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

PI

Version: 11 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:55:56 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:30:14 PM

Added description

Description

Austen Family Papers (MS1) – 1894 Correspondence and Related Materials

Overview

This digital collection preserves the personal correspondence, envelopes, and related ephemera of Elizabeth Alice Austen and her social network during the year 1894. The materials are housed in the Alice Austen House Museum in Staten Island, New York, and are presented as JPEG scans of handwritten letters, envelopes, a printed wedding announcement, and OCR‑derived transcriptions. The collection is part of the broader Austen Family Papers (MS1) and represents a snapshot of Victorian‑era social, business, and travel communications.

Background

Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering photographer whose home became a cultural hub for artists and intellectuals. In 1894, Austen’s correspondence reflects her expanding photographic business, her engagement in social events, and her extensive travel network. The collection documents interactions with close friends such as Julia C. Martin, Trude, P.M., J. Butterball, and Mrs. Louis H. Meyer, illustrating the interconnectedness of Staten Island’s upper‑middle‑class community.

Contents

The collection contains:
  • Letters – 15 scanned images of handwritten letters from Julia C. Martin, Trude, P.M., and J. Butterball, covering topics such as a boarding‑house venture in Santa Barbara, a deer‑hunting trip in the Adirondacks, a visit to Yellowstone National Park, and travel updates across the United States.
  • Envelopes – Seven digitized postal envelopes showing postmarks from Santa Barbara, East Hampton, the Adirondack Preserve Association, and other locations, illustrating Austen’s geographic reach.
  • Wedding Announcement – A printed notice and photographic reproduction announcing the marriage of Anna Louise Meyer to Samuel Wann, issued by Mrs. Louis H. Meyer.
  • Metadata – Creator, institution, language, and subject tags (e.g., Victorian social life, photography, travel, hunting, wedding announcements).

Scope

The collection is confined to the calendar year 1894 and includes only personal correspondence, envelopes, and a single wedding announcement. It does not contain letters from other years, photographs, or negative sleeves that appear in other parts of the Austen Papers. The materials provide insight into 19th‑century social networks, travel practices, and the business of photography in a rapidly modernizing America.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@austen_family_papers:collection {title: "Austen Family Papers (MS1)", institution: "Alice Austen House Museum", year: @date_1894, description: "Personal correspondence, envelopes, and related materials from Alice Austen and her network in 1894."}

@file_pinax:file {title: "Austen Family Papers (MS1) - Alice Austen Correspondence, 1894", creator: ["Alice Austen","Julia C. Martin","Trude","P.M.","J. Butterball","Mrs. Louis H. Meyer"], institution: "Alice Austen House", year: @date_1894, language: "en", subjects: ["Personal correspondence","Victorian social life","Photography","Travel","Family relationships","Weddings","Adirondacks","Yellowstone Park","World's Columbian Exposition","Music","Boarding houses","Hunting","Deer hunting","Nature","Bicycling","Social events","Marriage","Victorian era","Envelopes","Calling cards","Negative sleeves"]}

@file_pinax -> metadata for -> @austen_family_papers

@alice_austen -> creator of -> @austen_family_papers

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@trude -> creator of -> @austen_family_papers

@pm -> creator of -> @austen_family_papers

@j_butterball -> creator of -> @austen_family_papers

@mrs_louis_h_meyer -> creator of -> @austen_family_papers

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@boston -> location of -> @austen_family_papers

@clifton -> location of -> @austen_family_papers

@east_hampton -> location of -> @austen_family_papers

@photography_business:concept {owner: @alice_austen, activity: "selling photographs"}

@photography_business -> subject of -> @austen_family_papers

@boarding_house_santa_barbara:concept {owner: @julia_martin, location: @santa_barbara, status: "planned", rent_year: "$1200", room_price: "$28"}

@boarding_house_santa_barbara -> subject of -> @austen_family_papers

@deer_hunting:concept {description: "Hunting of deer, often by lamp light in winter"}

@deer_hunting -> subject of -> @austen_family_papers

@geyser:concept {name: "Geyser"}

@geyser -> subject of -> @austen_family_papers

@acorn:organization {name: "Acorn", type: "bicycle club"}

@acorn -> subject of -> @austen_family_papers

@worlds_columbian_exposition_1893:event {name: "World's Columbian Exposition", year: @date_1893}

@worlds_columbian_exposition_1893 -> subject of -> @austen_family_papers

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@adri_trip_letter_collection -> part of -> @austen_family_papers

@yellowstone_park_letter_collection -> part of -> @austen_family_papers

@wedding_announcement_collection -> part of -> @austen_family_papers

@pinax_collection:document {title: "Alice Austen Envelope Collection, 1894", creator: @alice_austen, institution: "Alice Austen House", year: @date_1894, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Envelopes","Victorian-era social life","Staten Island","New York"]}

@pinax_collection -> part of -> @austen_family_papers

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@j_butterball -> correspondent in -> @austen_family_papers

@mrs_louis_h_meyer -> correspondent in -> @austen_family_papers

@alice_austen -> sold photographs from -> @worlds_columbian_exposition_1893

@letter -> mentions -> @worlds_columbian_exposition_1893

@letter -> mentions -> @yellowstone_park

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@letter -> mentions -> @acorn

@letter -> mentions -> @worlds_columbian_exposition_1893

@letter -> mentions -> @biscayne_bay

@letter -> mentions -> @commodore

@letter -> mentions -> @zacht_watson

@letter_3002 -> mentions -> @edith

@letter_3002 -> mentions -> @sacramento

@letter_3003 -> mentions -> @heatherton

@letter_3004 -> mentions -> @colonel_young

@letter_3004 -> mentions -> @edith

@letter_3004 -> mentions -> @sacramento

@letter_3005 -> mentions -> @eleanor

@letter_3005 -> mentions -> @the_luminary_club

@letter_3006 -> mentions -> @the_band

@letter_3006 -> mentions -> @edith

@letter_3006 -> mentions -> @albert

@letter_3006 -> mentions -> @mr_potter

@letter_3007 -> mentions -> @mr_peirce

@letter_3007 -> mentions -> @miss_annie

@letter_3007 -> mentions -> @sacramento

@letter_3007 -> mentions -> @albert

@letter_3008 -> mentions -> @seattle

@letter_3008 -> mentions -> @tacoma

@letter_3008 -> mentions -> @rockies

@letter_3009 -> mentions -> @lady_randolph_churchill

@letter_3009 -> mentions -> @gertrude

@letter_3009 -> mentions -> @leith_observatory

@letter_aug_25_1894 -> mentions -> @adirondack_preserve_association

@letter_aug_25_1894 -> mentions -> @miss_strong

@letter_aug_25_1894 -> mentions -> @deer_hunting

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@envelope_1894_08_20_3001_trude -> addressed to -> @alice_austen

@envelope_1894_08_26_4001_copy -> sent by -> @e_a_austin

@envelope_1894_08_26_4001_copy -> addressed to -> @alice_austen

@envelope_1894_08_31_5001_martin -> addressed to -> @alice_austen

@wedding_announcement -> about -> @anna_louise_meyer

@wedding_announcement -> about -> @samuel_wann

@wedding_announcement -> part of -> @wedding_announcement_collection

@file_1894_8_30_aug_2003_copy_jpg -> depicts -> @wedding_announcement

Metadata

Version History (10 versions)

  • ✓ v11 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:55:56 PM
    "Added description"
  • v10 · 12/9/2025, 9:20:00 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v9 · 12/9/2025, 8:05:02 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v8 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:17 PM · View this version
    "Reorganized into 6 groups"
  • v7 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:16 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29TJQMXMF1J2DCWJBXTYV0"
  • v6 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:14 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29TGYAHMBVKPK2322BMYB0"
  • v5 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:13 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29TFE7G8A1Y6AYJ2YQTZTR"
  • v4 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:11 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29TE30AS2Z38RNBDYXSRCR"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:10 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29TCG4838EWAN3ADAHPGJB"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:08 PM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KC29TAZQ4Q0E2ZXVC5DNWW3E"

Additional Components

reorganization-description.txt
# Reorganization Summary

Files were organized primarily by correspondent and content type. The largest groups are letters from Julia Martin and Trude, which provide insight into their personal lives and relationships with Alice Austen. Smaller groups include letters about specific trips (Adirondacks and Yellowstone) and a wedding announcement. Standalone envelopes were grouped separately. This organization maintains consistency with the guidance provided while accurately reflecting the content's themes and relationships.

## Groups Created

- **Julia_Martin_Letters**: Personal correspondence from Julia Martin to Alice Austen, discussing her plans to open a boarding house in Santa Barbara and other personal matters.
- **Trude_Letters**: Letters from Trude to Alice Austen, discussing family life, social activities, and travels.
- **Adirondack_Trip_Letter**: Letter from P.M. about a trip to the Adirondacks and deer hunting.
- **Yellowstone_Park_Letter**: Letter from 'J. Butterball' about travels in Yellowstone Park and photography.
- **Wedding_Announcement**: Announcement of the marriage of Anna Louise to Mr. Samuel Wann.
- **Envelopes**: Standalone envelopes with no letter content.

Parent

01KC261TMKT8PASGBZ24SM84N0

Children (6)