1893_12-28-dec 4002-strong copy.jpg

Elizabeth Strong Correspondence Collection

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:46:38 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:33:34 PM

Added description

Description

Elizabeth Strong Correspondence Collection (1893)

Overview

This collection comprises handwritten letters written by Elizabeth B. Strong to Alice Austen during 1893. The documents are preserved as high‑resolution JPEG scans of the original pages, accompanied by typed transcriptions. The material is part of the Austen Family Papers (MS 1) housed at the Alice Austen House Museum in Staten Island, New York.

Background

Elizabeth B. Strong (née New Brunswick) was a close friend and correspondent of photographer Alice Austen. The letters were written while Strong resided in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and reference her travels to Brooklyn and Washington. The correspondence reflects the social milieu of late‑Victorian upper‑middle‑class families in the New York metropolitan area and provides insight into the professional activities of Austen’s photographic studio.

Contents

The collection contains 12 letters dated from 15 March 1893 to 30 December 1893. Topics include:
  • Social life: invitations to theatre parties, Christmas dinners, and church events such as the “Patience” theatre party and the organ fund for the local church.
  • Photography: discussions of Strong’s attempts to sell photographs, including images from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, and requests for Austen’s assistance in photographing the church.
  • Music and education: references to Rosalie’s studies at the National Conservatory and the purchase of a Steinway piano.
  • Family matters: condolences for a relative’s death and descriptions of holiday celebrations.
  • Gifts and commerce: lists of Christmas gifts and notes on the sale of photographs for charitable purposes.

Each letter is accompanied by a scanned image of the original page, with OCR text available for research use.

Scope

The collection covers the year 1893, focusing on the New Brunswick, Brooklyn, and Washington areas. It documents personal relationships, social events, and professional interactions between Elizabeth Strong and Alice Austen. The material is limited to the 12 surviving letters and their photographic reproductions, providing a snapshot of Victorian correspondence within the Austen family network.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@elizabeth_strong_correspondence:collection {title: "Elizabeth Strong Correspondence Collection", creator: @elizabeth_strong, institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1893, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Social life","Photography","Church events","Music","Family matters","Gifts","Christmas","New Brunswick","Brooklyn"]}

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

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


@file_pinax:file {filename: "pinax.json", type: "metadata", related_collection: @elizabeth_strong_correspondence}


@file_1893_12_28_dec_4002_strong_copy_jpg:file {filename: "1893_12-28-dec 4002-strong copy.jpg.ref.json", type: "image/asset with OCR"}

@letter_1893_12_27_strong:document {date: @date_1893_12_27, author: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @new_brunswick, source_file: @file_1893_12_28_dec_4002_strong_copy_jpg}


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@letter_1893_12_28_strong:document {date: @date_1893_12_28, author: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @new_brunswick, source_file: @file_1893_12_28_dec_4003_strong_copy_jpg}


@file_1893_12_28_dec_4004_strong_copy_jpg:file {filename: "1893_12-28-dec 4004-strong copy.jpg.ref.json", type: "image/asset with OCR"}

@letter_1893_12_29_strong:document {date: @date_1893_12_29, author: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @new_brunswick, source_file: @file_1893_12_28_dec_4004_strong_copy_jpg}


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@letter_1893_12_30_strong:document {date: @date_1893_12_30, author: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @new_brunswick, source_file: @file_1893_12_28_dec_4005_strong_copy_jpg}


@file_1893_3_15_mar_1_1_strong_copy_jpg:file {filename: "1893_3-15-Mar 1.1-strong copy.jpg.ref.json", type: "image/asset with OCR"}

@letter_1893_03_15_strong_part1:document {date: @date_1893_03_15, author: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @new_brunswick, source_file: @file_1893_3_15_mar_1_1_strong_copy_jpg}


@file_1893_3_15_mar_1_2_strong_copy_jpg:file {filename: "1893_3-15-Mar 1.2-strong copy.jpg.ref.json", type: "image/asset with OCR"}

@letter_1893_03_15_strong_part2:document {date: @date_1893_03_15, author: @elizabeth_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @new_brunswick, source_file: @file_1893_3_15_mar_1_2_strong_copy_jpg}


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

@elizabeth_strong:person {full_name: "Elizabeth B. Strong", occupation: "correspondent", location: @new_brunswick}


@asher_atkinson:person {full_name: "Asher Atkinson"}

@freeman_woolbridge:person {full_name: "Freeman Woolbridge"}

@rosalie:person {full_name: "Rosalie"}

@ella_parker:person {full_name: "Ella Parker"}

@jack_van_dyke:person {full_name: "Jack Van Dyke"}

@al:person {full_name: "Al"}

@julie_bredt:person {full_name: "Julie Bredt"}

@julia_t_martin:person {full_name: "Julia T. Martin"}

@violet_m_e_ward:person {full_name: "Violet M.E. Ward"}

@isabella_king:person {full_name: "Isabella King"}

@bessie_strong:person {full_name: "Bessie Strong"}

@national_conservatory:organization {type: "educational institution", field: "music"}

@organ_fund:concept {description: "Fund for a new church organ"}

@patience_theatre_party:event {date: @date_1893_12_27, location: @new_brunswick, description: "Theatre party and supper"}

@christmas_dinner_1893:event {date: @date_1893_12_24, location: @new_brunswick, description: "Family Christmas dinner"}

@new_brunswick:place {state: @new_jersey, country: @united_states}

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

@washington:place {country: @united_states}


@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_1893_12_27_strong

@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_1893_12_28_strong

@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_1893_12_29_strong

@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_1893_12_30_strong

@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_1893_03_15_strong_part1

@elizabeth_strong -> wrote -> @letter_1893_03_15_strong_part2


@letter_1893_12_27_strong -> mentions -> @patience_theatre_party

@letter_1893_12_27_strong -> discusses -> @organ_fund

@letter_1893_12_28_strong -> mentions -> @rosalie

@letter_1893_12_28_strong -> mentions -> @national_conservatory

@letter_1893_12_29_strong -> mentions -> @christmas_dinner_1893

@letter_1893_12_30_strong -> mentions -> @christmas_dinner_1893

@letter_1893_03_15_strong_part1 -> mentions -> @photography

@letter_1893_03_15_strong_part2 -> mentions -> @photography


@elizabeth_strong -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen

@elizabeth_strong -> corresponded with -> @julia_t_martin

@elizabeth_strong -> corresponded with -> @julie_bredt

@elizabeth_strong -> corresponded with -> @violet_m_e_ward

@elizabeth_strong -> corresponded with -> @isabella_king

@elizabeth_strong -> corresponded with -> @bessie_strong

@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @asher_atkinson

@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @freeman_woolbridge

@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @rosalie

@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @ella_parker

@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @jack_van_dyke

@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @al

@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @national_conservatory

@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @organ_fund

@elizabeth_strong -> mentioned -> @photography

@photography:concept {description: "Elizabeth's photographic business, including sales of images from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition"}

Metadata

Files (6)

1893_12-28-dec 4002-strong copy.jpgJPEG
2.76 MB
OCR Text

ready for the market, and hope to sell them for the benefit of the organ fund. The new organ is ordered by the way, is being built by Colell, and will be in the church by the fifteenth of April. Then the Rhin will have to behave properly for we are to be in the front of the church right under the minister's eye. Yes, I went to the "Patience" Theatre party and supper afterward, with Asher Atkinson as my escort. Freeman Woolbridge asked Rosalie to go with him, and New Brunswick Dec. 27th '93 My dear Alice:- The pretty calendar came safely, and already I am anxious to tear off the first leaf and see what comes next. Many thanks for the dainty gift; it is so much prettier than anything I have seen hers. So you are making money and getting rich. Will you not take me in when you open your studio? I am trying to get some photographs of our church

1893_12-28-dec 4003-strong copy.jpgJPEG
1.68 MB
OCR Text

she came out just for that, returning next afternoon. Altogether it was a very nice affair, the Tom and Tom quite distinguishing itself. I have not been to Brooklyn since last June, so I cannot imagine how you heard of me there. But I am going over there tomorrow, probably, to stay until Saturday, as I have some shopping to do, and I want to see Rosalie before she leaves for Washington. She is going to visit her aunt there for a month or so. You ask if she has a day; it used to be Saturday, but whether it is still I cannot say. Did you know with what energy she has devoted herself to the study of music? It's taking it at the National Conservatory, and devoting six hours a week to instrumental music, harmony, solfeggio and the history of music. I did have a long list of gifts Christmas as you imagine, some of them are a silver mounted pocket-book; a glove buttoner set of silver studs; seven books, from Rosalie's from Jack Van Dyke, two from Al and

1893_12-28-dec 4004-strong copy.jpgJPEG
921.36 KB
OCR Text

De Laney, and one from Ella Parker, the last on "Photography." Then I had money, two bottles of cologne, a glove box, and two pairs of gloves, an exquisite handkerchief, cup and saucer, and several other little things. We had a sort of Christmas dinner here on Sunday, with an addition of four to our family. On Monday night they had a Christmas tree down at Al's, and a dinner party at seven which lasted until after half-past nine. When can you come and make me a visit? I shall

1893_12-28-dec 4005-strong copy.jpgJPEG
782.53 KB
OCR Text

have more time to spare now that Christmas is over, and there may be something in the way of gaiety early in the month. So can you not come down after the first and give me a good visit? I honestly tried to accept your invitation and you know it was not my fault that I did not. Mother joins me in loving with a happy New Year to you all, believe me aff'ly yours, Elizabeth B. Strong

1893_3-15-Mar 1.1-strong copy.jpgJPEG
1.39 MB
OCR Text

ready and wanted thee to go at once & concluded to send them with an apology. My gold solution gave out so I could not carry the thing as far as I wished, hence the "sepia tones." I do not like them, nothing but the black or purple suits me, but there has been no time since Monday to do any others. So please accept these. New Brunswick March 15th 1893 My dear Alice - "Many happy returns of the day" to you and St. Patrick. With this I send you three photographers. Two of them I am quite ashamed of, the one of the Chapel, and that of the crowd in mine. But as I had no others

1893_3-15-Mar 1.2-strong copy.jpgJPEG
1.24 MB
OCR Text

With my love, and trust to get some better specimens soon of these days. Have not heard from you in an age, but as I am becoming a poor correspondent myself, perhaps I had better not say much. Am going over to Brooklyn after my lesson to-morrow to stay until Saturday. Rosalie sent for me to make her a visit but I cannot manage anything longer just now. Expect to lunch with Ella to-morrow. Her twins are dear little things, "Vallie" and Dorothy; and the latter, the delicate one is improving steadily now. Mother joins with me in love and best wishes Aff'ly yours, Elizabeth B.L.

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:46:38 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:48:48 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:51:58 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:33:34 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Elizabeth Strong Correspondence"

Parent

01KC29FCFKK3C5040R80KE1KY3

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