1892_6-23-June 6001-Trude copy.jpg

Alice Austen Correspondence with Trude, June 1892

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:43:44 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:29:22 PM

Added description

Description

Alice Austen–Trude Correspondence, June 1892

Overview

This digital collection comprises six scanned images of handwritten letters and one postal card exchanged on 23 June 1892 between Elizabeth Alice Austen, a pioneering Staten Island photographer, and her friend Trude. The materials are presented as JPEG scans with accompanying OCR‑derived transcriptions, making the content accessible for research and public viewing. The collection is part of the Alice Austen House Museum’s archival holdings, illustrating the social and personal networks of late‑Victorian New York.

Background

Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a prominent photographer whose work and personal papers are preserved at the Alice Austen House Museum. Trude, a close friend and social associate, corresponded with Austen from Cambridge, Boston, and Staten Island. The letters were written during a period when Austen was traveling and hosting guests, reflecting the mobility and social customs of the era. The collection was digitized by the museum’s archival team and is hosted on the PINAX platform.

Contents

  • Letter 6001–6006: Six separate letters dated 23 June 1892, each scanned as a JPEG. The letters discuss invitations to stay at Lt. John’s Rectory, travel plans to Boston and Cambridge, and social events such as a boat‑house dance and a tennis club outing. References to acquaintances—Graham Roberts, Joe Alexander, Nannie, Jack, Alice Laver, and others—provide insight into Austen’s social circle.
  • Postal Card: A postal card sent from Cambridge to Boston, requesting the forwarding of a letter to Austen.
  • OCR Transcriptions: Text extracted from the images, offering a readable version of the handwritten content.

Scope

The collection is confined to correspondence from 23 June 1892, covering personal invitations, travel logistics, and social engagements. It does not include other letters from different dates or unrelated documents. The materials provide a snapshot of Austen’s social life and the broader Victorian social milieu of Staten Island, Cambridge, and Boston.

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}

@trude:person {relationship: "friend of Alice Austen"}

@date_1866

@date_1952

@date_1892_06_23

@trude_alice_correspondence_june_1892:event {description: "Correspondence between Alice Austen and Trude in June 1892", when: @date_1892_06, where: [@cambridge_massachusetts, @boston_massachusetts, @staten_island_new_york]}

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

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

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

@lt_johns_rectory:place {type: "rectory"}

@graham_roberts:person {full_name: "Graham Roberts"}

@joe_alexander:person {full_name: "Mrs. Joe Alexander"}

@nannie:person {}

@jack:person {}

@alice_laver:person {}

@charlie_benton:person {}

@ellie_benton:person {}

@nb_tennis_club:place {type: "tennis club"}

@mrs_scopiel:person {full_name: "Mrs. Scopiel"}

@mr_gregg:person {full_name: "Mr. Gregg"}

@lisle_lisle:person {}

@julie_bredt:person {}

@julia_t_martin:person {}

@violet_me_ward:person {}

@isabella_king:person {}

@bessie_strong:person {}

@letter_6001:document {source_file: @file_1892_6_23_june_6001_trude_copy_jpg, title: "Letter from Trude to Alice (June 23, 1892)"} 

@trude -> wrote -> @letter_6001 {when: @date_1892_06_23, from: @lt_johns_rectory, to: @alice_austen}

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_6001

@trude -> invited -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1892_06_23, invitation: "stay until the 2nd or over Sunday", location: @lt_johns_rectory, note: "many invitations from friends"} 

@letter_6002:document {source_file: @file_1892_6_23_june_6002_trude_copy_jpg, title: "Letter from Trude to Alice (June 23, 1892)"} 

@trude -> wrote -> @letter_6002 {when: @date_1892_06_23, from: @cambridge_massachusetts, to: @alice_austen}

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_6002

@trude -> sent -> @postal_card:document {to: @post_master:person, via: @cambridge_massachusetts, note: "request to forward letter to Boston"} 

@letter_6003:document {source_file: @file_1892_6_23_june_6003_trude_copy_jpg, title: "Letter from Trude to Alice (June 23, 1892)"} 

@trude -> wrote -> @letter_6003 {when: @date_1892_06_23, from: @cambridge_massachusetts, to: @alice_austen}

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_6003

@trude -> asked -> @graham_roberts {request: "come here and stay", context: "social gathering"} 

@trude -> mentioned -> @joe_alexander {role: "frequented smoking den"} 

@trude -> referenced -> @nannie {note: "promised to come"} 

@trude -> referenced -> @jack {note: "promised to come"} 

@letter_6004:document {source_file: @file_1892_6_23_june_6004_trude_copy_jpg, title: "Letter from Trude to Alice (June 23, 1892)"} 

@trude -> wrote -> @letter_6004 {when: @date_1892_06_23, from: @cambridge_massachusetts, to: @alice_austen}

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_6004

@trude -> attended -> @nb_tennis_club {with: [@charlie_benton, @ellie_benton], note: "N.B. tennis club"} 

@trude -> mentioned -> @alice_laver {note: "sent a Japanese seal and roses"} 

@letter_6005:document {source_file: @file_1892_6_23_june_6005_trude_copy_jpg, title: "Letter from Trude to Alice (June 23, 1892)"} 

@trude -> wrote -> @letter_6005 {when: @date_1892_06_23, from: @cambridge_massachusetts, to: @alice_austen}

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_6005

@trude -> invited -> @mr_gregg {event: "boat house dance Monday eve", permission_requested: true} 

@trude -> mentioned -> @mrs_scopiel {role: "organizer of dance"} 

@letter_6006:document {source_file: @file_1892_6_23_june_6006_trude_copy_jpg, title: "Letter from Trude to Alice (June 23, 1892)"} 

@lisle_lisle -> wrote -> @letter_6006 {when: @date_1892_06_23, to: @alice_austen, signoff: "Yours aff"} 

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_6006

@trude_alice_correspondence_june_1892:event -> includes -> [@letter_6001, @letter_6002, @letter_6003, @letter_6004, @letter_6005, @letter_6006]

Metadata

Files (6)

1892_6-23-June 6001-Trude copy.jpgJPEG
1.51 MB
OCR Text

my mind, I shall have to spend my time while I am with you, sewing. How about my coming to you - stay by all means until the 2nd or even over Sunday if you want to, because I shall be all right - my friends here come forward in a body and I have no end of invitations for those few days - The Le Queens have just been here bringing to Lt. John's Rectory Thursday 23 My dearest Alice; I had just sent you off a long letter. The day yours arrived and found to my horror that wished of Concord I put Cambridge on the envelope so you see "poor fool she didn't know" etc -

1892_6-23-June 6002-Trude copy.jpgJPEG
1.64 MB
OCR Text

Now the question is will you ever get next letter. I have sent a postal card to the Post-Master at Cambridge asking him to forward the letter to you at Boston but produces knows if he will. I cannot wait until all next stuff again so will wait & tell you all about what has happened since your departure & shall confine me more next get &

1892_6-23-June 6003-Trude copy.jpgJPEG
1.59 MB
OCR Text

rather in her smoking den. I do not think you would care much for the style or tone of her apartment—although it were the favorite place for the men as they could smoke, lot & other women & girls were there—Mrs Joe Alexander was one of them—Well I must stop & do one million things—I have asked Graham Roberts, Mr persuade me to come here & stay with them. They say if I do not mind being crowded up they would love to have me—Of course if Nannie & Jack leave before the 4th of July for the Mt's. I will go to them a lot. The Marches but if they are here they have made me promise to come to them—Nannie says she has always

1892_6-23-June 6004-Trude copy.jpgJPEG
1.58 MB
OCR Text

I am writing with a beautiful Japanese seal cut & a big bunch of roses—The rooms are beautifully illuminated & the garden perfect—all the iris are in great height—colonnas & larkspur are out—there was a regular tear & guess he never will be pretty tall—quick—Alice Laver asked me when you were y sent at least wanted you to be a bit later. wanted me to come to her for a few days and keep of the practical help to her—so you see I am fixed most beautifully—I went over to the peti last night—at the N.B. tennis club with Charlie & Ellie Benton, I just made up my mind that if we wished to be useful I would use him—he was very nice & presented

1892_6-23-June 6005-Trude copy.jpgJPEG
620.21 KB
OCR Text

Lassilé & a friend of Fannie (Armam) down to the boat house dance Monday eve. Mrs. Scopiel has it in charge. I will ask Mr. Gregg down to go to the next dance with us, if I have your kind permission. So Lou is a "joker." I told Gulid L. & she said she was not at all surprised. You dident visit any time, did she?

1892_6-23-June 6006-Trude copy.jpgJPEG
611.79 KB
OCR Text

Give her my love - What a good time you are having, how I shall enjoy seeing pictures & all about them, am longing will say continually I am afraid. Tell me again just when you arrive home send my & put that letter - with lots of love - Yours aff - Lisle Lisle in

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:43:44 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:42:37 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, 7:29:22 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Trude_Correspondence_June_1892"

Parent

01KC28V1R09BVZ5BCZHF3WP37S

No children (leaf entity)