Austen Family Papers (MS1) - Alice Austen Correspondence, 1896

PI

Version: 11 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:56:48 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:30:04 PM

Added description

Description

Austen Family Papers (MS1) – 1896 Correspondence and Social Records

Overview

This digitized collection preserves the personal and social documents of Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) and her network for the calendar year 1896. It comprises handwritten letters, printed wedding invitations, Victorian‑era address cards, and related transcriptions, all scanned in high resolution and made available through the Alice Austen House Museum’s online portal. The materials are organized by type and date, offering a comprehensive view of Austen’s domestic, professional, and social life during a pivotal period of her career.

Background

Alice Austen was a pioneering photographer based in Staten Island’s Rosebank neighborhood. By 1896 she had established a thriving studio, sold images from events such as the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, and maintained an extensive correspondence network that spanned the northeastern United States and Canada. The collection reflects Austen’s role as a social connector among upper‑middle‑class families, as well as her engagement with the broader Victorian leisure culture.

Contents

  • Personal Letters – Sixteen letters from close friends and relatives, including Julia Tabor Martin (Albany), Violet M.E. Ward (Staten Island), Carrie H. Ward (Cazenovia), and J. Irving Goddard (Mohonk Lake). The letters discuss travel plans, family health, club activities, and Austen’s photographic business.
  • Wedding Invitations – Three printed invitations issued by the Clawson, Kirtland, and Bagley families, announcing marriages held in Staten Island and New York City.
  • Address Cards – Three Victorian‑era cards addressed to Austen, sent from Ontario, Canada, during a brief excursion.
  • Transcriptions – Plain‑text versions of all handwritten letters, enabling text search and analysis.

Scope

The collection covers the year 1896, with geographic references to Staten Island, Albany, Chicago, Los Angeles, Lake Mohawk, Mohonk Lake, and Ontario. It includes only Austen’s incoming correspondence and related social documents; replies, photographs, and other business records are excluded. The materials provide a snapshot of late‑Victorian social networks, travel logistics, and the interplay between Austen’s personal life and her emerging photographic enterprise.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@austen_family_papers_ms1:collection {title: "Austen Family Papers (MS1) - Alice Austen Correspondence, 1896", creator: [@alice_austen, @julia_tabor_martin, @violet_ward, @carrie_ward, @j_irving_goddard, @william_clawson, @william_hathorne_kirtland, @francis_h_bagley], institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1896, language: "en", subjects: ["Personal correspondence","Victorian social life","Family relationships","Travel","Wedding invitations","Social events","Marriage","Victorian era","Staten Island history","Health","Golf","Music","Photography","World's Columbian Exposition","Middle School Reunion"], description: "A collection of personal correspondence, calling cards, and wedding invitations from 1896, featuring letters to and from Alice Austen, a pioneering American photographer from Staten Island. The collection includes social correspondence, family letters, and materials related to Alice Austen's photography business.", places: [@staten_island_ny, @albany, @chicago, @los_angeles, @syracuse, @la_porte, @gloucester, @riverdale, @cazenovia, @new_canaan, @lake_mohawk, @mohonk_lake, @vineyard_haven, @alwington, @kingsboro, @kingston] }

@file_pinax -> describes -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@julia_martin_correspondence_collection:collection {title: "Julia Martin Correspondence Collection, 1896", creator: @julia_tabor_martin, year: @date_1896, description: "Letters from Julia Tabor Martin to Alice Austen in 1896 discussing social visits, family matters, and travel plans."}

@julia_martin_correspondence_collection:collection -> part of -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@julia_tabor_martin -> contributed to -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@julia_tabor_martin -> created -> @julia_martin_correspondence_collection:collection

@violet_ward -> contributed to -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@carrie_ward_correspondence_1896:collection {title: "Carrie Ward Correspondence to Alice Austen, 1896", creator: @carrie_ward, institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1896, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Personal letters","Social life","Family relationships","Health"], description: "Letters from Carrie H. Ward to Alice Austen in 1896 discussing family health, social activities, and personal reflections."}

@carrie_ward_correspondence_1896:collection -> part of -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@carrie_ward -> contributed to -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@j_irving_goddard -> contributed to -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@william_clawson -> contributed to -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@william_hathorne_kirtland -> contributed to -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@francis_h_bagley -> contributed to -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@wedding_invitations_1896:collection {title: "1896 Staten Island Wedding Invitations Collection", creator: [@william_clawson, @william_hathorne_kirtland, @francis_h_bagley], institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1896, language: "en", subjects: ["Wedding invitations","Social events","Marriage","Victorian era","Staten Island history"], description: "A collection of wedding invitations from 1896 featuring marriages that took place in Staten Island, New York."}

@wedding_invitations_1896:collection -> part of -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@alice_austen_address_cards_collection:collection {title: "Alice Austen Address Cards Collection, 1896", creator: @alice_austen, institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1896, language: "en", subjects: ["Address cards","Correspondence","Victorian social customs","Travel"], description: "A collection of address cards from 1896 addressed to Alice Austen, indicating her travel to Canada and connections with various individuals."}

@alice_austen_address_cards_collection -> part of -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@letter_may_30_1896:document {date: @date_1896_05_30, sender: @julia_tabor_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, type: "letter", content: "Invitation to stay as a guest, travel plans to Chatham, mention of Aunt Addie's health."}

@letter_may_30_1896:document -> part of -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@letter_june_1_1896:document {date: @date_1896_06_01, sender: @julia_tabor_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, type: "letter", content: "Travel update from Barstow, CA; delayed train, desert conditions."}

@letter_june_1_1896:document -> part of -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@letter_aug_16_1896_violet_to_alice:document {date: @date_1896_08_16, author: @violet_ward, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @staten_island, content: "All goes so far. So glad to receive your letters. Fortunately the Pater does not have to pay R.R. fare on this trip or we would be out. Wilson goes along."}

@letter_aug_16_1896_violet_to_alice:document -> part of -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@letter_1896_08_20_1001:document {type: "letter", created: @date_1896_08_20, from: @carrie_ward, to: @alice_austen, location: @mohonk_lake_ny}

@letter_1896_08_20_1001:document -> part of -> @austen_family_papers_ms1:collection

@worlds_columbian_exposition:concept {event: "World's Columbian Exposition", year: @date_1893}

@austen_family_papers_ms1:collection -> mentions -> @worlds_columbian_exposition

@julia_tabor_martin -> planned travel to -> [@chatham, @riverdale, @gloucester, @albany, @la_porte, @chicago, @los_angeles, @syracuse] {period: @date_1896_05_30, notes: "Various trips mentioned in letters"}

@violet_ward -> mentioned -> @cazenovia_club {context: "Social club referenced in multiple letters"}

@carrie_ward -> mentioned -> @cazenovia_club {context: "Reference in August 20 letters"}

@j_irving_goddard -> mentioned -> @mountain_rest_house {context: "Stay during correspondence"}

@j_irving_goddard -> mentioned -> @vineyard_haven {context: "Location referenced in letters"}

@j_irving_goddard -> mentioned -> @mohonk_lake {context: "Location of Mountain Rest House"}

Metadata

Version History (10 versions)

  • ✓ v11 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:56:48 PM
    "Added description"
  • v10 · 12/9/2025, 9:22:18 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v9 · 12/9/2025, 8:05:37 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v8 · 12/9/2025, 7:38:32 PM · View this version
    "Reorganized into 6 groups"
  • v7 · 12/9/2025, 7:38:31 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29YPCANA6NE6VTECZ3B5HA"
  • v6 · 12/9/2025, 7:38:29 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29YMMP39QGNVGNX0X3FESJ"
  • v5 · 12/9/2025, 7:38:28 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29YK6E31KCSWGR408MHHYW"
  • v4 · 12/9/2025, 7:38:26 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29YHRGE0YPQEEJPPB79HM3"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 7:38:25 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29YG6FH5TAJSZ6VF03VC0J"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:38:23 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29YES94EZX7G67DVKVD1JG"

Additional Components

reorganization-description.txt
# Reorganization Summary

The files were organized primarily by correspondent (Julia Martin, Violet Ward, Carrie Ward, Trude) with secondary groupings by document type (wedding invitations, address cards). This maintains consistency with the organizational guidance while accurately reflecting the social networks and correspondence patterns in Alice Austen's life during 1896. All files were successfully grouped based on their content and relationships.

## Groups Created

- **Julia_Martin_Correspondence_1896**: Letters and postcards from Julia Martin to Alice Austen, discussing travel plans, family matters, and social visits
- **Violet_Ward_Correspondence_1896**: Letters from Violet Ward discussing travel, family health, and social activities at Cazenovia Club
- **Wedding_Invitations_1896**: Formal wedding invitations received by Alice Austen
- **Carrie_Ward_Correspondence_1896**: Letters from Carrie Ward about family activities at Cazenovia Club
- **Trude_Correspondence_1896**: Letters from Trude about vacation activities at Mountain Rest House
- **Address_Cards_1896**: Envelopes and address cards showing Alice Austen's various summer residences

Parent

01KC260QHNJZCTCJXBAX4HMXEW

Children (6)