Alice Austen Correspondence with Elisabeth Strong

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:43:46 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:29:10 PM

Added description

Description

Alice Austen – Correspondence with Elisabeth B. Strong, 1892

Overview

This collection comprises fifteen handwritten letters written by Elisabeth B. Strong to photographer Alice Austen, dated June 8–July 18, 1892. The letters were digitized by the Alice Austen House Museum and are available as high‑resolution JPEG scans, accompanied by typed transcriptions. The material is in the public domain and is part of the Austen Family Papers (MS 1).

Background

Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering American photographer who lived on Staten Island, New York. In the early 1890s she was establishing her photography business and cultivating a network of friends and patrons. Elisabeth B. Strong, a close confidante and social associate of Austen, maintained regular correspondence that documents their shared social life, Austen’s professional activities, and the broader cultural milieu of the era.

Contents

The letters cover a wide range of topics:
  • Social events: references to a “Musical” (June 3), tennis matches, a moonlight drive to Pomerville, a President’s reception and ball at the Fine Arts Building, a Glee‑Club concert, and choir meetings.
  • Photography: discussions of Austen’s work, including photographs taken in Brooklyn, at the Naval Hospital and Cemetery, and at Pomerville, as well as her sale of images.
  • Family and personal matters: mentions of relatives such as Rosalie, Hattie Richardson’s newborn, and the death of Austen’s grandfather.
  • Locations: New Brunswick, Cambridge, Boston, Brooklyn, and Pomerville are frequently cited, reflecting the geographic breadth of Austen’s social circle.
  • Other individuals: the letters name several contemporaries—Julia T. Martin, Julie Bredt, Violet M.E. Ward, Isabella King, Bessie Strong, and others—providing a snapshot of Austen’s network.

Scope

The collection is confined to the 1892 correspondence from Elisabeth Strong to Alice Austen. It offers a focused view of Austen’s social and professional life during a formative period of her career, illustrating the interplay between her photographic practice and the social fabric of late‑Victorian New York society. The material is valuable for researchers of women’s history, photography, and 19th‑century social networks.

Raw Cheimarros Data

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

@elisabeth_strong:person {full_name: "Elisabeth B. Strong", role: "correspondent"}

@julia_t_martin:person {full_name: "Julia T. Martin", relationship: "close friend", location: @albany}

@julie_bredt:person {full_name: "Julie Bredt"}

@violet_m_e_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"}

@rosalie:person {first_name: "Rosalie"}

@harry_dayton:person {full_name: "Harry Dayton"}

@drury_cooper:person {full_name: "Drury Cooper"}

@mr_dyke:person {full_name: "Mr. Dyke"}

@hattie_richardson:person {full_name: "Hattie Richardson"}

@john:person {first_name: "John"}

@charlie_redlow:person {full_name: "Charlie Redlow"}

@bellita_evans:person {full_name: "Bellita Evans"}

@warren_schenck:person {full_name: "Warren Schenck"}

@mr_field:person {full_name: "Mr. Field"}

@theodore:person {first_name: "Theodore"}

@miss_titus:person {full_name: "Miss Titus"}

@emily_schenck:person {full_name: "Emily Schenck"}

@charles_duryea:person {full_name: "Charles Duryea"}

@duryea_house:place {description: "Duryea family residence"}

@albany:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

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

@brooklyn:place {city: "Brooklyn", state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

@cambridge:place {state: @massachusetts, country: @united_states}

@boston:place {state: @massachusetts, country: @united_states}

@pomerville:place {description: "local area near Staten Island"}

@naval_cemetery:place {description: "Cemetery adjacent to Naval Hospital"}

@naval_hospital:place {description: "Naval Hospital in New Brunswick"}

@fine_arts_building:place {description: "Fine Arts Building, Boston"}

@choir_meeting_location:place {description: "Choir meeting venue, possibly Bessie Howard's home"}

@date_1866:date_1866

@date_1952:date_1952

@date_1892_06_08:date_1892_06_08

@date_1892_07_17:date_1892_07_17

@date_1892_06_02:date_1892_06_02

@date_1892_06_25:date_1892_06_25

@date_1892_07_14:date_1892_07_14

@date_1892_07_16:date_1892_07_16

@date_1892_07_07:date_1892_07_07

@date_1892_07_18:date_1892_07_18

@file_1892_6_9_june_1002_strong_copy_jpg:document {date: @date_1892_06_08, location: @new_brunswick, type: "letter"}

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@file_1892_6_9_june_1004_strong_copy_jpg:document {date: @date_1892_06_08, location: @new_brunswick, type: "letter"}

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@file_1892_6_9_june_1007_strong_copy_jpg:document {date: @date_1892_06_08, location: @new_brunswick, type: "letter"}

@file_1892_7_18_july_3002_strong_copy_jpg:document {date: @date_1892_07_17, location: @new_brunswick, type: "letter"}

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@file_1892_7_18_july_3005_strong_copy_jpg:document {date: @date_1892_07_17, location: @new_brunswick, type: "letter"}

@file_1892_7_18_july_3006_strong_copy_jpg:document {date: @date_1892_07_17, location: @new_brunswick, type: "letter"}

@file_1892_7_18_july_3007_strong_copy_jpg:document {date: @date_1892_07_17, location: @new_brunswick, type: "letter"}

@file_1892_7_18_july_3008_strong_copy_jpg:document {date: @date_1892_07_17, location: @new_brunswick, type: "letter"}

@file_1892_7_18_july_3009_strong_copy_jpg:document {date: @date_1892_07_17, location: @new_brunswick, type: "letter"}

@file_pinax:document {title: "Alice Austen Correspondence with Elisabeth Strong", creator: [@elisabeth_strong, @alice_austen], institution: "Alice Austen House", created_range: {start: @date_1892_06_09, end: @date_1892_07_18}, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Social life","Photography","Family","Music"], description: "Collection of letters from Elisabeth B. Strong to Alice Austen, 1892."}

@file_1892_6_9_june_1002_strong_copy_jpg -> authored by -> @elisabeth_strong

@file_1892_6_9_june_1002_strong_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen

@file_1892_6_9_june_1003_strong_copy_jpg -> authored by -> @elisabeth_strong

@file_1892_6_9_june_1003_strong_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen

@file_1892_6_9_june_1004_strong_copy_jpg -> authored by -> @elisabeth_strong

@file_1892_6_9_june_1004_strong_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen

@file_1892_6_9_june_1005_strong_copy_jpg -> authored by -> @elisabeth_strong

@file_1892_6_9_june_1005_strong_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen

@file_1892_6_9_june_1006_strong_copy_jpg -> authored by -> @elisabeth_strong

@file_1892_6_9_june_1006_strong_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen

@file_1892_6_9_june_1007_strong_copy_jpg -> authored by -> @elisabeth_strong

@file_1892_6_9_june_1007_strong_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen

@file_1892_7_18_july_3002_strong_copy_jpg -> authored by -> @elisabeth_strong

@file_1892_7_18_july_3002_strong_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen

@file_1892_7_18_july_3003_strong_copy_jpg -> authored by -> @elisabeth_strong

@file_1892_7_18_july_3003_strong_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen

@file_1892_7_18_july_3004_strong_copy_jpg -> authored by -> @elisabeth_strong

@file_1892_7_18_july_3004_strong_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen

@file_1892_7_18_july_3005_strong_copy_jpg -> authored by -> @elisabeth_strong

@file_1892_7_18_july_3005_strong_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen

@file_1892_7_18_july_3006_strong_copy_jpg -> authored by -> @elisabeth_strong

@file_1892_7_18_july_3006_strong_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen

@file_1892_7_18_july_3007_strong_copy_jpg -> authored by -> @elisabeth_strong

@file_1892_7_18_july_3007_strong_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen

@file_1892_7_18_july_3008_strong_copy_jpg -> authored by -> @elisabeth_strong

@file_1892_7_18_july_3008_strong_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen

@file_1892_7_18_july_3009_strong_copy_jpg -> authored by -> @elisabeth_strong

@file_1892_7_18_july_3009_strong_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen

@file_1892_6_9_june_1002_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @rosalie

@file_1892_6_9_june_1003_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @naval_cemetery

@file_1892_6_9_june_1003_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @naval_hospital

@file_1892_6_9_june_1004_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @musical_1892:event {description: "The 'Musical' performed on June 3, 1892"}

@file_1892_6_9_june_1004_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @tennis_match_1892:event {description: "Tennis match where Rosalie defeated Miss Gibbs"}

@file_1892_6_9_june_1005_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @harry_dayton

@file_1892_6_9_june_1005_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @drury_cooper

@file_1892_6_9_june_1005_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @mr_dyke

@file_1892_6_9_june_1006_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @hattie_richardson

@file_1892_6_9_june_1006_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @john

@file_1892_6_9_june_1007_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @charlie_redlow

@file_1892_7_18_july_3002_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @boston

@file_1892_7_18_july_3002_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @cambridge

@file_1892_7_18_july_3003_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @helen

@file_1892_7_18_july_3004_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @bellita_evans

@file_1892_7_18_july_3004_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @warren_schenck

@file_1892_7_18_july_3004_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @mr_field

@file_1892_7_18_july_3004_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @theodore

@file_1892_7_18_july_3004_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @miss_titus

@file_1892_7_18_july_3005_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @glee_club_concert_1892:event {description: "Glee-Club Concert during Commencement"}

@file_1892_7_18_july_3005_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @presidents_reception_1892:event {description: "President's Reception at Fine Arts Building"}

@file_1892_7_18_july_3006_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @ball_of_the_evening:event {description: "Evening ball after President's Reception"}

@file_1892_7_18_july_3007_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @duryea_house

@file_1892_7_18_july_3007_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @photography_activity {description: "Photographs taken in Brooklyn"}

@file_1892_7_18_july_3008_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @choir_meeting_location

@file_1892_7_18_july_3008_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @charlie_redlow

@file_1892_7_18_july_3009_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @eva

@file_1892_7_18_july_3009_strong_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @rosalie

@musical_1892:event -> took place at -> @brooklyn

@tennis_match_1892:event -> took place at -> @brooklyn

@glee_club_concert_1892:event -> took place at -> @fine_arts_building

@presidents_reception_1892:event -> took place at -> @fine_arts_building

@ball_of_the_evening:event -> took place at -> @fine_arts_building

@choir_meeting_location -> hosted by -> @bessie_howard:person {full_name: "Bessie Howard"}

@photography_activity -> performed by -> @alice_austen

@alice_austen -> sold photographs -> @photography_business:concept {description: "Photography business, including images from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition"}

@alice_austen -> photographed -> @pomerville

@alice_austen -> photographed -> @naval_cemetery

@alice_austen -> photographed -> @naval_hospital

@alice_austen -> participated in -> @musical_1892:event

@alice_austen -> participated in -> @tennis_match_1892:event

@alice_austen -> attended -> @glee_club_concert_1892:event

@alice_austen -> attended -> @presidents_reception_1892:event

@alice_austen -> attended -> @ball_of_the_evening:event

@alice_austen -> attended -> @choir_meeting_location

@alice_austen -> attended -> @moonlight_drive_1892:event {description: "Moonlight drive to Pomerville on July 7, 1892"}

@moonlight_drive_1892:event -> participants -> [@alice_austen, @bellita_evans, @warren_schenck, @mr_field, @theodore, @miss_titus]

Metadata

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:43:46 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:43:47 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:50:41 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:29:10 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Correspondence_Elisabeth_Strong"

Additional Components (14)

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1892_6-9-June 1003-strong copy.jpg.ref.json
1892_6-9-June 1004-strong copy.jpg.ref.json
1892_6-9-June 1005-strong copy.jpg.ref.json
1892_6-9-June 1006-strong copy.jpg.ref.json
1892_6-9-June 1007-strong copy.jpg.ref.json
1892_7-18-July 3002-strong copy.jpg.ref.json
1892_7-18-July 3003-strong copy.jpg.ref.json
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1892_7-18-July 3006-strong copy.jpg.ref.json
1892_7-18-July 3007-strong copy.jpg.ref.json
1892_7-18-July 3008-strong copy.jpg.ref.json
1892_7-18-July 3009-strong copy.jpg.ref.json

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01KC28V3CW01JEVRNQYZBKPV7Q

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