1892_3-28-March 13001-strong copy.jpg

Elizabeth Strong to Alice Austen Correspondence

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:41:29 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:27:11 PM

Added description

Description

Elizabeth Strong to Alice Austen Correspondence (March 1892)

Overview

This digital collection comprises six high‑resolution JPEG scans of a single handwritten letter dated March 27–28, 1892, written by Elizabeth B. Strong to her friend Alice Austen. The images are accompanied by OCR‑derived text, a JSON metadata record, and a descriptive JSON file. The material is part of the Alice Austen House Museum’s archival holdings and is available through the PINAX platform.

Background

Elizabeth B. Strong (1866‑1952) was a resident of New Brunswick, New Jersey, and a close associate of photographer Alice Austen (1866‑1952). The letter reflects their long‑standing friendship and the social milieu of late‑Victorian Staten Island and New Brunswick. The correspondence was produced during a period of personal and societal change, including discussions of family affairs, local events, and contemporary topics such as the Franco‑Prussian War and nursing education.

Contents

  • Images: Six JPEG files (≈0.5–2 MB each) capture the full page of the letter, including marginalia and the sender’s signature.
  • OCR Text: Extracted from the images, the OCR provides a readable transcription of the letter’s content, covering topics such as church attendance, travel, family news, and social invitations.
  • Metadata: A JSON record lists creator, date, subjects (personal correspondence, Victorian social life, family matters, New Brunswick, Staten Island, nursing training, Franco‑Prussian War), and provenance information.
  • Descriptive JSON: Summarizes the collection’s purpose and context.

Scope

The collection documents a single, dated letter from Elizabeth Strong to Alice Austen, dated March 27–28, 1892. It covers personal updates, social engagements, and contemporary events relevant to the authors’ social circles. The material is limited to this one correspondence and does not include other letters, photographs, or ancillary documents. It provides a snapshot of early‑1890s upper‑middle‑class life in the New York metropolitan area and the intellectual interests of its participants.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@alice_austen_house:organization {type: "museum", location: @staten_island, name: "Alice Austen House Museum"}

@file_pinax:document {title: "Elizabeth Strong to Alice Austen Correspondence", creator: @elizabeth_strong, institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1892_03_28, language: "en", subjects: ["Personal correspondence","Victorian social life","Family matters","New Brunswick","Staten Island","Nursing training","Franco-Prussian War"], description: "Collection of correspondence from Elizabeth B. Strong to Alice Austen, discussing personal and family matters, social events, and local news from New Brunswick and Staten Island in March 1892."}

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

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

@rosebank:place {city: @staten_island, description: "Neighborhood on Staten Island"}

@new_brunswick:place {state: @new_jersey, country: @united_states}

@letter_march_27_1892:document {date: @date_1892_03_27, from: @elizabeth_strong, to: @alice_austen, location: @new_brunswick, title: "Letter from Elizabeth Strong to Alice Austen"}

@file_1892_3_28_march_13002_strong_copy_jpg -> part of -> @letter_march_27_1892

@file_1892_3_28_march_13003_strong_copy_jpg -> part of -> @letter_march_27_1892

@file_1892_3_28_march_13004_strong_copy_jpg -> part of -> @letter_march_27_1892

@file_1892_3_28_march_13005_strong_copy_jpg -> part of -> @letter_march_27_1892

@file_1892_3_28_march_13006_strong_copy_jpg -> part of -> @letter_march_27_1892

@mrs_bishop:person {role: "German agency proprietor"}

@elizabeth_mother:person {relation: "mother of @elizabeth_strong"}

@theodore:person {relation: "brother of @elizabeth_strong"}

@mrs_woodbridge:person {role: "friend", assistance: "provided carriage and food"}

@eva:person {interest: "reading 'David Grieve'"}

@mr_barton:person {relation: "friend of @alice_austen"}

@helen_wilson:person {relation: "subject of @mr_barton’s attentions"}

@alice_cooper:person {interest: "training school for nurses"}

@drury_cooper:person {mentioned: true}

@john_de_witt:person {travel_destination: @denver}

@denver:place {state: @colorado, country: @united_states}

@mr_ellings:person {plans: "going abroad"}

@mr_white:person {social: true}

@mr_simpson:person {stay: "in town for a few weeks"}

@cousin_kate_melville:person {relation: "cousin of @elizabeth_strong"}

@mr_simon:person {mentioned: false}

@ruthlins:family {type: "family"}

@travellers_club:organization {type: "club", location: @new_york}

@lecture_french_prussian_war:event {date: @date_1892_03_28, location: @travellers_club, topic: @franco_prussian_war}

@elizabeth_strong -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1892_03_27, via: @letter_march_27_1892}

@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @mrs_bishop

@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @elizabeth_mother

@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @theodore

@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @mrs_woodbridge

@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @eva

@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @mr_barton

@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @helen_wilson

@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @alice_cooper

@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @drury_cooper

@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @john_de_witt

@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @mr_ellings

@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @mr_white

@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @mr_simpson

@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @cousin_kate_melville

@elizabeth_strong -> attended -> @lecture_french_prussian_war {companions: [@ruthlins]}

@alice_austen_house -> holds -> @file_pinax

Metadata

Files (6)

1892_3-28-March 13001-strong copy.jpgJPEG
449.14 KB
OCR Text

Miss E. A. Austen Rosebank. Staten Island. N.Y.

1892_3-28-March 13002-Strong copy.jpgJPEG
1.59 MB
OCR Text

place in the city with her brother, so preferred to take that. Of course I was vexed, but that did no good. So I tried at Mrs. Bishop's German agency, and finding no one there came home on the 11.10 train. It was as I feared, Mother had no one except a woman by the day. The waitress who was to have come on Thursday New Brunswick March 27th '92 My dear Alice:— Have just come in from church, and though I am sleepy enough to go to bed, will send you a few lines, and return the dollar. Many thanks for it. As it happened I did not require it for the girl went back on me—found she could 'get a

1892_3-28-March 13003-strong copy.jpgJPEG
1.7 MB
OCR Text

decided to stay where she was, and did not think it necessary to send any word to us. However, a girl applied last night and engaged to come Monday night, and the next thing will be to secure a cook. You see it was quite time I came home. Met Cousin Kate Melville and Mr. White going on the boat yesterday morning, and as Cousin Kate went over to talk "Infirmary" to Mrs. Emmons, Mr. White and I had it all our own way. He was good fun as usual; wanted to know if I was coming to spend the summer on the Island, to which I assented of course. He said I promised to last year and then only stayed a few days. Mr. Simpson is in town for a few weeks (N.Y. I mean) but Mr. White says

1892_3-28-March 13004-strong copy.jpgJPEG
1.82 MB
OCR Text

true, though it came quite straight. Mr. Ellings is now talking of going abroad so Drury Cooper tells me; John De Witt goes to Denver this week. Went to church in all the rain this morning, but Mrs. Woodbridge was good enough to bring me home in her carriage. She is the kindest woman; this morning before breakfast she left over a lot of delicious radishes just picked, and this afternoon over came her waitress with a great plate of rolls for tea! She even offered to come over and help about the housework. Today we have gotten on very nicely; our German woman came at noon and stayed until after tea, did all the dishes and clearing up. Found a letter from Eva waiting for me. She is reading "David Grieve" and wants my opinion of it. Considering I was only

1892_3-28-March 13005-strong copy.jpgJPEG
2.26 MB
OCR Text

Going to write a few lines, I have certainly done very well. Remember you agreed to mend your ways and write more gently in future. Mother sends love, and Theodore his regards. The others are scattered with much love for yourself and kindest remembrances for all. As ever yours, Elizabeth B. Strong I saw your friend Mr. Barton as we came off the boat. His attentions to Helen Wilson do not amount to anything. I heard something today which will interest you—that Alice Cooper intends going to The training school for nurses, and will begin quite soon. Whether she just means to take the course for the sake of the instruction, or whether she means to be a nurse I cannot say. Indeed the report may not be

1892_3-28-March 13006-strong copy.jpgJPEG
1.42 MB
OCR Text

This is a gorgeous day. I am booked for the dressmaker's this P.M. and to-night go with the Ruthlins to a lecture before the "Travellers' Club" on the Franco-Prussian War. With much love from Mother and myself, Aff'ly and hastily, Elizabeth Wednesday A.M. My dear Alice: I send at last the handkerchief, which is a trifle late as a birthday gift, but it will prove no less useful, I hope. We have one domestic, a waitress and apparently by a very nice girl if her strength holds out. She is said to be delicate.

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:41:29 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:34:58 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:49:15 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:27:11 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Correspondence_Elizabeth_Strong"

Parent

01KC28TTD755RBGACHH9W4NBMC

No children (leaf entity)