1892_12-29-Dec 5006-strong copy.jpg

Elizabeth Strong Correspondence to Alice Austen

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:41:04 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:26:47 PM

Added description

Description

Elizabeth Strong Correspondence to Alice Austen (1892)

Overview

This collection comprises three handwritten letters written by Elizabeth Strong to her friend Alice Austen on December 29, 1892. The letters have been digitized as high‑resolution JPEG scans and accompanied by OCR‑derived transcriptions. They provide a snapshot of late‑Victorian social life in New York, blending personal anecdotes with broader cultural interests.

Background

Elizabeth Strong (1866‑1952) was a photographer and contemporary of Alice Austen, both active in Staten Island’s artistic circles. The letters were penned in the winter of 1892, a period marked by the burgeoning popularity of social gatherings, music, and emerging scientific curiosities such as graphology. The correspondence reflects the close friendship between the two women and the vibrant social milieu of Brooklyn, Bedloe’s Island, and Staten Island.

Contents

  • Letter 5006: Describes a “hop” on the steamboat The Vermont, a Kirmess rehearsal with Rosalie and military officers Hicks and Webster, and plans for future dance partners. It also mentions household projects—doilies for her mother, a center cloth for “Jack,” and a picture frame for her aunt.
  • Letter 5007: Focuses on the author’s growing interest in graphology, spurred by Rosalie, and the anticipation of a choir meeting scheduled for that evening.
  • Letter 5008: Concludes with holiday reflections, a request for updates from Alice, and a brief note about her mother’s affection.

Each letter is accompanied by a scanned image and a machine‑read transcription, offering both visual and textual access to the material.

Scope

The collection is confined to a single date (December 29, 1892) and to correspondence from Elizabeth Strong to Alice Austen. It covers social events, music, graphology, family relationships, and domestic crafts within the New York metropolitan area. The collection does not include letters from other correspondents or additional years of Strong’s correspondence.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@elizabeth_strong:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Strong", birth_year: @date_1866, death_year: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer"}

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

@alice_austen_house:organization {type: "museum", location: @staten_island}

@bedloes_island:place {current_name: "Liberty Island", location: @new_york_harbor}

@the_vermont:place {type: "steamboat", description: "venue for social hops"}

@rosalie:person {first_name: "Rosalie"}

@hicks:person {last_name: "Hicks"}

@webster:person {last_name: "Webster", occupation: "military officer"}

@deymuker:person {last_name: "Deymuker"}

@jack:person {first_name: "Jack"}

@aunt:person {relation: "aunt"}

@mother:person {relation: "mother"}

@graphology:concept {field: "study of handwriting"}

@singing_lessons:concept {type: "musical instruction"}

@choir_meeting:event {description: "choir rehearsal"}

@kirmess_rehearsal:event {description: "rehearsal of a Kirmess dance"}

@hop:event {description: "social hop"}

@elizabeth_strong_correspondence:document {title: "Elizabeth Strong Correspondence to Alice Austen", creator: @elizabeth_strong, institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1892_12_29, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Social life","Victorian era","Brooklyn","Graphology","Music","Family relationships"], description: "Letters from Elizabeth Strong to Alice Austen discussing social activities, personal interests, and family matters in late 19th century New York.", place: [@brooklyn, @bedloes_island, @staten_island]}

@letter_1892_12_29_5006:document {date: @date_1892_12_29, from: @elizabeth_strong, to: @alice_austen, type: "letter"}

@letter_1892_12_29_5007:document {date: @date_1892_12_29, from: @elizabeth_strong, to: @alice_austen, type: "letter"}

@letter_1892_12_29_5008:document {date: @date_1892_12_29, from: @elizabeth_strong, to: @alice_austen, type: "letter"}

@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_1892_12_29_5006

@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_1892_12_29_5007

@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_1892_12_29_5008

@elizabeth_strong -> attended -> @hop:event {when: @date_1892_12_29, where: @the_vermont}

@elizabeth_strong -> participated in -> @kirmess_rehearsal:event {when: @date_1892_12_29, where: @the_vermont}

@elizabeth_strong -> danced with -> @rosalie

@elizabeth_strong -> danced with -> @deymuker

@webster -> stationed at -> @bedloes_island

@elizabeth_strong -> created -> @doilies:object {for: @mother, description: "Mother's doilies"}

@elizabeth_strong -> made -> @center_cloth:object {for: @jack, description: "center cloth"}

@elizabeth_strong -> crafted -> @picture_frame:object {for: @aunt, description: "picture frame"}

@elizabeth_strong -> interested in -> @singing_lessons

@elizabeth_strong -> interested in -> @graphology {thanks_to: @rosalie}

@elizabeth_strong -> planned -> @choir_meeting:event {when: @date_1892_12_29, location: "here"}

@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @christmas_holidays:concept {description: "holidays"}

Metadata

Files (3)

1892_12-29-Dec 5006-strong copy.jpgJPEG
1.56 MB
OCR Text

Went to smash in the mail. Had the best kind of a time in Brooklyn; officers to dinner two nights, went to a hop on The Vermont on Monday, and that evening Rosalie and I went with Messrs. Hicks and Webster, one a Navy and the other an Army man, to a rehearsal of a Kirmess in which Rosalie and Mr. H. were to dance. Webster was "an end of fun," is stationed at Bedloe's Island. The German went off beautifully. Rosalie led, and covered herself with glory. There were lots of famous and all the men were good dancers. My partner had the additional attraction of being very agreeable. His name was Deymuker. I came the Thursday after the dance and have been working like a slave ever since. Have Mother's doilies yet to finish, a center cloth for Jack and a picture frame for my aunt. Am looking forward to taking singing-lessons.

1892_12-29-Dec 5007-strong copy.jpgJPEG
733.73 KB
OCR Text

after New Years, do not know just when I shall begin. We are to have a choir meeting here tonight instead of one at the church on Saturday. My dear, I am deeply interested in graphology thanks to Rosalie and every letter or note I get I immediately set myself to work to study the individual's character. It is not easy and requires lots of

1892_12-29-Dec 5008-strong copy.jpgJPEG
651.76 KB
OCR Text

practice, but it is very interesting. Hope you have enjoyed the holidays; tell me all about yourself when you write. Again with many thanks. Aff'ly yours, Elizabeth. Mother joins me in love.

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:41:04 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:34:44 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:49:05 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:26:47 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Elizabeth_Strong_Correspondence"

Parent

01KC28TRADQCJWP4YC811VKY9V

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