay Head, Bay Head, and Clifton (New Jersey). It focuses on personal, social, and business correspondence within Austen’s social circle. The materials are representative of the broader Austen Family Papers, which span 1883‑1898, but this subset provides a focused view of a single year’s domestic and professional interactions. The collection is valuable for researchers studying Victorian social networks, early photography commerce, and the daily life of a notable Staten Island family.Raw Cheimarros Data
@alice_austen_misc_correspondence_collection:collection {title: "Alice Austen Miscellaneous Correspondence Collection, 1891", creator: [@alice_austen, @julia_martin, @mary_hood, @alice_butler], institution: @alice_austen_house, year: @date_1891, subjects: ["Correspondence","Social life","Family relationships","Photography","Victorian era","Staten Island","World's Columbian Exposition"], places: [@staten_island, @hay_head, @ocean_county, @west_hillton, @clifton]}
@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth: @date_1866, death: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer", residence: @staten_island}
@julia_martin:person {full_name: "Julia T. Martin", relationship: "close friend", location: @albany}
@mary_hood:person {full_name: "Mary Hood"}
@alice_butler:person {full_name: "Alice Butler"}
@isabella_king:person {full_name: "Isabella King", role: "photograph buyer"}
@bessie_strong:person {full_name: "Bessie Strong"}
@julie_bredt:person {full_name: "Julie Bredt"}
@violet_ward:person {full_name: "Violet M.E. Ward"}
@staten_island:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@hay_head:place {state: @new_jersey, country: @united_states}
@ocean_county:place {state: @new_jersey, country: @united_states}
@west_hillton:place {state: @new_jersey, country: @united_states}
@clifton:place {state: @new_jersey, country: @united_states}
@tompkinsville:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@bay_head:place {state: @new_jersey, country: @united_states}
@arrietta_st:place {address: "14 Arrietta St.", city: @tompkinsville}
@new_jersey:place {country: @united_states}
@sue_ripley:person {full_name: "Sue Ripley"}
@clint:person {full_name: "Clint"}
@sam_brighton:person {full_name: "Sam Brighton"}
@mary_hedley:person {full_name: "Mary Hedley"}
@mr_birtwhistle:person {full_name: "Mr. Birtwhistle"}
@dr_eccleston:person {full_name: "Rev. Dr. John C. Eccleston", title: "Rev. Dr."}
@chairman_almstaedt:person {full_name: "Chairman Almstaedt"}
@william_aylwerd:person {full_name: "William Aylwerd"}
@lottie:person {full_name: "Lottie"}
@eddie_hicks:person {full_name: "Eddie Hicks"}
@kate_wright:person {full_name: "Kate Wright"}
@sam_bricks:person {full_name: "Sam Bricks"}
@dean_chg:person {full_name: "Dean C. H. G."}
@mr_montgomery:person {full_name: "Mr. Montgomery"}
@alice_austen_grandfather:person {relationship: "grandfather of Alice Austen"}
@daisy_ward:person {full_name: "Daisy Ward"}
@alice_w:person {full_name: "Alice W."}
@sam_prie:person {full_name: "Sam Prie"}
@mrs_castleton:person {full_name: "Mrs. Castleton"}
@jack:person {full_name: "Jack"}
@alice_austen_house:organization {name: "Alice Austen House Museum"}
@letter_1891_06_21:document {type: "letter", recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1891_06_21, source_file: @file_1891_6_21_june_6002_aca_copy_jpg, participants: [@sue_ripley, @clint, @sam_brighton, @mary_hedley, @mr_birtwhistle]}
@letter_1891_06_eccleston:document {type: "letter", author: @dr_eccleston, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1891_06, source_file: @file_1891_6_june_2001_copy_jpg, participants: [@chairman_almstaedt]}
@advertisement_1891_06_02:document {type: "advertisement", author: @william_aylwerd, date: @date_1891_06, source_file: @file_1891_6_june_2002_copy_jpg, location: @tompkinsville}
@letter_1891_08_23_lottie:document {type: "letter", author: @alice_austen, recipient: @lottie, date: @date_1891_08_23, source_file: @file_1891_8_24_aug_1002_aca_copy_jpg, participants: [@eddie_hicks, @kate_wright, @sam_bricks]}
@letter_1891_08_29_julia:document {type: "letter", author: @alice_austen, recipient: @julia_martin, date: @date_1891_08_29, source_file: @file_1891_8_27_aug_2002_aca_copy_jpg, participants: [@mr_montgomery, @alice_austen_grandfather]}
@letter_1891_08_27_misc:document {type: "letter", author: @alice_austen, date: @date_1891_08_27, source_file: @file_1891_8_27_aug_2003_aca_copy_jpg, participants: [@daisy_ward, @alice_w, @sam_prie, @mrs_castleton, @jack, @sherlock_holmes]}
@file_1891_6_21_june_6002_aca_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1891_06_21
@file_1891_6_june_2001_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1891_06_eccleston
@file_1891_6_june_2002_copy_jpg -> documents -> @advertisement_1891_06_02
@file_1891_8_24_aug_1002_aca_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1891_08_23_lottie
@file_1891_8_27_aug_2002_aca_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1891_08_29_julia
@file_1891_8_27_aug_2003_aca_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1891_08_27_miscMetadata
Files (9)
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on Friday and commenced stuffing my things. She is getting ready to leave soon, place it is somewhere in West Hillton. Dollars will be her lowest price for making a dress, something she felt mistress is useless. I regret this iron plan very much. Sue Ripley came here to say that he darling Clint would be just off till Tuesday, and would take the form of Tennis. She said the Promise Tea went off tolerably well, they made about $200, Sue is talky made $90. All your things till now, Sue lamented your absence; in the evening a number came from Sam Brighton. She says Mary Hedley has come back, she has born six children. I see by the paper that Mr. Birtwhistle's brother is dead. I should think it a relief to him.
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DR. ECCLESTON'S REGRETS. Chairman Almstaedt read a letter from Rev. Dr. John C. Eccleston, f SnoosJht' Church, Clifton, regretting his inability to be present, and congratulating the Hebrews upon the prospect of soon having a house of worship on the Island. The communication closed with the scriptural quotation: "Now abideth faith, hope and charity, but the greatest of these is charity."
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Furniture carefully removed. Double and single Surreys, Ladies' top Phaetons. 14 ARRIETTA ST., TOMPKINSVILLE. WILLIAM AYLWERD, LIVERY AND BOARDING STABLES, 134 VANDERBILT AVENUE, CLIFTON. Horses, coaches, surreys and light wagons to et, two or four-horse rigs for pleasure parties Furniture removed at reasonable rates to all parts. Address, P. O. Box 198, Stapleton.
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Miss Alice Boston Hay Head Ocean Co. G. J.
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Sunday Aug 23rd, 191 My dearest Lottie, I was very glad to get your note so soon. I am anxious to know where you are settled at the Hotel or elsewhere. I went to town on Friday and left your shoe. The man said he expected it to arrive, and could not send it as soon as he had promised. I told him to forward them as soon her habit with the faith college, & the usual mts. dinners for this term she is a skeptic, and she in a dirty trill. The wind blew the Cameron's off half on the Hicks and Hyde, and against, the baby is very ill indeed. Eddie Hicks has money thrown he has the collapse, to die. Pigs but none folk, they pass Eddie on the road afterwards put the world part trip towards home. Read Hatton Island this shrine was home also, Kate Wright who was afterward finding out that your brother had been fired Sam bricks, and had stood in that house thirty years ago, the book at her old bedroom near the library. Good bye dear friend, write me what you are doing, please. Promise wants it to ask Mr. About you! minden?
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As written by Mary Hood, Dean C. H. G. I think you did but give me any address, hope this will right or that I did it in this book. After the last of yesterday come from John's farm in that he had to Thursday, since you know that he had to finish, you see the land to him on and I'm going to take photos if there is room writing it and you in an interesting little place like that you in An Hutchinson All burned down after it, the bar from him on the Island with the Governor the Count with it home. If this is in the Graham amount desire the novel for the glass is put between, what a small it is. Sir Frederick home late on Sat. Monday and made your Aunt go back and drive; she had on
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Miss Alice Butler Bay Head Ocean Co. N.J. New York N.Y. Aug 27 PM
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Staten Island Thursday August 29th 1891 It is a week today since you left, and the day Julia Martin threatened to come. I hope you have written to put her off. Your grandpa saw Mr. Montgomery at his office on Monday I think, and he paid you a great many compliments, thought you one of the brightest girls he had ever met.
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The idea of William being at Hay Head and Mr. Alex, and that Sherlock Holmes left at home. I think in all they have had the happiest fine bank. I hope you will have been; I wish (now) we had heard the other. What a good idea it would be to get the large, great, the thing for you down there. Daisy Ward has just telephoned if you had brought home from there money & paper parcel? Do of you send promptly as much as a thing, I am afraid that there was nothing of the kind here. Your Annie is waiting for Alice W.'s ship which is due today, the has not been to town since the 3d of June when the lid A.W. good bye Sam Prie called yesterday night quite late, he told the the Captain he had last been away this summer but spent his vacation loafering Somebody said to your mother that Mrs. Castleton had she expected Jack some day to be a mistress he was doing so well; did you see Daisy Camden saw Annie
Version History (4 versions)
- ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:39:53 PM
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"Reorganization group: Miscellaneous_Correspondence"
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