Alice Austen Correspondence Collection, 1893
PI
Version: 13 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:55:41 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:30:12 PM
Added description
Description
Alice Austen Correspondence Envelopes and Addresses Collection (1893)
Overview
This digital collection consists of ten high‑resolution JPEG scans of envelopes used by Elizabeth Alice Austen in 1893, each accompanied by OCR‑derived transcriptions and brief metadata. The images capture the physical details of the envelopes—paper type, stamps, postmarks, and handwritten addresses—providing a snapshot of Austen’s mail‑handling practices during a formative period of her photographic career.Background
Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering Staten Island photographer whose work and personal correspondence formed a substantial part of the Alice Austen House Museum’s archival holdings. The envelopes in this set were digitized by the museum’s archival team in 2025 and released through the PINAX platform, reflecting Austen’s extensive social and professional network across New York, New Jersey, and Illinois.Contents
- Envelope images: Ten scanned envelopes dated from 1893‑06‑06 to 1893‑07‑10.
- OCR transcripts: Machine‑readable text extracted from each envelope, including names, addresses, and post‑mark dates.
- Correspondents: Names such as Dr. P.Y. Austen, F.G. Bressey Esq., F.G. Cresser, J.G. Caparely, and Alice Butler appear across the set.
- Locations: Addresses span Staten Island (Rosebank, Clifton), New Brunswick, New Jersey, Chicago, Illinois, and the University of Chicago, illustrating Austen’s regional and national contacts.
- Variations: Some envelopes contain “c/o” arrangements or lack visible text, offering insight into Victorian postal practices.
Scope
The collection is confined to the year 1893 and includes only envelope images; the letters themselves are not part of this set. It is limited to English‑language materials and is valuable for scholars interested in Victorian postal history, the social networks of early American photographers, and the personal life of Alice Austen.Raw Cheimarros Data
@file_pinax:file {access_url: "PLACEHOLDER", source: "PINAX"}
@file_pinax -> documents -> @alice_austen_collection:document {title: "Alice Austen Correspondence Collection, 1893"}
@date_1893_07_31
@benningson:person {last_name: "Benningson"}
@mrs_cooper:person {title: "Mrs.", last_name: "Cooper"}
@letter_1893_07_31_benningson:document {author: @benningson, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1893_07_31, content: "Apology for delayed correspondence; mentions health and Mrs. Cooper"}
@benningson -> wrote -> @letter_1893_07_31_benningson {when: @date_1893_07_31}
@letter_1893_07_31_benningson -> mentions -> @mrs_cooper
@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1893_07_31_benningson
@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @benningson {start: @date_1893_07_31}
--- SYNTHESIS ---
@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> [@trude_eccelston, @bessie_strong, @elizabeth_lynch, @mary_l_hayes, @henry_gilman, @clara_rich, @helen_constance_randall, @benningson]
@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @worlds_columbian_exposition:event
@alice_austen_collection:document -> includes -> [@letter_1893_07_31_benningson, @letter_1893_06_21_3002, @letter_1893_06_27_strong_to_austen, @letter_1001, @letter_june_22_1893, @letter_1893_07_03, @letter_1893_07_18_6002]
@worlds_columbian_exposition:event -> referenced in -> [@trude_eccelston, @elizabeth_lynch, @mary_l_hayes, @helen_constance_randall, @alice_austen]Metadata
Files (1)
1893_7-5-July 2002-JTM copy.jpgJPEG
OCR Text
Benningson VII July 31st Dear Alice; I do not wonder you think I may have taken wings & flown to some other world, but I have not old lady & you must forgive me for not writing. Until yesterday I have not written one letter for over a month & I wish you could see the letters that have been pouring in. Really I did not flatter myself that I was so much cared for. Will I have hardly a good reason for acting in this strange manner, but I have not been very well, not sick but not up to par. & as Mrs Cooper is a woman who would see you drop before she would own you might be tired sitting with her, I got pretty nervous by the time I might have written.
Version History (10 versions)
- ✓ v13 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:55:41 PM
"Added description" - v12 · 12/9/2025, 9:20:11 PM · View this version
"Added knowledge graph extraction" - v11 · 12/9/2025, 8:00:44 PM · View this version
"Added PINAX metadata" - v10 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:34 PM · View this version
"Reorganized into 8 groups" - v9 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:33 PM · View this version
"Added child entity 01KC29V2TXC36TAT40T2SXHRZX" - v8 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:30 PM · View this version
"Added child entity 01KC29V0HDH44RF4KQVBB0W2TW" - v7 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:28 PM · View this version
"Added child entity 01KC29TYR7VDPB62KCDV0ZBES9" - v6 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:26 PM · View this version
"Added child entity 01KC29TVZJWVHSSDRED23BZ662" - v5 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:24 PM · View this version
"Added child entity 01KC29TTGHNXEWZXJVNRK635KK" - v4 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:22 PM · View this version
"Added child entity 01KC29TRR9ZK01JS9WC2FB6TM3"
More versions available (pagination not yet implemented)
Additional Components
reorganization-description.txt
# Reorganization Summary Files were organized primarily by correspondent, with secondary grouping by document type (envelopes/address cards). The Julia Martin letter (JTM) was left ungrouped as it appears to be the only correspondence from this sender in this chunk. Chronological ordering was maintained within correspondent groups where dates were available. ## Groups Created - **Trude_Eccelston_correspondence**: Letters from Trude Eccelston discussing social activities, travel plans, and personal matters - **Bessie_Strong_correspondence**: Letters from Bessie Strong detailing social events, naval activities, and personal relationships - **Elizabeth_Lynch_correspondence**: Letters from Elizabeth Lynch discussing photography and summer plans - **Mary_Hayes_correspondence**: Letters from Mary L. Hayes regarding Chicago trip and photography - **Henry_Gilman_correspondence**: Letters from Henry Gilman about social plans and music - **Clara_Rich_correspondence**: Letter from Clara Rich about tournament cancellation - **Helen_Constance_Randall_correspondence**: Letters from H.K. (Helen Constance Randall) about photography and Chicago visit - **Envelopes_and_addresses**: Envelopes and address cards without substantive content