Alice Austen and Julie Bredt Correspondence
PI
Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:42:26 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:29:04 PM
Added description
Description
Alice Austen – Julie Bredt Correspondence Collection (1892)
Overview
This collection comprises four scanned copies of handwritten letters exchanged between Elizabeth Alice Austen, a pioneering Staten‑Island photographer, and her close friend Julie Bredt in 1892. The items are presented as JPEG images with accompanying OCR‑extracted text, and a JSON metadata file that records the provenance, dates, and subject tags. The collection is part of the Austen Family Papers housed at the Alice Austen House Museum.Background
Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a leading American photographer of the late nineteenth century, known for her portraiture and landscape work. In the early 1890s she maintained an active social circle that included friends such as Julia T. Martin and Violet M.E. Ward. The correspondence with Julie Bredt reflects Austen’s dual interests in social life and her burgeoning photography business, including sales of images from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. The letters were written in English and were likely circulated among Austen’s network of friends and patrons.Contents
- Four JPEG scans of letters dated March 19, 1892 and other unspecified dates in 1892.
- OCR text extracted from each scan, revealing discussions of social events (e.g., a ball, minstrel performances), photography sales, and personal matters such as a Steinway piano purchase.
- Metadata JSON detailing creators, dates, subjects (correspondence, social life, photography, Victorian era, friendship, family relationships, music), and locations (Staten Island, Delaware, Albany).
- The letters are addressed to Julie Bredt and reference other contemporaries, illustrating the social milieu of upper‑middle‑class Staten‑Island society.
Scope
The collection covers a narrow temporal window—primarily March 1892—within the broader Austen correspondence. It is geographically focused on Staten Island, with ancillary references to Delaware and Albany. The material is limited to the four letters and their metadata; it does not include other correspondence, photographs, or business records from Austen’s practice. This collection offers a focused glimpse into Austen’s personal relationships and social engagements during a formative period of her career.Raw Cheimarros Data
@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth_year: @date_1866, death_year: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer", location: @staten_island}
@julie_bredt:person {full_name: "Julie Bredt", relationship: "friend of Alice Austen"}
@julia_martin:person {full_name: "Julia T. Martin", location: @albany}
@violet_ward:person {full_name: "Violet M.E. Ward"}
@isabella_king:person {full_name: "Isabella King", role: "photograph buyer"}
@bessie_strong:person {full_name: "Bessie Strong"}
@staten_island:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@delaware:place {country: @united_states}
@albany:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@alice_austen_julie_bredt_correspondence:collection {title: "Alice Austen and Julie Bredt Correspondence", created: @date_1892_03_09, institution: "Alice Austen House", language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Social life","Photography","Victorian era","Friendship","Family relationships","Music"]}
@file_pinax -> documents -> @alice_austen_julie_bredt_correspondence
@letter_1:document {type: "letter", description: "Letter dated March 19, 1892, from Alice Austen to Julie Bredt", date: @date_1892_03_19, source_file: @file_1892_3_9_mar_4_1_bredt_copy_jpg}
@alice_austen -> wrote -> @letter_1 {to: @julie_bredt, when: @date_1892_03_19}
@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @julie_bredt {start: @date_1883, end: @date_1898, via: @letter_1}
@alice_austen -> sold photographs -> @julie_bredt {subject: "photographs", when: @date_1892_03_19}
@letter_2:document {type: "letter", description: "Letter dated 1892 (exact day not specified) from Alice Austen to Julie Bredt", source_file: @file_1892_3_9_mar_4_2_bredt_copy_jpg}
@alice_austen -> wrote -> @letter_2 {to: @julie_bredt, when: @date_1892}
@letter_3:document {type: "letter", description: "Letter dated 1892 (exact day not specified) from Alice Austen to Julie Bredt", source_file: @file_1892_3_9_mar_4_3_bredt_copy_jpg}
@alice_austen -> wrote -> @letter_3 {to: @julie_bredt, when: @date_1892}
@letter_4:document {type: "letter", description: "Letter dated 1892 (exact day not specified) from Alice Austen to Julie Bredt", source_file: @file_1892_3_9_mar_4_4_bredt_copy_jpg}
@alice_austen -> wrote -> @letter_4 {to: @julie_bredt, when: @date_1892}
@ball:event {description: "Victorian-era social ball mentioned in correspondence"}
@alice_austen -> attended -> @ball:event {when: @date_1892}
@minstrels:event {description: "Performance of 'the minstrels' referenced in letter"}
@alice_austen -> attended -> @minstrels:event {when: @date_1892}
@photography_business:concept {description: "Alice Austen's photography business, including sales of images from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition"}
@alice_austen -> involved in -> @photography_business {when: @date_1893}
@steinway_piano:object {type: "piano", manufacturer: "Steinway"}
@alice_austen -> purchased -> @steinway_piano {when: @date_1894_04, reason: "music correspondence"}Metadata
Files (4)
OCR Text
Perry, George, Mr. Wade.—What are you up to in H.B. having a good time I course. At least did I not you tell me? Our best wish go this year Mr. girls will be lost as 700 Preps have sent in their names I hope they are older than sloppy or we will die—My stitchings are simply fine! I really—much better than I expected. Fare well—with love To your big Julie— March 19th Mar. wrote this last week & never sent it. G.B. has gone to Delaware what was struck him, don't ever let me think we have My dearest Dolly: I got a note from Ally Mercer & she wanted me to come to a ball last week, & now she wants me to come over next week but I can't go, Mamma is going away & I am doing housework & it will be lots of fun—I like it I do.—A! Little the pictures are simply fine, & they are really the best I have ever seen you took here I want them all & A! The men are perfectly wild about them every time they come they sit & beg me they say till Miss
OCR Text
I said to Mr. Spade, the other night, did you think Spad Austin was great? Would you hold over us, you said, you know people thought so, he said. He wished to never make such a mistake! - That G.B.! He was here right before last but I was out with Jim, & I sent him back walking up to shops he valued. James will me, but I was horrid to him. I did not want him that night. Sam said at my call for it he is good—and nicer than ever. Composing—now? I will show, tonight me a perfect song. He wants it to remembered to also Austin to send the plates up they will settle the next. I said "yes like Jim." But really it is awful, you can not print them all if I mix you. I would let the phs. finish them up, & I will settle up.—So but really what is to be done every one can not have one. Poor Gladway has begged so, & Mr. Blunt & Mr. Bruce will be wild, A'll! O! I never saw any thing like Mr. B. in my life & you miss, & Percy simply sickening really. But I know cute they all are and no wonder you like "your arm around him & just my arm!"
OCR Text
Can not stand it alone—with you to back him up, he was elegant for a week but now—don't you ever mention a thing to him, for he will tell! Now be careful, for it would be awful if it got out. Now mind you don't, if you do I'll tell you no more. What ever you do don't let him think I have talked to you it made me mad for him to think I had talked. Far will Julia— Sunday aft. Dear Lollie:— O! was it not awful you could have stayed longer why it is dreadfully mean. And O! last night, "the minstrels" were simply fine. G. Booth took me, he is killing but he is not going to keep it up, I see him falling but what do you think? He said to me now don't you tell him, he said, "Miss Brett did you & Miss Austen ever talk about me"? Think of it I said, "no" then he said does you ever tell her anything
OCR Text
Meanwhile be remembered, Alan! he never will know I said so you want to own every rose ever to be said me! I will send it myself - Alan! Percy was in the room - glads of him, - in surprise - you I teach asked him about its fight I said "O! you" & Miss Austin had a thought did you not the time when she met him? he said "I will do!" & got hunted, then he said "And in said it!" & got hunted, then he said "And June" I said "yes he said" (a I was sick) all that time." Then we were interrupted & Miss ended it, but if he had only some I do will, for about me," I said "nursey no". Why, "well I would cared for she read me pretty well for a person who knew not much about me." And he said "she gave me very good advice." Later on he asked for your address, asked if you had sent him any message, I told him it had had a little from two Allys's - he said well, did Miss Austin send any message to me, & I said no, only
Version History (4 versions)
- ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:42:26 PM
"Added description" - v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:38:15 PM · View this version
"Added knowledge graph extraction" - v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:49:53 PM · View this version
"Added PINAX metadata" - v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:29:04 PM · View this version
"Reorganization group: Correspondence_Julie_Bredt"
Parent
No children (leaf entity)