1892_5-31-May 10001-Lou copy.jpg

Alice Austen Correspondence from Lou, May 1892

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:43:46 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:29:17 PM

Added description

Description

Lou Correspondence to Alice Austen, May 1892

Overview

This collection consists of two high‑resolution JPEG scans of handwritten letters written by a friend named Lou to Elizabeth Alice Austen on May 31, 1892. The letters discuss upcoming social and university events at Yale, including the Yale‑Howard ball game, Class Day, commencement, and a class play. Digitized by the Alice Austen House Museum, the files are part of the broader Austen Family Papers (1883‑1898) and are accompanied by OCR text extracted from the images.

Background

Lou was a contemporary of Alice Austen, residing in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while Austen lived on Staten Island, New York. The correspondence reflects Victorian social customs and the social life of upper‑middle‑class families in the late nineteenth century. The letters were preserved in the museum’s archival collection and later digitized to provide access to researchers and the public.

Contents

  • Two JPEG scans of the original letters (each about 2 MB in size).
  • OCR‑derived text for each image, offering a typed transcription of Lou’s handwriting.
  • The letters mention specific events: the Yale‑Howard ball game, Class Day, commencement, and a class play scheduled for May 22, 1892.
  • Lou references friends Frank and Minnie Barney, and discusses plans to attend events together, illustrating the network of acquaintances surrounding Austen.

Scope

The collection covers a single date—May 31, 1892—and is geographically tied to Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Staten Island, New York. It focuses exclusively on personal correspondence about social and university events, providing insight into the social milieu of the era. The collection does not include photographs, negative sleeves, or other material types.

Raw Cheimarros Data

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

@lou:person {role: "correspondent"}

@file_pinax:file {title: "Alice Austen Correspondence from Lou, May 1892", creator: @lou, created: @date_1892_05_31, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Social life","University events","Class Day","Commencement","Yale-Howard Ball game","Victorian social customs"], description: "A collection of correspondence from Lou to Alice Austen in May 1892, discussing social events and university activities.", place: [@cambridge_massachusetts, @staten_island_new_york]}

@massachusetts:place {country: @united_states}

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

@new_york_state:place {country: @united_states}

@staten_island_new_york:place {borough: "Staten Island", city: @new_york, state: @new_york_state}

@181_brattle_street:place {address: "181 Brattle Street", city: @cambridge_massachusetts}

@frank:person {role: "friend"}

@minnie_barney:person {role: "cousin visitor"}

@yale_howard_ball_game:event {description: "Yale vs. Howard football game"}

@class_day:event {description: "University Class Day celebration"}

@commencement:event {description: "University commencement ceremony"}

@class_play:event {description: "University class play", when: @date_1892_05_22}

@lou -> writes to -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1892_05_31, via: @file_1892_5_31_may_10001_lou_copy_jpg}

@lou -> mentions -> @yale_howard_ball_game:event

@lou -> mentions -> @class_day:event

@lou -> mentions -> @commencement:event

@lou -> mentions -> @class_play:event

@lou -> asks -> @frank:person {action: "obtain tickets for ball game"}

@lou -> mentions -> @minnie_barney:person {context: "visiting cousins"}

@alice_austen -> resides in -> @staten_island_new_york

@file_1892_5_31_may_10001_lou_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", ocr: true}

@file_1892_5_31_may_10002_lou_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", ocr: true}

Metadata

Files (2)

1892_5-31-May 10001-Lou copy.jpgJPEG
2.41 MB
OCR Text

Take part in everything I am sorry to say, so I haven't kept track of things very well, but now that you are coming on I shall immediately proceed to. I hope to go to a few of the "spreads" (always it being understood that I am hidden) & want very much to take in the Yale-Howard Ball game, which is the day after Class Day. I believe Class Day is the day. Commencement comes a 181 Brattle Street May 31st, 92. My dear Alice, I am perfectly overjoyed at the prospect of seeing you & sit right down to tell you so. Do keep me posted as to your movements. Also you know any of the graduating class? I am not very well posted because I am not yet strong enough to

1892_5-31-May 10002-Lou copy.jpgJPEG
1.43 MB
OCR Text

week later. I will find out all about Class Play & everything for you though. You must be here for that. Then you must go to the Ball Game with us. I'll get Frank to get several tickets, & we can have a party & even if I can't go as 'chaperone' someone will! But I shall hope to. Minnie Barney is coming on day after tomorrow to visit cousins, but she is of course out of everything, being in morning, except perhaps the Ball Game. I think Class Play is the 22nd. I am so sorry that I shouldn't be able to be in everything for they say it is so interesting & such a lovely sight. The reason I asked you about the graduating class was that it makes a good deal of difference as far as "kids" for spreads, etc. are concerned. Wouldn't it be jolly if we could go around together? We can manage to have a jolly

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:43:46 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:42:26 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:50:39 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:29:17 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Lou_Correspondence_May_1892"

Parent

01KC28V1R09BVZ5BCZHF3WP37S

No children (leaf entity)