Alice Austen Correspondence with John C. Thorne
PI
Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:40:06 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:27:07 PM
Added description
Description
Alice Austen–John C. Thorne Correspondence (1892)
Overview
This digitized collection contains two handwritten letters exchanged between photographer Elizabeth Alice Austen and fellow photographer John C. Thorne on 18–19 October 1892. The letters are preserved as high‑resolution JPEG scans and are accompanied by a brief transcription of each letter. The correspondence focuses on contemporary photographic techniques and Thorne’s recent travels to Alaska, reflecting the professional and personal interests of both photographers.Background
Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering American photographer based in Staten Island, New York. John C. Thorne, also a photographer, was traveling to Alaska in 1892 aboard the steamer City of Seattle. The exchange of letters occurred during Thorne’s return voyage to New York, where he reported on his experiences and sought Austen’s advice on photographic processes. The collection is held by the Alice Austen House Museum and was digitized to preserve the fragile original documents.Contents
- Letter 1 (18 Oct 1892) – Austen’s response to Thorne’s earlier letter, discussing gelatine plates, Eastman lantern plates, and albumen paper.
- Letter 2 (19 Oct 1892) – Thorne’s reply, detailing his use of the platinum cold process, glass lantern pictures of Alaska, and logistical notes about the City of Seattle’s arrival in New York and the brief quarantine period.
- Photographic scans – Two JPEG images of the handwritten letters, each annotated with OCR text for reference.
- Transcriptions – Typed versions of the letters in plain text, preserving the original content while improving readability.
Scope
The collection covers a narrow temporal window (18–19 October 1892) and geographic focus on New York and Alaska. It documents the exchange of technical knowledge between two contemporary photographers and provides insight into early photographic processes such as gelatine and platinum printing, as well as the logistical challenges of 19th‑century travel. The material is relevant to scholars of photographic history, Victorian travel, and the social networks of professional women photographers in the late 19th century.Raw Cheimarros Data
@alice_austen_john_c_thorne_correspondence:collection {title: "Alice Austen Correspondence with John C. Thorne", created: @date_1892_10_18, institution: @alice_austen_house, subjects: ["Photography","Photographic processes","Alaska","Travel"]}
@alice_austen_house:organization {location: @staten_island, type: "Museum"}
@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth_year: @date_1866, death_year: @date_1952, occupation: "Photographer", residence: @staten_island}
@john_c_thorne:person {full_name: "John C. Thorne", occupation: "Photographer"}
@letter_1892_10_19_1:document {type: "Letter", when: @date_1892_10_19, language: "en"}
@letter_1892_10_19_2:document {type: "Letter", when: @date_1892_10_19, language: "en"}
@gelatine_plates:concept {description: "Photographic plates coated with gelatin for silver halide emulsions"}
@eastman_lantern_plates:concept {description: "Transparent plates used in lantern slides, produced by Eastman"}
@albumen_paper:concept {description: "Photographic paper coated with albumen for printing"}
@platinum_cold_process:concept {description: "Photographic printing process using platinum salts"}
@glass_lantern_pictures:concept {description: "Photographs printed on glass plates for lantern projection"}
@steamer_city_of_seattle:concept {type: "Steamer vessel"}
@quarantine:concept {description: "Health inspection period for arriving ships"}
@alaska:place {country: @united_states, region: "Alaska"}
@new_york:place {state: "New York", country: @united_states}
@staten_island:place {state: "New York", country: @united_states}
@alice_austen_john_c_thorne_correspondence -> includes -> @letter_1892_10_19_1
@alice_austen_john_c_thorne_correspondence -> includes -> @letter_1892_10_19_2
@letter_1892_10_19_1 -> authored by -> @john_c_thorne
@letter_1892_10_19_1 -> addressed to -> @alice_austen
@letter_1892_10_19_1 -> discusses -> [@gelatine_plates, @eastman_lantern_plates, @albumen_paper, @platinum_cold_process, @glass_lantern_pictures, @alaska]
@letter_1892_10_19_2 -> authored by -> @john_c_thorne
@letter_1892_10_19_2 -> addressed to -> @alice_austen
@letter_1892_10_19_2 -> discusses -> [@platinum_cold_process, @glass_lantern_pictures, @alaska, @steamer_city_of_seattle, @quarantine]
@john_c_thorne -> traveled to -> @alaska {when: @date_1892_10_19}
@steamer_city_of_seattle -> arrived at -> @new_york {when: @date_1892_10_06, duration_hours: 44}Metadata
Files (2)
OCR Text
If you have any trouble making Andrew slides let me know and I will be able to help you. The best results I have ever obtained with gelatine plates were on Eastman lantern plates. I have made about 1/2 a Doz M & G series I left Pres will With Kind Regards Sincerely yrs. John C. Thorne Oct 18, 1892 My Dear Miss Austin, Thank you ever so much for the two photos you sent me. Both are excellent, and show that you know how to handle your lights, sens. developers, printing for. Blisters on Albumen paper are very annoying. Some years ago I used to put wet toned prints into salt water and after fixing at once
OCR Text
into a batch of alcohol, & water equal parts. That seemed to stop the trouble. If I do any more printing I think I shall use Platinum Cold process. The results are fine, particularly so for 6½ + 8½ + 8+10 work. It is an excellent judgement, the best printing process I ever used. I have now a set of glass lantern pictures of my Alaska views. I will show them before on a screen 20 feet square with a line light. It is an easy way of going to Alaska, and gives a pretty good idea of the scenery. The Steamer City of Seattle brought my family safely home, arriving at NY on Monday last Oct 6th at 1:20 PM. Only 44 hours at Quarantine. Shaded trouble with baggage & no furn. put on which it was delightful.
Version History (4 versions)
- ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:40:06 PM
"Added description" - v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:30:12 PM · View this version
"Added knowledge graph extraction" - v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:48:24 PM · View this version
"Added PINAX metadata" - v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:27:07 PM · View this version
"Reorganization group: Correspondence_John_Browne"
Parent
No children (leaf entity)