Elizabeth B. Strong Correspondence to Alice Austen
PI
Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:45:29 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:33:20 PM
Added description
Description
Elizabeth B. Strong Correspondence to Alice Austen (1893)
Overview
This is a digitized collection of handwritten letters exchanged in 1893 between Elizabeth B. Strong of New Brunswick, New Jersey, and Alice Austen of Staten Island, New York. The collection is housed by the Alice Austen House Museum and consists of scanned photographs of the original letters (JPG files) and accompanying typed transcriptions (TXT files). The material spans three distinct dates—January 21, January 30, and October 2, 1893—and captures a snapshot of late‑Victorian social life among upper‑middle‑class families on Staten Island.Background
Elizabeth Strong was a contemporary and friend of photographer Alice Austen. Their correspondence reflects the social networks of the era, including invitations to dances, tea parties, and visits to the island. The letters were preserved by the museum as part of its effort to document Austen’s personal and professional milieu. The digitization project provides scholars with access to the original handwriting, marginalia, and the context of the letters’ creation.Contents
- Nine letters (three dated January 21, three on January 30, and three on October 2, 1893).
- Themes: - Social invitations: dance and visit invitations, dress‑making, and preparations for ball events. - Family and friends: references to Bessie Howard, Rosalie, Will Woodbridge, Helen, and Miss Hubble. - Photography: mentions of toning pictures, a trip to Montclair, and the sale of photographs. - Daily life: descriptions of illness, travel, and household duties.
- Photographic material: JPG scans of the original letters and typed transcriptions for research use.
Scope
The collection covers the year 1893 and is limited to correspondence between Elizabeth B. Strong and Alice Austen. Geographic focus includes New Brunswick (New Jersey) and Staten Island (New York). Topics include Victorian social customs, family matters, and the early photography business. The collection does not include letters from other correspondents or from other years.Raw Cheimarros Data
@alice_austen_house:organization {name: "Alice Austen House Museum", location: @staten_island}
@elizabeth_strong_correspondence:collection {title: "Elizabeth B. Strong Correspondence to Alice Austen", creator: @elizabeth_strong, institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1893, language: "en-US", subjects: ["Personal correspondence","Social life","Victorian-era customs","Family matters","Photography","New Brunswick","Staten Island"], description: "Letters from Elizabeth B. Strong to Alice Austen between 1883‑1898, providing insight into late Victorian social life on Staten Island."}
@file_pinax:file {title: "Elizabeth B. Strong Correspondence to Alice Austen", type: "Metadata", creator: @elizabeth_strong, institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1893, language: "en-US"}
@elizabeth_strong_correspondence -> contains -> @file_pinax
@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth_year: @date_1866, death_year: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer", location: @staten_island}
@elizabeth_strong:person {full_name: "Elizabeth B. Strong", location: @new_brunswick, relation: "correspondent"}
@julia_martin:person {full_name: "Julia T. Martin", location: @albany}
@julie_bredt:person {full_name: "Julie Bredt"}
@violet_ward:person {full_name: "Violet M.E. Ward"}
@isabella_king:person {full_name: "Isabella King", role: "photograph buyer"}
@bessie_howard:person {full_name: "Bessie Howard"}
@rosalie:person {full_name: "Rosalie"}
@will_woodbridge:person {full_name: "Will Woodbridge", relation: "cousin of Helen", location: @princeton}
@helen:person {full_name: "Helen", relation: "cousin of Will Woodbridge", location: @princeton}
@miss_hubble:person {full_name: "Miss Hubble", address: "219 West 11th St, New York"}
@rosebank:place {city: @staten_island, state: @new_york}
@staten_island:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@new_brunswick:place {state: @new_jersey, country: @united_states}
@montclair:place {state: @new_jersey}
@princeton:place {state: @new_jersey}
@albany:place {state: @new_york}
@west_11th_st:place {address: "219 West 11th St", city: @new_york}
@file_1893_1_30_jan_5001_strong_copy_jpg:document {author: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1893_01_30, location: @rosebank, content_summary: "Letter heading with address."}
@file_1893_1_30_jan_5002_strong_copy_jpg:document {author: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1893_01_21, location: @new_brunswick, topics: ["invitation decline","health issue","Bessie Howard party"], content_summary: "Declines Alice's invitation due to a troublesome toe and a busy schedule; mentions Bessie Howard's \"dine & shirt\" party."}
@file_1893_1_30_jan_5003_strong_copy_jpg:document {author: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1893_01_30, location: @new_brunswick, topics: ["social dance","tea at Helen's"], content_summary: "Describes a dance, an evening at Helen's tea, and humorous mishaps with Will Woodbridge."}
@file_1893_1_30_jan_5004_strong_copy_jpg:document {author: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1893_01_30, location: @new_brunswick, topics: ["meeting Rosalie","photography toning","trip to Montclair"], content_summary: "Mentions Rosalie meeting Alice on a boat, plans to meet at Miss Hubble's, and recent photography work."}
@file_1893_1_30_jan_5005_strong_copy_jpg:document {author: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1893_01_30, location: @new_brunswick, topics: ["lesson schedule","dress shortage","accepting dance invitation"], content_summary: "Discusses lesson times, lack of evening dresses, and acceptance of Alice's dance invitation."}
@file_1893_10_2_oct_1001_strong_copy_jpg:document {author: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1893_10_02, location: @rosebank, content_summary: "Letter heading with address."}
@file_1893_10_2_oct_1002_strong_copy_jpg:document {author: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1893_10_02, location: @new_brunswick, topics: ["accepting invitation","dress‑making"], content_summary: "Accepts Alice's invitation to visit Staten Island on Thursday, mentions dress‑making."}
@file_1893_10_2_oct_1003_strong_copy_jpg:document {author: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1893_10_02, location: @new_brunswick, topics: ["lack of evening dresses","family duties","photography"], content_summary: "Explains inability to travel due to lack of dresses and family responsibilities; mentions photography opportunity."}
@elizabeth_strong_correspondence -> contains -> @file_1893_1_30_jan_5001_strong_copy_jpg
@elizabeth_strong_correspondence -> contains -> @file_1893_1_30_jan_5002_strong_copy_jpg
@elizabeth_strong_correspondence -> contains -> @file_1893_1_30_jan_5003_strong_copy_jpg
@elizabeth_strong_correspondence -> contains -> @file_1893_1_30_jan_5004_strong_copy_jpg
@elizabeth_strong_correspondence -> contains -> @file_1893_1_30_jan_5005_strong_copy_jpg
@elizabeth_strong_correspondence -> contains -> @file_1893_10_2_oct_1001_strong_copy_jpg
@elizabeth_strong_correspondence -> contains -> @file_1893_10_2_oct_1002_strong_copy_jpg
@elizabeth_strong_correspondence -> contains -> @file_1893_10_2_oct_1003_strong_copy_jpg
@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @file_1893_1_30_jan_5002_strong_copy_jpg {when: @date_1893_01_21, where: @new_brunswick}
@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @file_1893_1_30_jan_5003_strong_copy_jpg {when: @date_1893_01_30, where: @new_brunswick}
@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @file_1893_1_30_jan_5004_strong_copy_jpg {when: @date_1893_01_30, where: @new_brunswick}
@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @file_1893_1_30_jan_5005_strong_copy_jpg {when: @date_1893_01_30, where: @new_brunswick}
@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @file_1893_10_2_oct_1002_strong_copy_jpg {when: @date_1893_10_02, where: @new_brunswick}
@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @file_1893_10_2_oct_1003_strong_copy_jpg {when: @date_1893_10_02, where: @new_brunswick}
@alice_austen <- received <- @file_1893_1_30_jan_5002_strong_copy_jpg
@alice_austen <- received <- @file_1893_1_30_jan_5003_strong_copy_jpg
@alice_austen <- received <- @file_1893_1_30_jan_5004_strong_copy_jpg
@alice_austen <- received <- @file_1893_1_30_jan_5005_strong_copy_jpg
@alice_austen <- received <- @file_1893_10_2_oct_1002_strong_copy_jpg
@alice_austen <- received <- @file_1893_10_2_oct_1003_strong_copy_jpg
@elizabeth_strong -> mentions -> @bessie_howard {in: @file_1893_1_30_jan_5002_strong_copy_jpg}
@elizabeth_strong -> mentions -> @rosalie {in: @file_1893_1_30_jan_5004_strong_copy_jpg}
@elizabeth_strong -> mentions -> @will_woodbridge {in: @file_1893_1_30_jan_5003_strong_copy_jpg}
@elizabeth_strong -> mentions -> @helen {in: @file_1893_1_30_jan_5003_strong_copy_jpg}
@elizabeth_strong -> mentions -> @miss_hubble {in: @file_1893_1_30_jan_5004_strong_copy_jpg}
@elizabeth_strong -> mentions -> @montclair {in: @file_1893_1_30_jan_5004_strong_copy_jpg}
@elizabeth_strong -> mentions -> @princeton {in: @file_1893_1_30_jan_5003_strong_copy_jpg}
@alice_austen -> invited -> @elizabeth_strong {event: "dance", when: @date_1893_01_30, where: @staten_island}
@alice_austen -> invited -> @elizabeth_strong {event: "visit", when: @date_1893_10_02, where: @staten_island}Metadata
Files (8)
OCR Text
Miss E. A. Austin Rosebank, Staten Island, New York.
OCR Text
on the 8th, and the Junior Ball comes off on the 10th. Furthermore I am expecting Rosalie and as Bessie Howard wants her to come in time for the card party, she may arrive either Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday; I cannot tell which. Just now I am a cripple, suffering from a very troublesome toe. Trust it will let New Brunswick Jan'y 21st 1993 My dear Alice: Many thanks for your kind and tempting invitation. I have tried to think I could accept it, but there is so much going on next week that I know I should be a wreck if I did. Bessie Howard has a "dine & shirt" party
OCR Text
One dance next week, but for the last few days I have been limping about in the biggest shoes I could find. Thursday is my day in New York this winter, but last week I was unable to go over because of an attack of indigestion. Have had little trouble of that sort lately, but this came on very suddenly. I spent most of Thurs. on the lounge, but went to a tea at Helen's in the evening, and had great fun. Supper was served at small tables, five of them and four people at a table. Bessie Howard, Will Woodbridge (Helen's cousin from Princeton) Mr. Dyke and myself composed our table, and we almost disgraced ourselves, or were disgraced by Will Woodbridge. I simply laughed till the tears ran down my face at the antics of that youth. After
OCR Text
Rosalie wrote me she had met you on the boat and had quite a talk with you. Of course I will pilot you over some time. Expect to spend some Thursday night there before a great while, and you might meet me at Miss Hubble's and go over with me. Miss H. is at 219 West 11th St. just beyond Beverly Place. The 14th St. tea we played "Palama-gundi," probably you know it. Have been toning pictures this morning, for the first time in weeks. Cannot say I enjoy it more than formerly. Two weeks ago I went out to Montclair after my lesson and spent two days with cousins there. It is a delightful place, and there are lots of swell people
OCR Text
The cars go right by her door. My lesson begins at ten but is barely over much before twelve. This week I hardly expect to go over on Thursday, so I shall probably be laid up by that time. I trust you will be charitable and believe that it is really not best for me to go to Staten Island next week, much as I should like to. I am hard up for evening dresses too, only have one that is half way presentable. But I am coming down to see you some Thursday after my lesson, unless your health worsens and you refuse to receive me. It is awfully kind of you to ask me over for the dance, and I appreciate it. With much love, Yours as ever, Elisabeth 13.4-
OCR Text
Miss E. A. Austen Rosebank. Platen Island. N.Y.
OCR Text
in the afternoon. If you have made any engagement for that day, therefore, do not mind me; or would you rather have me wait until Friday? In the meantime I am trying to do, and to have done, a little dress-making, my little homew, so this is just between seasons. I do most sincerely hope there is nothing going on with you, for they New Brunswick Oct. 2nd '93 My dear Alice: There seems to be no reason why I should not now accept your invitation, and unless something unforeseen happens I think I can go over to Staten Island on Thursday. Shall have to be in New York through the day, so do not expect me before rather late
OCR Text
wardrobe is not in a good condition; I am destitute of evening dresses. I am anxious to make my visit to you now, as Mother has dismissed our cook, and her month expires on the 12th. We are expecting a girl from Sweden, a sister of our waitress, but shall have to wait sometime for her, so I shall be needed at home. This is a most perfect day, just the thing for photographing, but I am too busy. Of the time I have mentioned for coming is not convenient for you please say so. Mother joins me in love. Affly yours, Elizabeth B. Strong
Version History (4 versions)
- ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:45:29 PM
"Added description" - v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:48:32 PM · View this version
"Added knowledge graph extraction" - v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:51:23 PM · View this version
"Added PINAX metadata" - v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:33:20 PM · View this version
"Reorganization group: Elizabeth_Strong_Correspondence"
Parent
No children (leaf entity)