Austen Family Papers (MS1) - Alice Austen Correspondence, 1883-1898

PI

Version: 11 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:56:14 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:29:59 PM

Added description

Description

Austen Family Papers (MS1) – Alice Austen Correspondence, 1883‑1898

Overview

The Austen Family Papers (MS1) is a digitized collection of personal documents belonging to Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952), a pioneering photographer from Staten Island. The archive spans 1883‑1898 and is organized into fifteen year‑based folders. Each folder contains high‑resolution JPG scans of handwritten letters, envelopes, calling cards, and negative sleeves, accompanied by typed TXT transcriptions. The materials are in the public domain and are hosted by the Alice Austen House Museum.

Background

Alice Austen established a commercial photography studio in New York City and became a prominent figure in late‑Victorian society. Her correspondence reflects both her professional activities—orders, deliveries, and client relations—and her social life among the upper‑middle class of Staten Island and beyond. The collection was compiled by the museum’s archivists and represents a snapshot of Austen’s network of friends, family, and business associates across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Contents

The archive includes:
  • Personal letters exchanged with close friends such as Julia T. Martin (Santa Barbara), Julie Bredt, Violet M.E. Ward, and Isabella King.
  • Calling cards and other Victorian‑era social ephemera.
  • Negative sleeves and other photography‑related artifacts.
  • Envelopes from locations including Kingston (Canada), Fishkill on Hudson (NY), and Baltimore (MD).
  • Sub‑collections such as the 1896 photography business correspondence, 1896 social announcements, and correspondence with a friend named Carolina.

Key themes in the letters are social events (skating parties, church gatherings, whist parties), business dealings (orders from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition), family matters (sympathy for a deceased grandfather), and cultural interests (purchasing a Steinway piano).

Scope

The collection covers the years 1883‑1898, with geographic references to Staten Island, Santa Barbara, Kingston (Canada), Fishkill on Hudson, Montreal, Cape Vincent, Crewe, Weidert Hill, Virginia, Baltimore, and Stonington. It includes only personal correspondence, calling cards, envelopes, and photography‑related materials; no photographs themselves are part of the archive. The MSS provides a comprehensive view of Austen’s personal and professional life during the late Victorian era and is valuable for researchers of photography history, social customs, and postal practices.

Raw Cheimarros Data

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@personal_letters:concept {description: "Private letters exchanged between individuals"}

@victorian_era_social_life:concept {description: "Social customs and activities in the Victorian era"}

@family_matters:concept {description: "Discussions of family events, deaths, and relationships"}

@social_events:concept {description: "Announcements and descriptions of social gatherings"}

@marriage_announcements:concept {description: "Notices of marriages"}

@philately:concept {description: "Study and collection of postage stamps"}

@collecting:concept {description: "Collecting of various items, including stamps"}

@organizational_correspondence:concept {description: "Correspondence related to organizations and societies"}

@postal_history:concept {description: "Study of postal artifacts such as envelopes"}

@travel:concept {description: "Discussions of journeys and destinations"}

@family_relationships:concept {description: "Mentions of familial connections"}

@santa_barbara:place {state: @california, country: @united_states}

@montreal:place {country: @canada}

@austen_family_papers_ms1:collection -> covers -> [@correspondence, @personal_letters, @victorian_era_social_life, @photography_business, @family_matters, @music, @social_events, @marriage_announcements, @philately, @collecting, @organizational_correspondence, @postal_history, @worlds_columbian_exposition, @travel, @family_relationships]

@austen_family_papers_ms1:collection -> associated_with -> [@santa_barbara, @staten_island, @kingston, @fishkill_on_hudson, @new_york, @montreal, @cape_vincent, @crewe, @weidert_hill, @virginia, @baltimore_md, @stonington]

@austen_family_papers_ms1:collection -> contains -> @alice_austen_photography_business_correspondence_1896:collection

@austen_family_papers_ms1:collection -> contains -> @alice_austen_organizational_correspondence_1896:collection

@austen_family_papers_ms1:collection -> contains -> @alice_austen_envelopes_collection

@austen_family_papers_ms1:collection -> contains -> @alice_austen_correspondence_with_carolina_1896:collection

@austen_family_papers_ms1:collection -> contains -> @social_announcements_1896:collection

@alice_austen -> central_figure_in -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@julia_martin -> contributed_to -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@julie_bredt -> contributed_to -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@violet_m_e_ward -> contributed_to -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@isabella_king -> contributed_to -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@bessie_strong -> contributed_to -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@lawrence_d_alexander -> contributed_to -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@edward_a_whistler_everitt -> contributed_to -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@erving -> contributed_to -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@james_gore_king -> contributed_to -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@dr_phillips -> contributed_to -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@a_dwight -> contributed_to -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@alice_austen_photography_business_correspondence_1896:collection -> part_of -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@alice_austen_organizational_correspondence_1896:collection -> part_of -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@alice_austen_envelopes_collection -> part_of -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@alice_austen_correspondence_with_carolina_1896:collection -> part_of -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@social_announcements_1896:collection -> part_of -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@alice_austen -> appears_in -> @julia_martin_correspondence_1896:collection

@alice_austen -> appears_in -> @alice_austen_photography_business_correspondence_1896:collection

@alice_austen -> appears_in -> @alice_austen_organizational_correspondence_1896:collection

@alice_austen -> appears_in -> @alice_austen_envelopes_collection

@alice_austen -> appears_in -> @social_announcements_1896:collection

@alice_austen -> appears_in -> @alice_austen_correspondence_with_carolina_1896:collection

Metadata

Title
Austen Family Papers (MS1) - Alice Austen Correspondence, 1883-1898
Type
Collection
Creator
Alice AustenJulia T. MartinJulie BredtViolet M.E. WardIsabella KingBessie StrongLawrence D. AlexanderEdward A. Whistler EverittErvingJames Gore KingDr. PhillipsA. Dwight
Institution
Alice Austen House
Created
1883-1898
Language
en
Subjects
Correspondence, Personal letters, Victorian-era social life, Photography business, Family matters, Music, Social events, Marriage announcements, Philately, Collecting, Organizational correspondence, Postal history, World's Columbian Exposition, Travel, Family relationships
Rights
Public Domain
Place
Santa Barbara, California, Staten Island, New York, Kingston, Canada, Fishkill on Hudson, NY, New York, Montreal, Cape Vincent, Crewe, Weidert hill, Virginia, Baltimore, MD, Stonington
Source
PINAX

Version History (10 versions)

  • ✓ v11 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:56:14 PM
    "Added description"
  • v10 · 12/9/2025, 9:21:46 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v9 · 12/9/2025, 8:05:36 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v8 · 12/9/2025, 7:37:27 PM · View this version
    "Reorganized into 6 groups"
  • v7 · 12/9/2025, 7:37:26 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29WPS0V6T3V69MQC0ZETE6"
  • v6 · 12/9/2025, 7:37:24 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29WNBYHJ0GW4DH3SKR7656"
  • v5 · 12/9/2025, 7:37:22 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29WKCBXEBNNDYBEZADJ2EY"
  • v4 · 12/9/2025, 7:37:21 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29WHVB8FYF8AV9VMT6NP1N"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 7:37:19 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29WGBYTAQV6QSNM6DZ9VM8"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:37:17 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29WEDS7JWW4D98P3AN0ST8"

Additional Components

reorganization-description.txt
# Reorganization Summary

The files were organized primarily by correspondent (Julia Martin, Carolina, etc.) and secondarily by content type (photography business, social announcements). Julia Martin's extensive correspondence was grouped together as it forms a continuous narrative about her life in Santa Barbara. Photography-related correspondence was separated as it represents Alice Austen's professional work. Social announcements and organizational letters were given their own distinct groups due to their formal nature. Envelopes without accompanying letters were grouped separately for archival purposes.

## Groups Created

- **Julia_Martin_Correspondence_1896**: Letters from Julia Martin to Alice Austen, discussing personal matters, social events, and business at her Santa Barbara sanitarium
- **Photography_Business_1896**: Correspondence related to Alice Austen's photography business, including orders and client communications
- **Social_Announcements_1896**: Formal social announcements including marriage notices
- **Organizational_Correspondence_1896**: Letters from organizations and businesses, including philatelic societies
- **Envelopes_1896**: Standalone envelopes without accompanying letters
- **Carolina_Correspondence_1896**: Letters from Carolina discussing personal matters and photography

Parent

↑ 01KC260QHNJZCTCJXBAX4HMXEW

Children (6)