Alice Austen Correspondence with Julia Bredt
PI
Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:44:00 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:29:19 PM
Added description
Description
Alice Austen–Julia Bredt Correspondence Collection (1892)
Overview
This collection comprises a single handwritten letter dated July 28, 1892, written by Julia T. Bredt to a friend named Lillie, and its digitized image and transcription. The letter is part of the broader Alice Austen Papers (MS1) housed at the Alice Austen House Museum in Staten Island, New York. The collection is presented as a scanned JPEG of the original paper and a plain‑text transcription, both available for research and public viewing.Background
Julia Bredt was a close friend of photographer Elizabeth Alice Austen, who lived on Staten Island. The correspondence reflects the social networks of upper‑middle‑class families in late‑Victorian New York. The letter was sent from Pleasantville, a nearby community, and references acquaintances such as Mrs. M., Parker G., and the town of Pleasantville itself. The document illustrates the informal, conversational style of the era’s personal letters and offers insight into the daily lives and social engagements of the Austen–Bredt circle.Contents
- Letter (1892‑07‑28): A handwritten note addressed to “Lillie,” discussing recent events, including Mrs. M.’s move to Pleasantville and the anticipated visit of several men. The letter also mentions a “Parker G.” and expresses a desire for a “good old talk.”
- Digital Scan: A high‑resolution JPEG (≈2.3 MB) reproducing the original paper, preserving ink, paper texture, and marginalia.
- Transcription: A typed, plain‑text version of the letter’s content, facilitating keyword searches and textual analysis.
Scope
The collection covers a single date (July 28, 1892) and is geographically anchored in Staten Island and Pleasantville, New York. It focuses on personal correspondence rather than business or photographic records. The material is representative of the broader Alice Austen Papers, which span 1883‑1898 and include additional letters, calling cards, and photographic sleeves. The collection is thus a microcosm of Austen’s social world, illustrating the intimate friendships and community ties that informed her life and work.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: "Julia T. Bredt", relationship: "friend of @alice_austen", location: @albany}
@lillie:person {relationship: "correspondent of @julie_bredt"}
@mrs_m:person {description: "mentioned in letter"}
@parker_g:person {description: "mentioned in letter"}
@staten_island:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@pleasantville:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@alice_austen_house_museum:organization {location: @staten_island}
@alice_austen_correspondence_julia_bredt:document {title: "Alice Austen Correspondence with Julia Bredt", creator: @julie_bredt, created: @date_1892_07_28, institution: @alice_austen_house_museum}
@file_pinax:file {title: "Alice Austen Correspondence with Julia Bredt"}
@file_pinax -> documents -> @alice_austen_correspondence_julia_bredt
@alice_austen_correspondence_julia_bredt -> involves -> [@alice_austen, @julie_bredt]
@alice_austen_correspondence_julia_bredt -> contains -> @file_1892_7_28_julia_bredt_july_28_1892002_copy_jpg:file
@letter_1892_07_28:document {date: @date_1892_07_28, author: @julie_bredt, recipient: @lillie, content: "O! I must tell you the latest—Mrs. M. has gone to P. Pleasant. I believe a few of the men are going down. O! I wish you were here for a good old talk, still \"Parker G.\" about the place he said just till he's let me know—I'll be on hand or you drop me word lets cut up till"}
@julie_bredt -> wrote -> @letter_1892_07_28
@letter_1892_07_28 -> mentions -> [@mrs_m, @parker_g, @pleasantville]Metadata
Files (1)
1892_7-28-Julia Bredt July 28 1892002 copy.jpgJPEG
OCR Text
Dear Lillie: O! I must tell you the latest—Mrs. M. has gone to P. Pleasant. I believe a few of the men are going down. O! I wish you were here for a good old talk, still "Parker G." about the place he said just till he's let me know—I'll be on hand or you drop me word lets cut up till
Version History (4 versions)
- ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:44:00 PM
"Added description" - v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:42:55 PM · View this version
"Added knowledge graph extraction" - v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:50:51 PM · View this version
"Added PINAX metadata" - v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:29:19 PM · View this version
"Reorganization group: Correspondence_Julia_Bredt"
Parent
No children (leaf entity)