1892_4-20-April 5001-strong copy.jpg

Elizabeth Strong Correspondence to Alice Austen

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:42:44 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:29:12 PM

Added description

Description

Correspondence of Elizabeth Strong to Alice Austen (April–May 1892)

Overview

This digitized collection contains seven personal letters written by Elizabeth Strong to her friend and photographer Alice Austen during the spring of 1892. The items are presented as high‑resolution JPEG scans of the original envelopes and handwritten pages, accompanied by typed transcriptions in plain‑text format. The correspondence is housed in the Austen Family Papers (MS1) at the Alice Austen House Museum and is part of the 1883‑1898, 15‑year folder set.

Background

Elizabeth Strong (née Rosebank, Staten Island) was a close confidante of Austen, sharing social and artistic interests in late‑Victorian New York. The letters were sent from various locations—Staten Island, Brooklyn, Livingston, New Jersey—reflecting the mobility of the upper‑middle‑class community in which both women lived. The collection illustrates the social calendar of the era, including dances, lyceum plays, weddings, and the burgeoning photography business that Austen pursued.

Contents

  • Four letters dated April 20, 1892 (letters 5002–5004) discuss a forthcoming dance, a lyceum play, Miss Pool’s wedding, and attire concerns.
  • Three letters dated May 24, 1892 (letters 8002–8005) cover plans for a Staten Island visit, a photography session, Navy Yard theatricals, travel from New Brunswick, and updates on health and social visits.
Each letter is accompanied by a scanned image of the original page and a corresponding transcription. The collection also includes metadata such as dates, places, and subject tags (e.g., “social life,” “photography,” “music”).

Scope

The collection spans a two‑month period in 1892, focusing on personal correspondence between Strong and Austen. It covers geographic locations in Staten Island, Brooklyn, New York City, and Livingston, New Jersey. The material is limited to the seven letters and their scans; it does not include other correspondence, photographs, or ancillary documents. The collection offers a window into the social networks, cultural events, and early photographic practices of late‑19th‑century New York society.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Alice Austen", birth: @date_1866, death: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer", location: @staten_island:place}

@elizabeth_strong:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Strong", relation: "correspondent", location: @staten_island:place}

@rosebank:place {city: "Rosebank", borough: "Staten Island", state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

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

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

@livingston_nj:place {city: "Livingston", state: @new_jersey, country: @united_states}

@new_brunswick:place {city: "New Brunswick", state: @new_jersey, country: @united_states}

@navy_yard:place {location: @brooklyn:place}

@governors_island:place {city: "Governor's Island", state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

@mr_elting:person {full_name: "Mr. Elting"}

@cbl:person {full_name: "C.B.L."}

@helen:person {full_name: "Helen"}

@mai_kirkpatrick:person {full_name: "Mai Kirkpatrick"}

@mr_duer:person {full_name: "Mr. Duer"}

@rosalie:person {full_name: "Rosalie"}

@theodore:person {full_name: "Theodore"}

@charlie:person {full_name: "Charlie"}

@fritz:person {full_name: "Fritz"}

@prolie:person {full_name: "Prolie"}

@dance:event {date: @date_1892_04_20, location: @assembly_room:place, description: "Social dance organized by community members"}

@assembly_room:place {location: @staten_island:place}

@lyceum_play:event {date: @date_1892_05_06, location: @staten_island:place, description: "Lyceum Play performance"}

@miss_pool_wedding:event {date: @date_1892_04_??, location: @staten_island:place, description: "Miss Pool's wedding"}

@photography_session:event {date: @date_1892_05_27, location: @staten_island:place, description: "Planned photography session"}

@navy_yard_theatricals:event {date: @date_1892_05_??, location: @navy_yard:place, description: "Private theatricals at Navy Yard"}

@letter_1892_04_20_5002:document {author: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1892_04_20, subject: "Dance invitation and dress discussion"}

@letter_1892_04_20_5003:document {author: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1892_04_20, subject: "Assembly Room vote and upcoming Lyceum Play"}

@letter_1892_04_20_5004:document {author: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1892_04_20, subject: "Miss Pool's wedding and personal remarks"}

@letter_1892_05_24_8002:document {author: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1892_05_24, subject: "Plans for Staten Island visit with Rosalie"}

@letter_1892_05_24_8003:document {author: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1892_05_24, subject: "Photography plans and Navy Yard theatrical details"}

@letter_1892_05_24_8004:document {author: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1892_05_24, subject: "Travel from New Brunswick and health updates"}

@letter_1892_05_24_8005:document {author: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1892_05_24, subject: "Social visits and address update"}

@file_pinax:file {title: "Elizabeth Strong Correspondence to Alice Austen", creator: [@elizabeth_strong], institution: "Alice Austen House", created: @date_1892_04_20, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Social life","Photography","Music","Victorian era","Staten Island","Brooklyn","New York","Family relationships"], description: "A collection of personal letters from Elizabeth Strong to Alice Austen, discussing social events, photography, music, and family matters in 1892.", place: [@staten_island:place, @brooklyn:place, @new_york:place, @livingston_nj:place]}

@file_1892_4_20_april_5002_strong_copy_jpg:file -> contains -> @letter_1892_04_20_5002:document

@file_1892_4_20_april_5003_strong_copy_jpg:file -> contains -> @letter_1892_04_20_5003:document

@file_1892_4_20_april_5004_strong_copy_jpg:file -> contains -> @letter_1892_04_20_5004:document

@file_1892_5_24_may_8002_strong_copy_jpg:file -> contains -> @letter_1892_05_24_8002:document

@file_1892_5_24_may_8003_strong_copy_jpg:file -> contains -> @letter_1892_05_24_8003:document

@file_1892_5_24_may_8004_strong_copy_jpg:file -> contains -> @letter_1892_05_24_8004:document

@file_1892_5_24_may_8005_strong_copy_jpg:file -> contains -> @letter_1892_05_24_8005:document

@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_1892_04_20_5002:document

@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_1892_04_20_5003:document

@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_1892_04_20_5004:document

@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_1892_05_24_8002:document

@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_1892_05_24_8003:document

@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_1892_05_24_8004:document

@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_1892_05_24_8005:document

@mr_elting -> participated in -> @dance:event {role: "supporter of Assembly Room"}

@cbl -> participated in -> @dance:event {role: "opponent of Assembly Room"}

@helen -> participated in -> @dance:event {role: "supporter of Assembly Room"}

@mai_kirkpatrick -> participated in -> @dance:event {role: "supporter of Assembly Room"}

@mr_duer -> mentioned in -> @letter_1892_04_20_5004:document {context: "possible wedding attendee"}

@rosalie -> mentioned in -> @letter_1892_05_24_8002:document {context: "planning Staten Island visit"}

@theodore -> mentioned in -> @letter_1892_04_20_5003:document {context: "author of letter"}

@charlie -> mentioned in -> @letter_1892_05_24_8005:document {context: "social visitor"}

@fritz -> mentioned in -> @letter_1892_05_24_8005:document {context: "musical participant"}

@prolie -> mentioned in -> @letter_1892_05_24_8004:document {context: "travel companion"}

@elizabeth_strong -> resides at -> @rosebank:place

@alice_austen -> resides at -> @staten_island:place

@elizabeth_strong -> discussed -> @dance:event {when: @date_1892_04_20}

@elizabeth_strong -> discussed -> @lyceum_play:event {when: @date_1892_05_06}

@elizabeth_strong -> discussed -> @miss_pool_wedding:event {when: @date_1892_04_??}

@elizabeth_strong -> planned -> @photography_session:event {when: @date_1892_05_27}

@elizabeth_strong -> attended -> @navy_yard_theatricals:event {when: @date_1892_05_??}

Metadata

Files (9)

1892_4-20-April 5001-strong copy.jpgJPEG
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OCR Text

Miss E.A. Austen Rosebank, Staten Island. New York.

1892_4-20-April 5002-Strong copy.jpgJPEG
1.38 MB
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Tuesday evening. Dear Alice: I am delighted to hear you can come for the dance, and shall expect you at any rate the day before, so that you can take in another "art lecture." No, you have not seen the black net and butter cups here lately, so bring it by all means if it is more convenient. I am undecided as yet what I shall wear as I rather hate to wear a light dress in the Hall, yet have appeared in my others so often. Had a meeting here on Friday night and carried our point—to have the dance in the Assembly Room—much to the discomfort of C.B.L. He did get my vote after all but tried to excuse

1892_4-20-April 5003-Strong copy.jpgJPEG
1.57 MB
OCR Text

himself by saying he had nothing definite to tell me. He might at last have written me to that effect, especially as he called on Mai Kirkpatrick and answered some of my questions quite definitely there. I told him I had credited him with not having received the vote. Fortunately I caught Mr. Elting by means of a note, he came up here last Wednesday evening, we arranged for a meeting, had its majority and carried the day. Mr. Elting, Helen, Mai Kirkpatrick and I were for the Assembly Room, Messrs. Parker, Ludlow and Dwyer against it. Alice Conover was out of town. You must stay over May 6th and go to the Lyceum Play, which they say will be fine. I think it will. Thursday night I have a small "drive-whilst" party for Ella. To-morrow my rooms is to be cleaned which means work. Have been laid up all yesterday and today. Theodore

1892_4-20-April 5004-Strong copy.jpgJPEG
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innocently asks if I ever have counted up how many days in the year I slept on the lounge? People are so stupid. Write me just when & may expect you. This is Miss Pool's wedding-day: Mother & Father had cards. Was that stunning man Mr. Duer? With much love Yours as ever Elizabeth

1892_5-24-May 8001-strong copy.jpgJPEG
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Miss E. A. Austin Rosebank. Staten Island N.Y.

1892_5-24-May 8002-Strong copy.jpgJPEG
1.94 MB
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Brooklyn. May 24th, 1892 My dear Alice: Rosalie and I have been putting our heads together, trying to arrange a day for Staten Island, and we have finally hit upon next Friday, the 27th. There is so much going on here that it is almost impossible to select a day that is unengaged—consequently We cannot spare more than one day for Staten Island, and as Rosalie has been there but once since her illness, she feels that we must divide the day between her grandfather's and your house. We will go to Livingston Thursday, in the morning, lunch there, and if look in upon you in the afternoon. But if you are thinking of doing anything special

1892_5-24-May 8003-strong copy.jpgJPEG
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OCR Text

That day, please do not hesitate to say of you at the last minute we might be unable to go to the Island after all. I have my camera here and am only waiting for favorable weather to do some photographing. To-night all the Navy Yard people are going in the tug to Governor's Island to see the private theatricals. To-morrow night we dine with one of the Navy Yard girls, and Friday we're going out to spend the evening here before mandolin playing etc. Preparations for the melodramas are going on bravely. There is to be a half solo, a fiddler solo, mandolin duet, singing, piano selections, and "music by the band." I am going to sing for my first number "My Name," have you heard it? Probably "All in a Garden Fair" for the second piece. Let me know if you are not likely to

1892_5-24-May 8004-strong copy.jpgJPEG
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We came from New Brunswick on Wednesday and I have been having the best kind of a time ever since. To be sure the weather has not smiled upon us, but we submitted as gracefully as possible. Prolie was with me not quite a week, but except at the dance she did not see "Fritz". He caught cold there, had bronchitis and was on the sick

1892_5-24-May 8005-strong copy.jpgJPEG
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OCR Text

list during her visit. Charlie & fellow spent Sunday afternoon and Tuesday evening at the house and I was as full of lassedness as usual. Rosalie has asked him as well as Fritz over for the musical. But I will leave other news until we meet. My address is Can Dr. Bregent, Naval Hospital, Brooklyn - N.Y. With much love Yours affly, Elizabeth B.L.

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:42:44 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:39:11 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:50:08 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:29:12 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Correspondence_Elizabeth_Strong"

Parent

01KC28TYYQ83C2HNRWYE8GP9NZ

No children (leaf entity)