1892_3-21-March 10001-martin copy.jpg

Alice Austen and Julia T. Martin Correspondence

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:41:49 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:27:07 PM

Added description

Description

Alice Austen – Julia T. Martin Correspondence Collection (1892)

Overview

This digital collection preserves a set of handwritten letters exchanged in March 1892 between photographer Elizabeth Alice Austen of Staten Island and her close friend Julia T. Martin of Albany, New York. The collection also contains two additional letters written by Jada J. Warner, a contemporary of Austen, which were addressed to Austen and provide further context for the social circle. The materials are available as high‑resolution JPEG scans of the original envelopes and pages, accompanied by OCR‑derived text and typed transcriptions.

Background

Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering American photographer whose work documented late‑Victorian life on Staten Island. Her correspondence offers insight into her personal relationships and the social milieu of the island’s upper‑middle class. Julia T. Martin, a long‑time friend, was a resident of Albany and frequently visited the island. Jada J. Warner, another associate, contributed letters that reflect the broader network of friends and acquaintances surrounding Austen. The collection was digitized by the Alice Austen House Museum and is part of its broader effort to preserve Austen’s personal papers.

Contents

  • Three scanned letters (March 21, 1892):
    • - One from Julia T. Martin to Austen, discussing daily life, reading, sewing, and social engagements. - Two from Jada J. Warner to Austen, detailing weather, household activities, visits to friends, and literary interests.
  • Metadata: Each letter is cataloged with creation date, sender, recipient, and location (Staten Island, NY).
  • OCR text: Extracted from the scans, providing searchable content.
  • Transcriptions: Typed versions of the handwritten letters for easier reading.

Scope

The collection covers a single day, March 21, 1892, and focuses on personal correspondence that illustrates everyday social life, literary pursuits, and community ties among Staten Island residents. It is geographically limited to Staten Island and Albany and thematically centered on friendship, domestic activities, and Victorian social customs. The collection does not include photographs, business records, or other archival materials unrelated to the personal letters.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth_year: 1866, death_year: 1952, occupation: "photographer", residence: @staten_island}

@julia_t_martin:person {full_name: "Julia T. Martin", relationship: "close friend of Alice Austen", residence: @albany}

@jada_j_warner:person {full_name: "Jada J. Warner"}

@dr_van:person {title: "Dr.", surname: "Van"}

@mrs_smively:person {title: "Mrs.", surname: "Smively"}

@mrs_thompson:person {title: "Mrs.", surname: "Thompson"}

@may_cooper:person {full_name: "May Cooper"}

@mrs_cooper:person {title: "Mrs.", surname: "Cooper"}

@miss_marsh:person {title: "Miss", surname: "Marsh"}

@miss_mcharg:person {title: "Miss", surname: "McHarg"}

@miss_richards:person {title: "Miss", surname: "Richards"}

@miss_libbitts:person {title: "Miss", surname: "Libbitts"}

@alice_austen_julia_martin_correspondence:document {created: @date_1892_03_21, description: "Collection of correspondence between Alice Austen and her close friend Julia T. Martin, discussing social activities, personal news, and local events in Staten Island.", subjects: ["Correspondence","Social life","Victorian era","Staten Island","Friendship"], language: "en"}

@letter_martin_1892_03_21:document {author: @julia_t_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1892_03_21, location: @staten_island}

@letter_jtm_1892_03_21_10002:document {author: @julia_t_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1892_03_21, location: @staten_island}

@letter_jtm_1892_03_21_10003:document {author: @jada_j_warner, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1892_03_21, location: @staten_island}

@file_pinax -> documents -> @alice_austen_julia_martin_correspondence

@file_1892_3_21_march_10001_martin_copy_jpg -> asset -> @letter_martin_1892_03_21

@file_1892_3_21_march_10002_jtm_copy_jpg -> asset -> @letter_jtm_1892_03_21_10002

@file_1892_3_21_march_10003_jtm_copy_jpg -> asset -> @letter_jtm_1892_03_21_10003

@alice_austen_julia_martin_correspondence -> includes -> [@letter_martin_1892_03_21, @letter_jtm_1892_03_21_10002, @letter_jtm_1892_03_21_10003]

@julia_t_martin -> asks about -> @dr_van {question: "to blame"}

@julia_t_martin -> mentions -> @mrs_smively {activity: "out driving with her mother"}

@julia_t_martin -> mentions -> @mrs_thompson {injury: "slip on shoulder"}

@julia_t_martin -> mentions -> @mrs_cooper {status: "away"}

@julia_t_martin -> together with -> [@mrs_cooper, @mrs_thompson] {activity: "reading and sewing"}

@julia_t_martin -> plans to visit -> @miss_mcharg {activity: "dress-making"}

@julia_t_martin -> dined with -> [@miss_richards, @miss_libbitts] {date: "Sunday"}

@jada_j_warner -> mentions -> @may_cooper {status: "away"}

Metadata

Title
Alice Austen and Julia T. Martin Correspondence
Type
Collection
Creator
Alice AustenJulia T. Martin
Institution
Alice Austen House
Created
1892-03-21
Language
en
Subjects
Correspondence, Social life, Victorian era, Staten Island, Friendship
Place
Staten Island, NY, Albany, NY
Source
PINAX

Files (3)

1892_3-21-March 10001-martin copy.jpgJPEG
272.5 KB
OCR Text

Miss Austen Bosibank Staten Island N.Y.

1892_3-21-March 10002-JTM copy.jpgJPEG
1.39 MB
OCR Text

accounts of Dr Van—Do you think he is to blame? I can not tell you how much I enjoy the papers and your letters. You are at home now I suppose. Do you meet every day to sew for the poor at Miss Marsh's or does she give all her work & time to the new baby. I shall never recover from the shock the news caused me—what next. My letter will be very dull for there is literally nothing to write about. My dear Alice, Mrs Smively is out driving with her Mother. Mrs Thompson is down stairs with a slip on her shoulder & I am alone in my room & am going to take up the time in writing you while I have the opportunity. I am looking for the other Staten Islander, etc.

1892_3-21-March 10003-JTM copy.jpgJPEG
1.02 MB
OCR Text

All my friends except May Cooper are away. It has been rainy, disagreeable weather & so Mrs. Cooper, Mrs. Thompson & I have been in the house reading & sewing a great deal. Have you ever read the second wife? It is an old book & awfully good. We have just finished it. Mrs. Thompson is still here & expects to remain till the 1st of April. Then on the 5th Mrs. Cooper is going to Philadelphia & Morristown—not to New York. I am going to Miss McHarg's & expect to be busy dress-making. I shall be so glad to go. I dined again on Sunday at Miss Richards & Miss Libbitts "the two Marys" & had a fine time. Excuse this poor apology of a letter which I hope you will think worth an answer. My love to all— affectionately, Jada J. Warner

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:41:49 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:36:21 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:49:28 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:27:07 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Correspondence_Julia_Martin"

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