Julia T. Martin Correspondence to Alice Austen

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:46:24 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:33:13 PM

Added description

Description

Julia T. Martin Correspondence to Alice Austen (Fall–Winter 1893)

Overview

This collection comprises a series of handwritten letters and envelopes written by Julia T. Martin to her close friend, photographer Elizabeth Alice Austen, during the period 1 November – 12 December 1893. The items are digitized as high‑resolution JPEG scans of the originals, accompanied by typed transcriptions in plain‑text format. The collection is part of the Austen Family Papers (MS1) housed at the Alice Austen House Museum in Staten Island, New York.

Background

Julia T. Martin, a resident of Albany, New York, maintained a long‑standing friendship with Alice Austen. Her correspondence in late 1893 reflects the social and personal concerns of a well‑connected upper‑middle‑class woman of the era. The letters were preserved in Austen’s personal papers and later digitized by the museum for scholarly use. The collection illustrates the trans‑regional nature of Victorian social networks, with references to travels to California, Santa Barbara, Riverside, and visits to Staten Island.

Contents

The collection contains fifteen items: one envelope dated 31 October 1893, five letters dated 1 November 1893, two dated 11 November 1893, one dated 15 November 1893, one address header dated 2 November 1893, and five letters dated 12 December 1893. The letters discuss a range of topics, including:
  • Social life: skating parties, whist parties, church gatherings, and sleigh rides.
  • Travel plans: trips to Santa Barbara, Riverside, Revendale, and the invitation to visit Staten Island.
  • Photography business: references to Alice’s sale of photographs and the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition.
  • Personal matters: family news, the purchase of a Steinway piano, and the death of Julia’s grandfather.
  • Shopping and commerce: mentions of the Woman’s Exchange and silk purchases.

Each item is accompanied by a machine‑read OCR transcript, providing searchable text for researchers.

Scope

The collection covers a narrow, one‑month window in late 1893 and is limited to letters written by Julia T. Martin to Alice Austen. It does not include responses from Austen or correspondence with other individuals. The geographic references span Albany, Staten Island, Santa Barbara, Riverside, and other California locales, offering insight into the social and commercial networks of late‑19th‑century America.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth: @date_1866, death: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer"}

@julia_t_martin:person {full_name: "Julia T. Martin", relationship: "close friend of @alice_austen", residence: @albany_new_york}

@violet_ward:person {full_name: "Violet M.E. Ward"}

@julie_bredt:person {full_name: "Julie Bredt"}

@isabella_king:person {full_name: "Isabella King", role: "photograph buyer"}

@bessie_strong:person {full_name: "Bessie Strong"}

@albany_new_york:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

@staten_island_ny:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

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

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

@rosebank_staten_island:place {city: @staten_island_ny, description: "Neighborhood in Staten Island"}

@date_1866:date_1866

@date_1952:date_1952

@date_1893_10_31:date_1893_10_31

@date_1893_11_01:date_1893_11_01

@date_1893_11_11:date_1893_11_11

@date_1893_11_15:date_1893_11_15

@date_1893_12_12:date_1893_12_12

@sleight_rides:concept {description: "Winter sleigh rides mentioned in correspondence"}

@photography_business:concept {description: "Alice Austen's photography business and sales"}

@steinway_piano:concept {description: "Steinway piano purchase discussed in letters"}

@church_events:concept {description: "Church gatherings referenced"}

@whist_parties:concept {description: "Social whist parties"}

@skating_parties:concept {description: "Skating parties"}

@file_pinax:document {title: "Julia T. Martin Correspondence to Alice Austen", creator: @julia_t_martin, created_range: {start: @date_1893_11_01, end: @date_1893_12_12}, subjects: ["Personal correspondence","Victorian social life","Friendship","Family relationships","Sleigh rides","Photography","Shopping","Music","Education"], place: [@albany_new_york, @staten_island_ny, @santa_barbara_ca, @riverside_ca]}

@file_1893_10_31_julia_martin_nov_1_1893001_copy_jpg:file {date: @date_1893_10_31, location: @albany_new_york, description: "Envelope dated Oct 31 1893, 3 PM"}

@file_1893_11_1_julia_martin_nov_1_1893002_copy_jpg:document {date: @date_1893_11_01, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, location: @albany_new_york, content: "Letter discussing Mrs. Cooper's planned move to California and personal hardships"} 

@file_1893_11_1_julia_martin_nov_1_1893003_copy_jpg:document {date: @date_1893_11_01, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, location: @albany_new_york, content: "Letter mentioning travel plans to Santa Barbara, Riverside, and a visit to the island; expresses desire to spend holidays together"} 

@file_1893_11_1_julia_martin_nov_1_1893004_copy_jpg:document {date: @date_1893_11_01, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, location: @albany_new_york, content: "Affectionate note signed Sue C. Martin"} 

@file_1893_11_11_nov_1002_jtm_copy_jpg:document {date: @date_1893_11_11, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, location: @albany_new_york, content: "Invitation to visit the island, plans for luncheon, and mention of classes at St. Agnes"} 

@file_1893_11_11_nov_1003_jtm_copy_jpg:document {date: @date_1893_11_11, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, location: @albany_new_york, content: "Short note about Mrs. Lively and Mrs. Cooper's disappointment"} 

@file_1893_11_15_nov_4002_jtm_copy_jpg:document {date: @date_1893_11_15, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, location: @albany_new_york, content: "Arrangements for travel to Revendale, discussion of train schedules and social visit"} 

@file_1893_11_2_nov_1001_martin_copy_jpg:document {date: @date_1893_11_02, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, location: @staten_island_ny, content: "Address header for Miss Alice Austen, Rosebank, Staten Island"} 

@file_1893_12_12_dec_3001_martin_copy_jpg:document {date: @date_1893_12_12, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, location: @albany_new_york, content: "Header for Miss Hursten, Rosebank, Staten Island"} 

@file_1893_12_12_dec_3002_jtm_copy_jpg:document {date: @date_1893_12_12, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, location: @albany_new_york, content: "Discussion of silk purchase, Woman's Exchange, and naming of a product \"Aqua‑honga\""} 

@file_1893_12_12_dec_3003_jtm_copy_jpg:document {date: @date_1893_12_12, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, location: @albany_new_york, content: "Description of sleighing activities, boulevard races, and new dress purchase"} 

@file_1893_12_12_dec_3004_jtm_copy_jpg:document {date: @date_1893_12_12, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, location: @albany_new_york, content: "Walk with young ladies, school studies, and New Year’s dance at the Pynques"} 

@file_1893_12_12_dec_3005_jtm_copy_jpg:document {date: @date_1893_12_12, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, location: @albany_new_york, content: "Commentary on stepdaughter Pauline, letter from Mr. Smiley, and affectionate closing"} 

@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @file_1893_11_1_julia_martin_nov_1_1893002_copy_jpg

@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @file_1893_11_1_julia_martin_nov_1_1893003_copy_jpg

@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @file_1893_11_1_julia_martin_nov_1_1893004_copy_jpg

@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @file_1893_11_11_nov_1002_jtm_copy_jpg

@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @file_1893_11_11_nov_1003_jtm_copy_jpg

@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @file_1893_11_15_nov_4002_jtm_copy_jpg

@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @file_1893_11_2_nov_1001_martin_copy_jpg

@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @file_1893_12_12_dec_3001_martin_copy_jpg

@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @file_1893_12_12_dec_3002_jtm_copy_jpg

@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @file_1893_12_12_dec_3003_jtm_copy_jpg

@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @file_1893_12_12_dec_3004_jtm_copy_jpg

@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @file_1893_12_12_dec_3005_jtm_copy_jpg

@julia_t_martin -> discussed -> @sleight_rides

@julia_t_martin -> discussed -> @photography_business

@julia_t_martin -> discussed -> @steinway_piano

@julia_t_martin -> discussed -> @church_events

@julia_t_martin -> discussed -> @whist_parties

@julia_t_martin -> discussed -> @skating_parties

@file_1893_12_12_dec_3003_jtm_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @sleight_rides

@file_1893_12_12_dec_3002_jtm_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @photography_business

@file_1893_12_12_dec_3005_jtm_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @steinway_piano

@file_1893_11_15_nov_4002_jtm_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @church_events

@file_1893_11_11_nov_1002_jtm_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @whist_parties

@file_1893_11_1_julia_martin_nov_1_1893003_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @skating_parties

@file_1893_11_1_julia_martin_nov_1_1893003_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @santa_barbara_ca

@file_1893_11_1_julia_martin_nov_1_1893003_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @riverside_ca

@file_1893_11_1_julia_martin_nov_1_1893002_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @albany_new_york

@file_1893_11_1_julia_martin_nov_1_1893002_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @staten_island_ny

@file_1893_11_1_julia_martin_nov_1_1893002_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @rosebank_staten_island

@file_1893_12_12_dec_3004_jtm_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @new_years_dance:concept {description: "New Year's dance at the Pynques"}

Metadata

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:46:24 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:48:25 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:51:45 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:33:13 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Julia_Martin_Correspondence"

Additional Components (13)

Click to expand and load individual components

1893_10-31-Julia Martin Nov 1 1893001 copy.jpg.ref.json
1893_11-1-Julia Martin Nov 1 1893002 copy.jpg.ref.json
1893_11-1-Julia Martin Nov 1 1893003 copy.jpg.ref.json
1893_11-1-Julia Martin Nov 1 1893004 copy.jpg.ref.json
1893_11-11-Nov 1002-JTM copy.jpg.ref.json
1893_11-11-Nov 1003-JTM copy.jpg.ref.json
1893_11-15-Nov 4002-JTM copy.jpg.ref.json
1893_11-2-Nov 1001-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1893_12-12-dec 3001-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1893_12-12-dec 3002-JTM copy.jpg.ref.json
1893_12-12-dec 3003-JTM copy.jpg.ref.json
1893_12-12-dec 3004-JTM copy.jpg.ref.json
1893_12-12-dec 3005-JTM copy.jpg.ref.json

Parent

01KC29F9YB806CTR8NHCPQ3S6D

No children (leaf entity)