1893_4-22-April 4.1-TQBrown copy.jpg

Alice Austen Photography Correspondence Collection, 1893

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:47:59 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:33:24 PM

Added description

Description

Alice Austen Photography Correspondence Collection (1893)

Overview

This digitized collection comprises the personal and professional correspondence of Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952), a pioneering Staten Island photographer, during the year 1893. The material is organized into three handwritten letters—two from T. L. Browne and one from Ralph Munroe—along with high‑resolution JPEG scans of the originals and OCR‑derived transcriptions. The collection was curated by the Alice Austen House Museum and made available through the PINAX platform.

Background

Alice Austen, known for her portrait and landscape work, operated a small photography studio in Richmond County, New York. In 1893 she traveled to Florida and the southeastern United States, engaging with fellow photographers and yacht club members. The letters reflect her professional network and social milieu, including references to the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago and her interactions with the Royal Thames Yacht Club.

Contents

  • Three handwritten letters (dated April 22–23, 1893) addressed to Austen, written in ink on stationery.
  • Five JPEG scans of the letters, each accompanied by OCR text that captures the handwritten content.
  • Metadata indicating authorship (T. L. Browne, Ralph Munroe), recipients (Alice Austen), dates, and subjects such as photography, travel, yachting, and the World’s Columbian Exposition.
  • Contextual notes in the metadata highlight places mentioned: Coconut Grove (Florida), Charleston (South Carolina), St. Augustine (Florida), Richmond County (NY), and Rose Bank (NY).

Scope

The collection covers a single calendar year (1893) and is geographically focused on the northeastern United States and the southeastern coast of Florida. It documents Austen’s professional correspondence with two key contemporaries—Browne, a photographer and yacht enthusiast, and Munroe, a noted maritime figure—providing insight into the intersection of Victorian social life, early photography commerce, and leisure travel. The material is limited to the three letters and their scanned reproductions; it does not include other photographs or business records from Austen’s studio.

Raw Cheimarros Data

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

@t_l_brown:person {full_name: "T.L. Browne"}

@ralph_munroe:person {full_name: "Ralph Munroe"}

@alice_austen_house:organization {type: "Museum", location: @staten_island}

@file_pinax:file {title: "Alice Austen Photography Correspondence Collection, 1893", creator: [@alice_austen, @t_l_brown, @ralph_munroe], institution: @alice_austen_house, year: @date_1893, language: "en", subjects: ["Photography","Correspondence","Victorian social life","World's Columbian Exposition","Travel","Yachting"]}

@coconut_grove:place {state: @florida, country: @united_states}

@charleston:place {state: @south_carolina, country: @united_states}

@st_augustine:place {state: @florida, country: @united_states}

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

@rose_bank:place {city: "Richmond", county: @richmond_county, state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

@worlds_columbian_exposition:event {year: @date_1893, description: "World's Columbian Exposition (Chicago)"} 

@letter_tqbrown_april_22_1893_part1:document {author: @t_l_brown, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1893_04_22, summary: "Compliments on Alice's photographs, mentions negatives, tropical conditions, and desire to discuss cruise."}

@letter_tqbrown_april_22_1893_part2:document {author: @t_l_brown, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1893_04_22, summary: "Discusses prints on ferro‑prussiate paper, mentions Gabriel Mackintosh photograph, negative mishap, and reminiscences of Annapolis, Charleston, and St. Augustine."}

@letter_ralph_munroe_april_23_1893:document {author: @ralph_munroe, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1893_04_23, summary: "Mentions photo prints, yacht club activities, health officer duties, cholera, and social visits in Coconut Grove."}

@file_1893_4_22_april_4_1_tqbrown_copy_jpg:file {ocr_text: "materially in making up the deficiencies of my journal ... Coconut Grove 22 April '93. My dear Miss Austen, ..."} 

@file_1893_4_22_april_4_2_tqbrown_copy_jpg:file {ocr_text: "able to make a few prints ... Gabriel Mackintosh ... Annapolis, Charleston & St. Augustine ..."} 

@file_1893_4_26_ralph_munroe_april_23001_copy_jpg:file {ocr_text: "your shots on the trip ... Coconut Grove ..."} 

@file_1893_4_26_ralph_munroe_april_23002_copy_jpg:file {ocr_text: "entertaining callers at the Club ... Royal Thames Yacht Club ..."} 

@file_1893_4_26_ralph_munroe_april_23003_copy_jpg:file {ocr_text: "uncle Alfred ... cholera ..."} 

@file_1893_4_26_ralph_munroe_april_23004_copy_jpg:file {ocr_text: "health officer ... quarantine ..."} 

@file_1893_4_26_ralph_munroe_april_23005_copy_jpg:file {ocr_text: "Miss Alice Austen Rose Bank P.O. Richmond Co. New York"} 

@t_l_brown -> wrote -> @letter_tqbrown_april_22_1893_part1:document

@t_l_brown -> wrote -> @letter_tqbrown_april_22_1893_part2:document

@ralph_munroe -> wrote -> @letter_ralph_munroe_april_23_1893:document

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_tqbrown_april_22_1893_part1:document

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_tqbrown_april_22_1893_part2:document

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_ralph_munroe_april_23_1893:document

@file_pinax -> documents -> @letter_tqbrown_april_22_1893_part1:document

@file_pinax -> documents -> @letter_tqbrown_april_22_1893_part2:document

@file_pinax -> documents -> @letter_ralph_munroe_april_23_1893:document

@letter_tqbrown_april_22_1893_part1:document -> mentions -> @photography_business:concept {description: "Alice's photographic work and prints"} 

@letter_tqbrown_april_22_1893_part2:document -> mentions -> @photography_business:concept

@letter_ralph_munroe_april_23_1893:document -> mentions -> @photography_business:concept

@letter_tqbrown_april_22_1893_part1:document -> mentions -> @worlds_columbian_exposition:event

@letter_tqbrown_april_22_1893_part2:document -> mentions -> @worlds_columbian_exposition:event

@letter_ralph_munroe_april_23_1893:document -> mentions -> @coconut_grove:place

@letter_ralph_munroe_april_23_1893:document -> mentions -> @charleston:place

@letter_ralph_munroe_april_23_1893:document -> mentions -> @st_augustine:place

@letter_ralph_munroe_april_23_1893:document -> mentions -> @richmond_county:place

@letter_ralph_munroe_april_23_1893:document -> mentions -> @rose_bank:place

Metadata

Files (7)

1893_4-22-April 4.1-TQBrown copy.jpgJPEG
1.31 MB
OCR Text

materially in making up the deficiencies of my journal in other respects. The photographs are all so good that it would be an injustice to the others, if I mentioned any one in particular. But I hope, some day, to have the pleasure of talking over the cruise with you. As yet only about half of my negatives have been developed. The film was poor, but there are some fair negatives among them. For lack of paper I have only been Coconut Grove 22 April '93. My dear Miss Austen, I was delighted to receive through the "Commodore" your photographs. They are certainly remarkably good; so good, in fact, that I feel inclined to throw my Kodak away, whenever I look at them. You were very generous to send me so many, & I thank you most heartily for your kindness. They will help very

1893_4-22-April 4.2-TQBrown copy.jpgJPEG
1.23 MB
OCR Text

able to make a few prints. Those I have are either on paper, which has been through tropical heat & dampness, or on ferro-prussiate paper. But when I get home, I will send you whatever, I think, would interest you. Among those I send you now, "Gabriel Mackintosh" is the only one worth mentioning. In my excitement to catch the apparition before it disappeared I got two negatives on one plate. Perhaps, however, this mishap has only enhanced the spectral effect. We missed you & Mrs. Austen very much & often thought of the jolly times we had as far as Annapolis. Charleston & St. Augustine were the most interesting places we stopped at after that. Please remember me very kindly to Mrs. Austen when you see her. With renewed thanks for the photographs, I am, Yours sincerely, T.L. Browne

1893_4-26-Ralph Munroe April 23001 copy.jpgJPEG
3.87 MB
OCR Text

your shots on the trip are, I carried them in my pocket half the week so as to be sure that every one of our young men in the settlement should see them. I gave Jones to him & you will hear from that quarter this mail. If the Soho paper is permanent it certainly makes beautiful prints. Of course you and Nell are to come down. What do you suppose I have a fine new house for "The Bar nach" if it is not to shelter my poor frozen Coronavut June April 23 Dear Alice, Your letter and the photo prints came safely to hand by our last mail just a week ago since which and as yet we remain in blissful ignorance of the world's goings on. Just when this will go on its way no man knows but I write it because Sunday is my only good chance and most

1893_4-26-Ralph Munroe April 23002 copy.jpgJPEG
3.92 MB
OCR Text

of this day has gone in entertaining callers at the Club. Our latest member, a Mr Haugh from Huddersfield in Yorkshire and also a member of the Royal Thames Yacht Club is an exceedingly nice fellow & is responsible for most of this loss of little writing time. He has a puppety a joy riding Cape Cod Cat with two men before or rather aft the mast. I don't think much of Cats but of course don't let on quite as much just yet. Another of our fleet is just in from Havana when they were entertaining in a highly bittleness manner by the crack club who evidently were of the mind that all U.S. yachtsmen did little else but drink cocktails. They sailed into the harbor with the Pinta Nina and did our club proud all the same. What a stunning success

1893_4-26-Ralph Munroe April 23003 copy.jpgJPEG
3.72 MB
OCR Text

all out it was pitiful to behold. I let uncle Alfred in and occasionally asked me if the sighing owains for a day's visit with them so as not to be waylaid while yet so young. I got so afraid with the Pa have got charge of all his land and am now having built for him a cottage in which they propose to spend coming winters providing The Salveston young men don't spoil the plans which I am powerless to prevent unless I take the Wabun over there for the summer. Most of our friends have departed and in a few weeks Denis brother Walter & myself will be sole occupants of the west end of the Grove. There is more of a cleaning out than usual owing to Cholera. If Cholera gets in on

1893_4-26-Ralph Munroe April 23004 copy.jpgJPEG
3.59 MB
OCR Text

you just pack off down here all hands. I'm health officer & will pass you through quarantine. Little best regards to all the family. Sincerely yours, Ralph Well ahora, you just ought to have seen me this past two weeks. Just knocking spots out of the would be gallants of the settlement. A rich old gent from Galveston, owner of Cape H/a. and his two exceedingly pretty daughters arrived on the scene to look after his land etc. Girls educated in Dresden Paris etc. have been round the world and when I with the wabun cut the bloods

1893_4-26-Ralph Munroe April 23005 copy.jpgJPEG
989.63 KB
OCR Text

Miss Alice Austen Rose Bank P.O. Richmond Co. New York

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:47:59 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:51:00 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:52:32 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:33:24 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Photography_Correspondence"

Parent

01KC29FEAWW0RMK35PZ7NKVYEN

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