Austen Family Papers (MS1) - Alice Austen Correspondence, 1894

PI

Version: 10 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:55:57 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:30:12 PM

Added description

Description

Austen Family Papers (MS1) – Alice Austen Correspondence, 1894

Overview

This digital collection preserves the personal and business correspondence, invitations, calling cards, and envelopes that surrounded photographer Alice Austen during 1894. It is part of the Alice Austen House Museum’s archival holdings and is presented as high‑resolution JPEG scans of the originals, each accompanied by a typed transcription.

Background

Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering Staten Island photographer whose studio served a well‑connected upper‑middle‑class clientele. The 1894 materials document Austen’s social and commercial networks in the late‑Victorian era, reflecting the intertwined worlds of photography, music, and formal social life in New York and beyond.

Contents

The collection is organized into five interrelated sub‑collections:
  • Personal Correspondence – Letters from Julia T. Martin (Albany), Elizabeth B. Stone (New Brunswick), and other friends, covering travel, family news, and the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition.
  • Business Correspondence – Letters from William C. Howe and Frederick C. Lewis concerning piano sales, studio services, and social events.
  • Invitations and Calling Cards – Wedding invitations and social notices produced by Mrs. William T. Williams, Mrs. D. Schnakenberg, and Mrs. Gerhard Tanssen, illustrating the formal etiquette of the period.
  • Envelopes – Five handwritten envelopes addressed to Austen, indicating the geographic reach of her contacts (Staten Island, New Brunswick, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, East Hampton).
Each item appears as a JPEG scan with an accompanying typed transcription, allowing both visual inspection and keyword search.

Scope

The collection focuses exclusively on the calendar year 1894 and documents correspondence across the northeastern United States and the West Coast, including locations such as Staten Island, Albany, New Brunswick, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Brighton, Orley, Thousand Islands, New Brighton, East Hampton, Chicago, Santa Barbara, Kansas City, and Los Angeles. It does not contain photographs taken by Austen. The materials provide a rich window into Victorian social networks, the commercial practices of a female photographer, and the cultural milieu of late‑19th‑century New York.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@personal_correspondence:concept {description: "Personal letters exchanged between individuals"}

@business_correspondence:concept {description: "Correspondence concerning commercial or professional matters"}

@wedding:concept {description: "Ceremonial event marking marriage"}

@social_event:concept {description: "Gathering for social interaction"}

@travel:concept {description: "Movement of persons between locations"}

@family_relationships:concept {description: "Connections among family members"}

@health:concept {description: "Medical or wellness matters"}

@invitation:concept {description: "Formal request to attend an event"}

@calling_card:concept {description: "Victorian-era social card used for introductions"}

@envelope:concept {description: "Paper container for letters"}

@austen_family_papers:collection {title: "Austen Family Papers (MS1) - Alice Austen Correspondence, 1894", creator: [@alice_austen, @julia_martin, @elizabeth_b_stone, @william_c_howe, @frederick_c_lewis, @mrs_williams, @mrs_schnakenberg, @mrs_tanssen], institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1894, language: "en", description: "A collection of personal and business correspondence, invitations, and calling cards related to Alice Austen in 1894, providing insight into her social life, photography business, and personal relationships."}

@file_pinax -> documents -> @austen_family_papers

@austen_family_papers -> subject -> [@personal_correspondence, @business_correspondence, @victorian_era_social_life, @photography_business, @wedding, @social_event, @travel, @family_relationships, @music, @health, @invitation, @calling_card, @envelope, @worlds_columbian_exposition]

@austen_family_papers -> location -> [@staten_island, @albany, @santa_barbara, @chicago, @kansas_city, @los_angeles, @new_brunswick, @brooklyn, @manhattan, @brighton, @orley, @thousand_islands, @new_brighton, @east_hampton, @new_york]

@alice_austen -> creator of -> @austen_family_papers

@julia_martin -> creator of -> @austen_family_papers

@elizabeth_b_stone -> creator of -> @austen_family_papers

@william_c_howe -> creator of -> @austen_family_papers

@frederick_c_lewis -> creator of -> @austen_family_papers

@mrs_williams -> creator of -> @austen_family_papers

@mrs_schnakenberg -> creator of -> @austen_family_papers

@mrs_tanssen -> creator of -> @austen_family_papers

@julia_martin_correspondence_collection:collection {title: "Julia Martin Correspondence Collection"} 

@alice_austen_business_correspondence:collection {title: "Alice Austen Business Correspondence Collection"}

@invitations_and_calling_cards_collection:collection {title: "Alice Austen Invitations and Calling Cards Collection", creator: [@mrs_williams, @mrs_schnakenberg, @mrs_tanssen], institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1894, subjects: ["Weddings","Social events","Invitations","Calling cards","Victorian social life","New Brighton","Staten Island"]}

@envelopes_collection:collection {title: "Alice Austen Envelope Collection, 1894", creator: @alice_austen, institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1894, subjects: ["Correspondence","Envelopes","Victorian-era social life","Staten Island","New York"]}

@julia_martin_correspondence_collection -> part of -> @austen_family_papers

@alice_austen_business_correspondence -> part of -> @austen_family_papers

@invitations_and_calling_cards_collection -> part of -> @austen_family_papers

@envelopes_collection -> part of -> @austen_family_papers

Metadata

Version History (10 versions)

  • ✓ v10 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:55:57 PM
    "Added description"
  • v9 · 12/9/2025, 9:20:35 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v8 · 12/9/2025, 8:02:51 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v7 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:08 PM · View this version
    "Reorganized into 5 groups"
  • v6 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:07 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29T9PS37KR69G6VMWKDNZW"
  • v5 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:05 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29T89G5312WER9A0FQCJZW"
  • v4 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:04 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29T6APT9BPNT2AV4JK9BYM"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:01 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29T3XJSV6CM2GVEGMJ5EVQ"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:35:59 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29T2B8FR1VM4F0JSKCSS1E"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:30:12 PM · View this version
    "Alphabetical chunk 4/6 (40 files)"

Additional Components

reorganization-description.txt
# Reorganization Summary

Organized files into logical groups based on content type and primary correspondents. The Julia Martin and Elizabeth Strong correspondence form distinct groups due to their volume and personal nature. Business correspondence, invitations/cards, and envelopes were separated into their own categories based on content type. All files were successfully grouped without overlap.

## Groups Created

- **Julia_Martin_Correspondence**: Personal letters from Julia Martin to Alice Austen, detailing travel experiences and personal updates
- **Elizabeth_Strong_Correspondence**: Personal letters from Elizabeth Strong to Alice Austen, discussing social events and personal updates
- **Business_Correspondence**: Letters related to business matters including piano inquiries and photography sales
- **Invitations_Cards**: Wedding announcements and social invitations
- **Envelopes**: Standalone envelopes without letter content

Parent

01KC261TMKT8PASGBZ24SM84N0

Children (5)