1893_4-17-Apr 3002 copy.jpg

Strong Family Wedding Correspondence Collection

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:48:04 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:33:22 PM

Added description

Description

Strong Family Wedding Correspondence Collection (1893)

Overview

The Strong Family Wedding Correspondence Collection is a digitized set of Victorian‑era documents related to the marriage of Miss Susan de Lancey Van Rensselaer and Mr Alan Hartwell Strong. The collection comprises seven scanned images of original letters and announcements dated April 17–21, 1893, and is housed in the Alice Austen House Museum’s digital archive. The materials are presented as JPEG images with accompanying OCR text, offering a visual and textual record of the event and its social context.

Background

The documents were created during the wedding celebrations in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and New York City. Mrs D. Olyphant Vail, the bride’s aunt, announced the marriage in a printed notice; Miss E. A. Austin, a friend from Staten Island, sent a letter to photographer Alice Austen describing the ceremony and reception. The collection reflects the social networks of upper‑middle‑class families on Staten Island and the broader New York metropolitan area during the late 19th century.

Contents

  • Announcements: Two printed notices (April 17, 1893) announcing the marriage at Grace Church Chantry, New York.
  • Letters to Alice Austen: Five handwritten letters (April 21, 1893) detailing the wedding day, attire, reception, and post‑event social gatherings.
  • Photographic Elements: Images of the original documents, including the bride’s dress, best‑man, and decorative elements of the ceremony.
  • Correspondents: Mrs D. Olyphant Vail, Miss E. A. Austin, and other family members such as Bessie Howard and Helen Woodbridge are cited as participants or observers.

Scope

The collection covers a narrow temporal window (April 17–21, 1893) and focuses on the wedding of Susan de Lancey Van Rensselaer and Alan Hartwell Strong. It documents the ceremony at Grace Church Chantry, the reception in New Brunswick, and related social events. Geographically, the materials reference New York City, New Brunswick, New Jersey, and Staten Island, New York. Thematically, the collection illustrates Victorian wedding customs, family networks, and the role of photography in preserving social history.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@strong_family_wedding_collection:document {title: "Strong Family Wedding Correspondence Collection", creator: [@d_olymphant_vail, @susan_de_lancey_van_rensselaer, @alan_hartwell_strong, @e_a_austin], institution: @alice_austen_house_museum, created: @date_1893_04_17, description: "Correspondence and announcements related to the wedding of Miss Susan de Lancey Van Rensselaer and Mr. Alan Hartwell Strong."}

@alice_austen_house_museum:organization {location: @staten_island}

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

@d_olymphant_vail:person {full_name: "Mrs. D. Olyphant Vail"}

@susan_de_lancey_van_rensselaer:person {full_name: "Miss Susan de Lancey Van Rensselaer"}

@alan_hartwell_strong:person {full_name: "Mr. Alan Hartwell Strong"}

@e_a_austin:person {full_name: "Miss E. A. Austin"}

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

@date_1866

@date_1952

@date_1893_04_17

@date_1893_04_21

@grace_church_chantry:place {city: "New York", state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

@strong_family_wedding:event {description: "Wedding of Susan de Lancey Van Rensselaer and Alan Hartwell Strong", when: @date_1893_04_17, where: @grace_church_chantry}

@susan_de_lancey_van_rensselaer -> married -> @alan_hartwell_strong {date: @date_1893_04_17, location: @grace_church_chantry}

@d_olymphant_vail -> announced -> @strong_family_wedding {date: @date_1893_04_17, location: @grace_church_chantry}

@letter_to_alice_1893_04_21:document {author: @d_olymphant_vail, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1893_04_21, description: "Letter describing wedding details and social events."}

@letter_to_alice_1893_04_21 -> mentions -> @strong_family_wedding

@bessie_howard:person {full_name: "Bessie Howard"}

@helen_woodbridge:person {full_name: "Helen Woodbridge"}

@mrs_williamson:person {full_name: "Mrs. Williamson"}

@agnes_stover:person {full_name: "Agnes Stover"}

@dr_meyer:person {full_name: "Dr. Meyer"}

@mrs_meyer:person {full_name: "Mrs. Meyer"}

@jack:person {full_name: "Jack"}

@martin_graven_decorations:concept {description: "Decorations at Grace Church Chantry"}

@jack -> stole -> @boutonnieres {from: @martin_graven_decorations, context: "wedding"}

@bessie_howard -> attended -> @strong_family_wedding

@helen_woodbridge -> attended -> @strong_family_wedding

@mrs_williamson -> attended -> @strong_family_wedding

@agnes_stover -> attended -> @strong_family_wedding

@dr_meyer -> attended -> @strong_family_wedding

@mrs_meyer -> attended -> @strong_family_wedding

@new_brunswick_nj:place {state: "New Jersey", country: @united_states}

@file_pinax:file {type: "metadata", description: "PINAX metadata for Strong Family Wedding Collection"}

@file_pinax -> documents -> @strong_family_wedding_collection

@file_1893_4_17_apr_3002_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", description: "Image of Mr. & Mrs. Alan Hartwell Strong announcement", location: @new_brunswick_nj}

@file_1893_4_17_apr_3003_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", description: "Announcement of marriage of Susan de Lancey Van Rensselaer to Alan Hartwell Strong", location: @grace_church_chantry}

@file_1893_4_21_apr_5001_strong_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", description: "Letterhead of Miss E. A. Austin, Rosebank, Staten Island", location: @staten_island}

@file_1893_4_21_apr_5002_strong_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", description: "Letter to Alice Austen describing wedding travel and attendees", location: @new_brunswick_nj}

@file_1893_4_21_apr_5003_strong_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", description: "Letter describing wedding dress, veil, and best man", location: @new_brunswick_nj}

@file_1893_4_21_apr_5004_strong_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", description: "Letter recounting Dr. Doolittle's death and post‑wedding reception", location: @new_brunswick_nj}

@file_1893_4_21_apr_5005_strong_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", description: "Letter mentioning social gatherings, boys, and upcoming engagements", location: @new_brunswick_nj}

Metadata

Files (7)

1893_4-17-Apr 3002 copy.jpgJPEG
132.83 KB
OCR Text

Mr. & Mrs. Alan Hartwell Strong. New Brunswick, New Jersey.

1893_4-17-Apr 3003 copy.jpgJPEG
462.07 KB
OCR Text

Mrs. D. Olyphant Vail announces the marriage of her sister, Miss Susan de Lancey Van Rensselaer, to Mr. Alan Hartwell Strong, on Monday, April the seventeenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-three, at Grace Church Chantry, New York.

1893_4-21-Apr 5001-strong copy.jpgJPEG
440.53 KB
OCR Text

Miss E. A. Austin Rosebank Staten Island N.Y.

1893_4-21-Apr 5002-strong copy.jpgJPEG
2.18 MB
OCR Text

12.50 train on Monday ginte a delegation of us, all the Woodbridges ourselves, The Anakles, Mrs. Williamson and Agnes Stover, Dr. & Mrs. Meyer and several others. It was a little after three when we went in to The Chantry, and the ride o' dearest relatives were already there. It was the most de- lightfully informal affair; the church was so small, every one seemed to know every one else, and we had a fine chance to see New Brunswick - April 20th '93 My dear Alice:- While I have "my pen in hand" I am going to answer your letter. In spare moments an 20 few and far between that I am learning to make the most of them. Don'thes you will want to hear about the wed- ding, so I may as well take that first. We went over in the

1893_4-21-Apr 5003-strong copy.jpgJPEG
1.4 MB
OCR Text

all our relatives. Rosalie was there large as life; there was a few between us but he managed to talk across it. Freeman and Theodore looked quite swell, and performed their arduous labors gracefully. Wish you could have seen the wedding-dress. Several people said it was the handsomest they had ever seen, & the bride looked so well. The dress was very plain, white satin but such an exquisite quality, and the veil was of Brussels lace. I was especially proud of the groom and his best man, four tall six-footers. At the last minute Jack remembered that he and Al had no boutonnieres, so he stole round into Grace Church and captured some white apples from the Martin-Graven decorations. Fortunately no one saw him, and he got back just before the bride came in. There was a small reception after the ceremony at the

1893_4-21-Apr 5004-strong copy.jpgJPEG
2.29 MB
OCR Text

Suppose you saw the account of Dr. Doolittle's death! It was such a shock to everyone, and he will be so missed by all. Pardon all mistakes for I am half asleep. You should have been here Tuesday night. I had five of my boys from the club there for two hours. They behaved beautifully most of the time, though one small youngster grew a trifle unmanageable. He is such an irresistible specimen. Buckingham Hotel. The bride had taken a dreadful cold and could not speak above a whisper, but she managed to make the responses heard all over the church. They were to sail for Bermuda today. Just think of sailing anywhere on a day like this; won't they be seasick? We have most of the presents here, and they are beauties some of them! But I won't enumerate for it would take too much time.

1893_4-21-Apr 5005-strong copy.jpgJPEG
1.5 MB
OCR Text

There is a great temptation to spoil him, and Helen Woodbridge would have done it in a short time. I & Bessie Howard came over to help me. Next week I shall probably have seven boys, but think I shall have to refuse any others that apply so I have not room for more. The regular But has closed for the summer, but I have about ten boys that I am supposed to visit during that time. You may be interested to know that my cafe is a grand success and I am filled with pride thereat. New Brunswick has another engagement Miss Winthrop and Mr. Hardenbeigh. The former is seventy-two, the latter more than ten years her junior! They are to be married in May. You see we must not think of marriage for years yet; we are mere infants. Helen and I go to Queens, L.I. on Saturday to stay with Mrs. Demarest until Tuesday. There is to be some entertainment then Monday night. Freeman Jr. and Alfred Demarest are going

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:48:04 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:51:10 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:52:35 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:33:22 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Strong_Family_Wedding"

Parent

01KC29FEAWW0RMK35PZ7NKVYEN

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