Alice Austen and Julia T. Martin Correspondence, 1892
PI
Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:44:58 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:33:16 PM
Added description
Description
Correspondence between Alice Austen and Julia T. Martin, July–August 1892
Overview
This digitized collection comprises ten scanned photographs of handwritten letters exchanged between Elizabeth Alice Austen, a pioneering Staten Island photographer, and her close friend Julia T. Martin. The letters span from 30 July to 22 August 1892 and are presented as JPEG images with accompanying OCR‑derived transcriptions. The material is held by the Alice Austen House Museum and is in the public domain.Background
The correspondence reflects the social milieu of late‑Victorian New York, illustrating the friendship between two women from upper‑middle‑class families. Austen, residing in Staten Island, and Martin, based in Albany, discuss travel, leisure, and mutual acquaintances. The letters were originally written on stationery of the era and were later digitized for preservation and scholarly use.Contents
- July 30, 1892 – A multipart letter (five sections) in which Martin reports on recent trips to Watkins Glen and Nantucket, mentions friends such as Mrs Barnetts, Luridie, and Johnnie Eccleston, and recounts social gatherings.
- August 2, 1892 – Four‑part correspondence detailing Martin’s return from Albany, her plans to visit Nantucket, and references to acquaintances including Mrs Mitchell, Mrs C, Emma Jansen, and Young Smith.
- August 22, 1892 – A single letter that recounts a tennis match at Sandford’s court, mentions backgammon at Mrs Cooper’s, and references friends such as Mrs Metcalf and Mr W.
Scope
The collection covers a two‑week period in mid‑1892, focusing exclusively on the personal correspondence between Austen and Martin. It documents social events (tennis, backgammon, travel), family and friend networks, and everyday concerns of the era. The material is limited to the two individuals’ exchanges and does not include external correspondence or unrelated documents. The collection offers a valuable snapshot of Victorian social life and the personal networks of Staten Island’s upper‑middle class.Raw Cheimarros Data
@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth: @date_1866, death: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer", location: @staten_island}
@julia_t_martin:person {full_name: "Julia T. Martin", location: @albany, relationship: "close friend of Alice Austen"}
@l_j_w:person {initials: "L.J.W.", role: "letter writer"}
@lindie:person {nickname: "Lindie", relation: "friend of Julia T. Martin"}
@mrs_barnetts:person {title: "Mrs", surname: "Barnetts", relation: "acquaintance"}
@luridie:person {name: "Luridie", relation: "friend"}
@mrs_b:person {title: "Mrs", initial: "B.", relation: "friend"}
@johnnie_eccleston:person {full_name: "Johnnie Eccleston", relation: "friend"}
@mrs_cothier:person {title: "Mrs", surname: "Cothier", relation: "friend"}
@mrs_smively:person {title: "Mrs", surname: "Smively", relation: "friend"}
@mrs_wellington:person {title: "Mrs", surname: "Wellington", relation: "acquaintance"}
@mrs_cooper:person {title: "Mrs", surname: "Cooper", relation: "neighbor"}
@eda_lownes:person {full_name: "Eda Lownes", relation: "sister of a girl known to Julia"}
@mrs_robinson:person {title: "Mrs", surname: "Robinson", relation: "acquaintance"}
@fred_robinson:person {full_name: "Fred Robinson", relation: "cousin of Mrs Robinson"}
@amy:person {name: "Amy", relation: "friend"}
@howard:person {name: "Howard", relation: "house renter"}
@mrs_longy:person {title: "Mrs", surname: "Longy", relation: "acquaintance"}
@mrs_smiley:person {title: "Mrs", surname: "Smiley", relation: "friend"}
@mrs_emily:person {title: "Mrs", surname: "Emily", relation: "acquaintance"}
@mrs_s:person {title: "Mrs", initial: "S.", relation: "friend"}
@mrs_mitchell:person {title: "Mrs", surname: "Mitchell", relation: "visitor"}
@mrs_c:person {title: "Mrs", initial: "C.", relation: "acquaintance"}
@emma_jansen:person {full_name: "Emma Jansen", relation: "acquaintance"}
@young_smith:person {full_name: "Young Smith", relation: "acquaintance"}
@mr_coop:person {title: "Mr", surname: "Coop", relation: "friend"}
@annie:person {name: "Annie", relation: "friend"}
@mr_w:person {title: "Mr", initial: "W.", relation: "tennis partner"}
@mrs_metcalf:person {title: "Mrs", surname: "Metcalf", relation: "neighbor"}
@pinax_collection:document {title: "Alice Austen and Julia T. Martin Correspondence, 1892", creator: [@alice_austen, @julia_t_martin], institution: "Alice Austen House", date_range: {start: @date_1892_07_30, end: @date_1892_08_22}, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Personal letters","Friendship","Social life","Victorian era","Staten Island","Watkins Glen","Tennis","Baseball","Family relationships"], description: "A collection of personal letters between Alice Austen and her close friend Julia T. Martin from July to August 1892, discussing social activities, personal relationships, and daily life.", rights: "Public Domain"}
@file_1892_7_30_july_6002_martin_copy_jpg:file {description: "Letter from Julia T. Martin to Alice Austen dated July 30, 1892"}
@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @file_1892_7_30_july_6002_martin_copy_jpg {when: @date_1892_07_30}
@alice_austen -> received -> @file_1892_7_30_july_6002_martin_copy_jpg {when: @date_1892_07_30}
@file_1892_7_30_july_6002_martin_copy_jpg -> mentions -> [@staten_island, @albany, @watkins_glen]
@file_1892_7_30_july_6003_martin_copy_jpg:file {description: "Letter from Julia T. Martin to Alice Austen dated July 30, 1892 (continuation)"}
@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @file_1892_7_30_july_6003_martin_copy_jpg {when: @date_1892_07_30}
@alice_austen -> received -> @file_1892_7_30_july_6003_martin_copy_jpg {when: @date_1892_07_30}
@file_1892_7_30_july_6003_martin_copy_jpg -> mentions -> [@mrs_barnetts, @luridie, @mrs_b, @johnnie_eccleston, @mrs_cothier, @mrs_smively]
@file_1892_7_30_july_6004_martin_copy_jpg:file {description: "Letter from Julia T. Martin to Alice Austen dated July 30, 1892 (third part)"}
@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @file_1892_7_30_july_6004_martin_copy_jpg {when: @date_1892_07_30}
@alice_austen -> received -> @file_1892_7_30_july_6004_martin_copy_jpg {when: @date_1892_07_30}
@file_1892_7_30_july_6004_martin_copy_jpg -> mentions -> [@mrs_wellington, @mrs_cooper, @eda_lownes, @mrs_robinson, @fred_robinson]
@file_1892_7_30_july_6005_martin_copy_jpg:file {description: "Letter from Julia T. Martin to Alice Austen dated July 30, 1892 (fourth part)"}
@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @file_1892_7_30_july_6005_martin_copy_jpg {when: @date_1892_07_30}
@alice_austen -> received -> @file_1892_7_30_july_6005_martin_copy_jpg {when: @date_1892_07_30}
@file_1892_7_30_july_6005_martin_copy_jpg -> mentions -> [@amy, @howard, @mrs_longy, @mrs_smiley, @mrs_emily, @nantucket]
@file_1892_8_2_aug_1002_martin_copy_jpg:file {description: "Letter from Julia T. Martin to Alice Austen dated August 2, 1892 (first part)"}
@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @file_1892_8_2_aug_1002_martin_copy_jpg {when: @date_1892_08_02}
@alice_austen -> received -> @file_1892_8_2_aug_1002_martin_copy_jpg {when: @date_1892_08_02}
@file_1892_8_2_aug_1002_martin_copy_jpg -> mentions -> [@watkins_glen, @nantucket, @mrs_s]
@file_1892_8_2_aug_1003_martin_copy_jpg:file {description: "Letter from Julia T. Martin to Alice Austen dated August 2, 1892 (second part)"}
@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @file_1892_8_2_aug_1003_martin_copy_jpg {when: @date_1892_08_02}
@alice_austen -> received -> @file_1892_8_2_aug_1003_martin_copy_jpg {when: @date_1892_08_02}
@file_1892_8_2_aug_1003_martin_copy_jpg -> mentions -> [@mrs_mitchell, @mrs_c, @emma_jansen, @young_smith, @amy, @howard]
@file_1892_8_2_aug_1004_martin_copy_jpg:file {description: "Letter from Julia T. Martin to Alice Austen dated August 2, 1892 (third part)"}
@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @file_1892_8_2_aug_1004_martin_copy_jpg {when: @date_1892_08_02}
@alice_austen -> received -> @file_1892_8_2_aug_1004_martin_copy_jpg {when: @date_1892_08_02}
@file_1892_8_2_aug_1004_martin_copy_jpg -> mentions -> [@mr_coop, @annie]
@file_1892_8_22_aug_4004_martin_copy_jpg:file {description: "Letter from Julia T. Martin to Alice Austen dated August 22, 1892"}
@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @file_1892_8_22_aug_4004_martin_copy_jpg {when: @date_1892_08_22}
@alice_austen -> received -> @file_1892_8_22_aug_4004_martin_copy_jpg {when: @date_1892_08_22}
@file_1892_8_22_aug_4004_martin_copy_jpg -> mentions -> [@mrs_cooper, @mr_w, @sandfords_tennis_court, @mrs_metcalf]
@sandfords_tennis_court:place {description: "Tennis court on the hill near the Sandford hotel"}
@alice_austen -> associated with -> @staten_island
@julia_t_martin -> associated with -> @albany
@pinax_collection -> contains -> [@file_1892_7_30_july_6002_martin_copy_jpg, @file_1892_7_30_july_6003_martin_copy_jpg, @file_1892_7_30_july_6004_martin_copy_jpg, @file_1892_7_30_july_6005_martin_copy_jpg, @file_1892_8_2_aug_1002_martin_copy_jpg, @file_1892_8_2_aug_1003_martin_copy_jpg, @file_1892_8_2_aug_1004_martin_copy_jpg, @file_1892_8_22_aug_4004_martin_copy_jpg] {when: @date_1892_07_30, end: @date_1892_08_22}Metadata
Files (8)
OCR Text
house. Every little while I get a letter asking for things & I fear lots of things are gone, but as you say they should be thankful for anything. When I look back upon it all, I really do not know how I did it. There seems to be a little feeling about your having my Mother's things & to avoid this I think it better to send to me. Send C.O.D. to 134 State, as the coachman's wife lives there during the summer. It will be Sunday Believe me always, L.J.W. Dear Alice; Your letter came all right & I was so glad to received it, as I always am - & glad that you are having such a fine time. Please tell Lindie I feel quite jealous of her, & not to steal away my share of warm affection I claim from you. I am glad you sent all the things over to the
OCR Text
cheaper to send it by freight & as I am in no hurry I think this the better way unless it is more bother to you. I wish I had been at Mrs Barnetts with you & Luridie, & am glad Mrs B. remembers me with so much interest yet. She has just written me a very sweet letter, telling me about her trip to Europe etc. & asking me if I can visit her in the Autumn. At the thought if Mrs C. goes away it will only be for two weeks, so that my visits will be a few hours around & the two weeks will be over. I was so sorry to hear of Johnnie Eccleston's loss, but was glad if learn through you that his mills were insured. I have been back from Albany a week after having a delightful time. I think that Mrs Cothier & Mrs Smively are very fond of me & they seemed so glad to have me back. Mrs Smively has really been goodness
OCR Text
it is only for two weeks. It is so pleasant—if any one comes in here, to play backgammon &c be able to run over there. Did we meet Mrs Wellington when we were together. She lives right next to Mrs Cooper & has lots of little children. I like her so much & come to find out she is the sister of a girl I know very well at Mrs Irving's, Eda Lownes. Who do you think turned up the other day—Mrs Robinson. She was driving past at a very fast rate & when she saw me she itself to me. She informed me yesterday that she had paid my dues for a tennis club; some people are getting up here, so I shall be able to play sometimes & she is always doing just such things for me. Of course you say there is "method in such madness"—perhaps so. She & the children are going away to some seaside place on the 6th of August & I shall miss them so much, although
OCR Text
drew the horses up & I went out & we covered each other with kisses & embraces & professions of lifelong friendship. She was really very sick & says she is coming to take me to drive. It seems she has not many friends here on account of her flirtations with that Fred Robinson, her cousin. This has been told me by quite a few people. She has been to Europe, where she left her daughter. Fred is just as pleasant as ever, & not much taller, but is in long trousers. I expect Amy a week from Monday or Tuesday. I can hardly wait to see her. I got them the two rooms that Mrs. Longy & her daughter had, the first ones on the long alley. I wish you were coming also. Yes Howard has rented the house for three months so I hope to keep Amy here in September also. Mrs. Smiley told me to give your her love & with much from myself.
OCR Text
come since. So if you have written yesterday write again on this coming Sunday or we will get all thirsted up. Let me see what I have to write about. Mrs. Emily & the boys left this morning for Nantucket where they expect to spend this week—sadly will I miss them, though I am life full story of the house. Hardly a day goes by without my appearance across the street & Mrs. S. is a lady after my heart if not in all things, it very great. Dear Alice, It is Monday evening to be sure, but not even second have I had today in which to write a line—& when was your last week's letter. The last I heard from you was when you first had gone to Watkins Glen which letter I answered & sent to Robbank, on my Sunday. I now ha
OCR Text
Mary Mrs Mitchell came over here today to stay three weeks. She is awfully nice, especially to me, & is with Mrs C— a good deal giving me much time— although I miss my friends here, the life is much more pleasant here than in the city— In fact the summer has been thoroughly enjoyable, & I rather dread the poor walls of a city house, but having Mrs S next winter is going to be ever so nice. What has struck S. I nearly fell over when I heard of Emma Jansen & Young Smith— & think S. I should take first prize in run-away marriages— Why did they keep it so long, & why did they let it off— Natural cause of events I suppose. Much to my sorrow Amy & kids are not coming here, owing to Howard's not being at all well— I was down in the depths, but had the rise—
OCR Text
There is not to nothing to write about so you must pardon this letter. Mr. Coop & I have been alone for the last month, & have read a great deal & my recreation as consisted of ball playing. Base ball—I am a great player now. Suppose you are having a great time—give my love to Annie & keep her lots for yourself & believe me Most affectionately Julia T. Martin.
OCR Text
met the Willingtons or not, but I am quite sure we did that summer. Well he came in and asked me to play tennis with him this afternoon on the Sandford's tennis court. It is on beyond the hotel, upon the hill. Mrs Cooper was not inclined to have me go for no reason in the world as Mrs Metcalf is here) so was rather out of sorts although it was the lady herself who told Mr W. I could go. Saturday Aug 2nd Dear Alice; Saturday night finds me sitting at Mrs Cooper's dining-room table waiting for her to get through playing backgammon, & I think I can not do better than have a chat on paper with you. This afternoon has been most exciting—the day in fact. You never have told me whether you
Version History (4 versions)
- ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:44:58 PM
"Added description" - v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:45:20 PM · View this version
"Added knowledge graph extraction" - v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:51:14 PM · View this version
"Added PINAX metadata" - v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:33:16 PM · View this version
"Reorganization group: Correspondence_Julia_Martin"
Parent
No children (leaf entity)