1893_4-14-Julia Martin Apr 14 1893001 copy.jpg

Julia Martin Correspondence to Alice Austen, 1893

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:47:48 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:33:19 PM

Added description

Description

Julia L. Martin Correspondence to Alice Austen, 1893

Overview

This digitized collection comprises two handwritten letters written by Julia L. Martin to her friend and photographer, Elizabeth Alice Austen, in 1893. The letters are preserved as high‑resolution JPEG scans of the original envelopes and pages, each accompanied by OCR‑derived text. The collection is part of the Austen Family Papers (MS1) housed at the Alice Austen House Museum on Staten Island, New York.

Background

Julia Martin (c. 1860‑?) was a close friend of Austen, residing in Albany, New York, and occasionally visiting Staten Island. The correspondence reflects the social networks of upper‑middle‑class New York society in the late Victorian era. Austen’s own photographic career and social engagements provide the broader context for these personal letters, which were collected by the museum’s archivists during a 2010 digitization project.

Contents

  • Letter – April 14, 1893: 3 scanned pages (envelope, two pages of text). The letter recounts a recent illness, a visit to Staten Island, Easter Sunday at Christ Church, and a trip to Bennington.
  • Letter – May 8, 1893: 4 scanned pages (envelope, three pages of text). Julia discusses her continued sickness, a trout‑fishing excursion in Bennington, a visit to Loring Hall in Albany, and affectionate greetings to Austen’s family.
  • OCR Text Files: Typed transcriptions of each letter, available in plain‑text format.
  • Metadata: Subject tags include “Correspondence,” “Victorian social life,” “Health and illness,” “Fishing,” and geographic labels for Staten Island, Albany, Bennington, and Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Scope

The collection covers a single year (1893) and focuses exclusively on Julia Martin’s letters to Alice Austen. It documents personal health, travel, and social activities within the New York metropolitan region, offering insight into the everyday lives of women in the late 19th century. The collection does not include Austen’s responses or other correspondence, nor does it contain photographs taken by Austen.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth_year: @date_1866, death_year: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer", location: @staten_island}

@julia_martin:person {full_name: "Julia L. Martin", relationship: "friend of @alice_austen", location: @albany}

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

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

@bennington:place {state: @vermont, country: @united_states}

@cambridge_ma:place {state: @massachusetts, country: @united_states}

@christ_church:place {type: "church", location: @staten_island}

@loring_hall:place {type: "hall", location: @albany}

@trout_fishing:concept {type: "recreational activity"}

@ben_brown:person {status: "ill", age: 30, relation: "acquaintance of @julia_martin"}

@file_pinax:file {title: "Julia Martin Correspondence to Alice Austen, 1893", creator: [@julia_martin], institution: "Alice Austen House", created: @date_1893, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Personal letters","Victorian social life","Family relationships","Staten Island history","Albany (New York)","Bennington (Vermont)","Health and illness","Social customs","Fishing"]}

@letter_apr_14_1893:document {date: @date_1893_04_14, from: @julia_martin, to: @alice_austen, locations: [@albany, @staten_island, @bennington], topics: ["health","melancholy","social visit","church"], summary: "Julia describes recent illness, visits to Staten Island, Easter Sunday at Christ Church, travel to Bennington, and expresses longing to stay longer."}

@julia_martin -> wrote -> @letter_apr_14_1893

@letter_apr_14_1893 -> addressed to -> @alice_austen

@letter_apr_14_1893 -> mentions -> @christ_church

@letter_may_8_1893:document {date: @date_1893_05_08, from: @julia_martin, to: @alice_austen, locations: [@albany, @bennington], topics: ["illness","fishing","social gatherings","Loring Hall"], summary: "Julia reports being on the sick list, describes a trout‑fishing trip in Bennington, mentions a visit to Loring Hall, and sends affectionate regards."}

@julia_martin -> wrote -> @letter_may_8_1893

@letter_may_8_1893 -> addressed to -> @alice_austen

@letter_may_8_1893 -> mentions -> @ben_brown

@letter_may_8_1893 -> mentions -> @trout_fishing

@letter_may_8_1893 -> mentions -> @loring_hall

@file_1893_4_14_julia_martin_apr_14_1893001_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", ocr_text: "Miss Austin Rosebank Staten Island N.Y. ALBANY, N.Y. APR14 12-M 1893"}

@file_1893_4_14_julia_martin_apr_14_1893002_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", ocr_text: "staying in bed for a week if I feel as melancholic... Easter Sunday found me in Christ Church and at my Father's house all day long... Bennington on Monday Apr 17th... Dear Alice, I know or rather do not know what you must think of me..."}

@file_1893_4_14_julia_martin_apr_14_1893003_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", ocr_text: "Our place—the towns are really very much cut up & the hedges have been burned down... I will send the photo as soon as I go back... Please write me soon & give my love to your Mother & Aunt..."}

@file_1893_5_8_may_1001_martin_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", ocr_text: "Miss Alice Austen & me G R Richards Cambridge, Mass Staten Island & Channing St., N.Y. AI BANY. N.Y. MAI 8 Y 0 - PM 1893"}

@file_1893_5_8_may_1002_jtm_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", ocr_text: "Let me see since my last letter we have all left Bennington & am in Albany for a few weeks... I am on the sick list today so did not go out with Mrs Cooper... Do not speak of this to our single person as things get out & I do not want anyone to know it..."}

@file_1893_5_8_may_1003_jtm_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", ocr_text: "the trout fishing begins on that day & we all went fishing in the pouring rain... I went to \"Loring Hall\" the other night & thought it awfully pretty..."}

@file_1893_5_8_may_1004_jtm_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", ocr_text: "sure & send me a letter on Sunday & with much love to you all. affectionately Julia S. Martin May 8th 1893."}

Metadata

Files (7)

1893_4-14-Julia Martin Apr 14 1893001 copy.jpgJPEG
941.6 KB
OCR Text

Miss Austin Rosebank Staten Island N.Y. ALBANY, N.Y. APR14 12-M 1893

1893_4-14-Julia Martin Apr 14 1893002 copy.jpgJPEG
4.41 MB
OCR Text

staying in bed for a week if I feel as melancholic. You do not know how much I enjoyed my little visit to Staten Island, and especially the day with you. It seemed like old times to be sitting talking to you and I only wish I might have remained over night. Easter Sunday found me in Christ Church and at my Father's house all day long. In the afternoon he drove me over to Arrowax and I saw the havoc that the Skinmane have played on Bennington on Monday Apr 17th 239th Street Apr. 14th 1893 Dear Alice, I know or rather do not know what you must think of me for not sending you at least word that I did not die of undue remorse the afternoon I left you. I have been in one grand rush from that time up to date & will not be sorry when Monday finds me quietly settled at Bennington. I have had the promise of

1893_4-14-Julia Martin Apr 14 1893003 copy.jpgJPEG
3.27 MB
OCR Text

Our place—the towns are really very much cut up & the hedges have been burned down in places. I believe my family were back now in a few weeks. Since I have been in Albany I have been having a great time. Every one has been so pleasant. Last night at Birthday I blackened up and went all over the neighborhood. We called on all the stayed and dignified people and they seemed to enjoy it all more than a little. I saw Mrs. Smiley when I returned and gave her all your messages. Ben Benson has been ordered away from Bennington!!! by his family. We had a good laugh over him. He is thirty, but not bold enough to take care of himself. I will send the photo as soon as I go back. I am going out this afternoon for a ride on horseback—day before yesterday saw me on the road for the first time & I got along beautifully. Please write me soon & give my love to your Mother & Aunt, with lots always for yourself affectionately, Julia L. Martin

1893_5-8-May 1001-martin copy.jpgJPEG
343.04 KB
OCR Text

Miss Alice Austen & me G R Richards Cambridge, Mass Staten Island & Channing St., N.Y. AI BANY. N.Y. MAI 8 Y 0 - PM 1893

1893_5-8-May 1002-JTM copy.jpgJPEG
1.44 MB
OCR Text

Let me see since my last letter we have all left Bennington & am in Albany for a few weeks. Mrs Cooper came home on Monday & Mrs Lively, the boys & I came down to meet her, so our kind of pleasure ended and duty begins. Ben Brown is still ill. I tell Mrs S it is this winter's work that she put in. Poor man he sits & mourns, for though thirty, his mamma does not appear to Mrs S or of me. If she only knew what fun she gives us. I go Dear Alice, I am on the sick list today so did not go out with Mrs Cooper. I feel sometimes so discouraged for I am not strong & I seem literally to be going all to pieces. Do not speak of this to our single person as things get out & I do not want anyone to know it and hope with a strong tonic to come out all right.

1893_5-8-May 1003-JTM copy.jpgJPEG
1.09 MB
OCR Text

to the house on all occasions to ask after him or to borrow something & Mrs. Brown acts too funny. What fools people can be. You should have seen Mrs. S—the boys & I Monday morning—the 1st of May. The trout fishing begins on that day & we all went fishing in the pouring rain. Mrs. Smively did not wish to wear any skirts at all, but just her riding trousers covered by her ulster, but we were afraid she would lose a button or the wind might blow a hole in it. With no serious results to the nerves of the good Bennington community if they should chance to see her, so she put on our shirt as I did and off we went in cold & rain and after two hours came home minus a fish. I had a splendid time with Mrs. Smively & was heart broken when I had to leave her. Since I have been in Albany we have been very quiet. I went to "Loring Hall" the other night & thought it awfully pretty. I have no more news for this time. Be

1893_5-8-May 1004-JTM copy.jpgJPEG
362.75 KB
OCR Text

sure & send me a letter on Sunday & with much love to you all. affectionately Julia S. Martin May 8th 1893.

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:47:48 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:51:11 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:52:21 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:33:19 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Julia_Martin_Correspondence"

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01KC29FEAWW0RMK35PZ7NKVYEN

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