1893_4-Henry Gilman April 001 copy.jpg

Henry Gilman Correspondence Collection

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:47:45 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:33:25 PM

Added description

Description

Henry Gilman Correspondence Collection

Overview

A digitized set of four handwritten letters written by Henry Gilman to Alice Austen (referred to as “Miss Austin” in the texts) in April 1893. The collection includes high‑resolution JPEG scans of the originals and typed transcriptions. The letters discuss social gatherings, music events, and travel plans within the Staten Island and Queens communities.

Background

Henry Gilman was a contemporary of Alice Austen, a prominent photographer and socialite of late‑19th‑century Staten Island. The letters were created during a period of active social networking among the island’s upper‑middle‑class families. They were preserved in the Alice Austen House Museum’s archival holdings and digitized for public access.

Contents

The collection contains four letters (001–004).
  • Letter 001 invites Alice to an evening music party hosted by Gilman’s sister, listing guests such as the Talbot, Jacob, Walker, and Thompson families, and Miss Lynch.
  • Letter 002 outlines a boat excursion from Flushing to Long Island City on April 27, including arrangements for the day’s itinerary.
  • Letter 003 encourages Alice to join the outing and mentions a possible Saturday visit.
  • Letter 004 reserves two tickets for a play‑evening reception on Monday, offering them to Alice.

Each letter is accompanied by a scanned image and a typed transcription. The correspondence also references local venues such as Cliffon and details the social calendar of the time.

Scope

The collection covers the month of April 1893, focusing on social life, music, and travel in Staten Island, Flushing, and Long Island City. It is written in English and is part of the Austen Family Papers (MS1) at the Alice Austen House Museum. The material is limited to the four letters and does not include additional ephemera or responses. The collection provides a snapshot of Victorian social networks and leisure activities in late‑19th‑century New York.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@henry_gilman_correspondence_collection:document {title: "Henry Gilman Correspondence Collection", creator: @henry_gilman, institution: "Alice Austen House", created: @date_1893_04, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Social life","Victorian era","Music","Travel"], description: "Letters from Henry Gilman to Alice Austen in April 1893 discussing social events, music, and travel plans.", places: [@staten_island, @flushing, @long_island_city]}

@henry_gilman:person {full_name: "Henry Gilman", role: "Correspondent"}

@staten_island:place {state: "New York", country: @united_states}

@flushing:place {city: "Flushing", borough: "Queens", state: "New York", country: @united_states}

@long_island_city:place {city: "Long Island City", borough: "Queens", state: "New York", country: @united_states}

@cliffon:place {description: "likely a local venue mentioned in the correspondence"}

@miss_lynch:person {full_name: "Miss Lynch"}

@talbot_family:person {surname: "Talbot"}

@jacob_family:person {surname: "Jacob"}

@walker_family:person {surname: "Walker"}

@thompson_family:person {surname: "Thompson"}

@letter_001:document {type: "letter", from: @henry_gilman, to: @alice_austen, when: @date_1893_04, content_summary: "Invitation to an evening music party with various guests"}

@letter_002:document {type: "letter", from: @henry_gilman, to: @alice_austen, when: @date_1893_04, content_summary: "Plans for a boat trip on the 27th from Flushing to Long Island City"}

@letter_003:document {type: "letter", from: @henry_gilman, to: @alice_austen, when: @date_1893_04, content_summary: "Encouragement to attend the planned day outing"}

@letter_004:document {type: "letter", from: @henry_gilman, to: @alice_austen, when: @date_1893_04, content_summary: "Reservation of two tickets for a play evening reception on Monday"}

@henry_gilman -> wrote -> @letter_001

@henry_gilman -> wrote -> @letter_002

@henry_gilman -> wrote -> @letter_003

@henry_gilman -> wrote -> @letter_004

@evening_music_party:event {when: @date_1893_04, location: @staten_island, guests: [@talbot_family, @jacob_family, @walker_family, @thompson_family, @miss_lynch]}

@letter_001 -> describes -> @evening_music_party:event

@boat_trip_27_april:event {when: @date_1893_04_27, start_location: @flushing, end_location: @long_island_city, activity: "boat excursion"}

@letter_002 -> describes -> @boat_trip_27_april:event

@play_evening_reception:event {when: @date_1893_04, location: @staten_island, tickets_reserved: 2}

@henry_gilman -> reserved tickets for -> @play_evening_reception:event {recipient: @alice_austen, quantity: 2}

@letter_004 -> mentions -> @play_evening_reception:event

Metadata

Files (4)

1893_4-Henry Gilman April 001 copy.jpgJPEG
2.18 MB
OCR Text

Dear Miss Austin, Your very welcome note is received this morning—About this evening, I am sorry to say that after writing you I found my sister had invited a number of people to the house this evening for some music and a rantlet—the latter Wednesday night with her, so that you will be on hand to start with the rest of us on Thursday morning. I presume she has already written you on the subject. In the party will be Mr. & Mrs. Talbot, Mr. & Mrs. Jacob, Mr. & Mrs. Walker, Dr. & Mrs. Thompson & poor two sisters besides Miss Lynch and possibly a few others

1893_4-Henry Gilman April 002 copy.jpgJPEG
2.28 MB
OCR Text

to be provided by me, as I shall have to beg off from going to Cliffon tonight, which perhaps considering the weather, is just as well. Our arrangements for the 27th are being perfected— "The start will be an early one—as most of the people are from Flushing we will assemble at the pier in Long Island City at an hour to be decided on. We mean to see all there is to see and spend the greater part of the day on the water returning home in the afternoon. Miss Lynch is going to invite you to spend

1893_4-Henry Gilman April 003 copy.jpgJPEG
2.04 MB
OCR Text

I think I am perfectly safe in promising you an enjoyable day—I am certain that the pleasure of the day will be greatly marred for me, at least, if you were not to go. If I may come down to see you this Saturday, I will do so with great pleasure. I quite forgot to

1893_4-Henry Gilman April 004 copy.jpgJPEG
1.76 MB
OCR Text

I feel you that I am reserving for you my two tickets to the Play evening reception on Monday and hope you will be able to use them. I will send them to you tomorrow— If I don't see you Saturday, go early as there is likely to be a great crush. As always, Yours HKL

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:47:45 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:50:55 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:52:19 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:33:25 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Henry_Gilman_Correspondence"

Parent

01KC29FEAWW0RMK35PZ7NKVYEN

No children (leaf entity)