1893_3-20-March 4001-Randall copy.jpg

Helen Randall Correspondence Collection

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:47:15 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:33:35 PM

Added description

Description

Helen Randall Correspondence Collection

Overview

A digitized set of handwritten letters written by Helen Constance Randall to her friend and photographer, Elizabeth Alice Austen, on March 20 1893. The collection is part of the Austen Family Papers held by the Alice Austen House Museum in Staten Island, New York, and is presented as high‑resolution JPEG scans of the originals along with typed transcriptions.

Background

Helen Randall, a resident of Albany, New York, maintained a close friendship with Austen during the early 1890s, a period of vibrant social life among the upper‑middle class of Staten Island and the surrounding region. The letters were acquired by the Alice Austen House as part of its effort to preserve Austen’s personal network and the cultural milieu of the era. The correspondence reflects the everyday concerns and social engagements of Victorian‑era women in New York.

Contents

The collection contains two letters, both dated March 20 1893. * Letter 1 discusses music rehearsals, an upcoming entertainment after Easter, a duet with a violinist, and a photograph frame sent to Austen. It also references the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. * Letter 2 reports on Will Hill’s engagement, mentions Mr. Ludlow and Fred Parker, and recounts a ball attended by Randall.

Each letter is accompanied by a high‑resolution JPEG scan of the original document, preserving the handwriting, marginalia, and paper texture. Typed transcriptions are provided for accessibility and research convenience.

Scope

The collection focuses on a single day’s correspondence from Randall to Austen, illustrating Victorian social life, musical interests, and friendship networks in the New York region. It does not include replies or other correspondence. The material is particularly useful for scholars of late‑19th‑century social history, music history, and the photographic community of Staten Island.

Raw Cheimarros Data

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

@helen_randall:person {full_name: "Helen Constance Randall", residence: @albany}

@will_hill:person {status: "engaged"}

@mr_ludlow:person {}

@fred_parker:person {}

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

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

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

@worlds_columbian_exposition_1893:event {name: "World's Columbian Exposition", year: @date_1893, description: "The 1893 World's Fair in Chicago, often referred to as \"the Fair\"."}

@easter:concept {}

@music:concept {}

@helen_randall_correspondence:document {title: "Helen Randall Correspondence Collection", creator: @helen_randall, institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1893_03_20, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Social life","Music","Victorian era","Friendship"], description: "Letters from Helen Constance Randall to Alice Austen discussing social events, music, and personal news."}

@letter_1893_03_20_1:document {content: "get it again from Mrs. Austen.\n\nI am selfish enough to write most earnestly that Mrs. Austen will not leave town, for if she does, shall I ever see you again? I am not pleased with that idea!\n\nHave you heard any music this winter? I have been practising, and am going to play at an entertainment directly after Easter. I was also to have played a duet with a friend of mine who plays the Violin, but to my sorrow he is very ill, and if I ever get\n\nMarch 20th 1893\n\nMy dear Alice!—\n\nSent you on Friday, a little photograph frame to let you know that I have not forgotten a certain young lady who was born on St. Patrick's day.\n\nI was later than I intended in sending it, as I had lost your address, and had to", when: @date_1893_03_20, from: @helen_randall, to: @alice_austen, location: @staten_island}

@letter_1893_03_20_2:document {content: "see him again I shall be thankful.\n\nI suppose you know that Will Hill is engaged. He is so happy that it is really very funny to me. I never saw any-one so intensely pleased with such an achievement before. He fairly bubbles!\n\nMr. Ludlow and Fred Parker are alive and flourishing, the former particularly as, to judge from his dancing. Went to my first ball last month, danced twenty-four dances right through and reached home tired but happy (moderately) at 4:15.\n\nI have written more than I meant to do, so wishing you \"many many happy returns\" I will close,\n\nI am\nYours affectionately\nHelen Constance Randall.", when: @date_1893_03_20, from: @helen_randall, to: @alice_austen, location: @staten_island}

@helen_randall -> wrote -> @letter_1893_03_20_1

@helen_randall -> wrote -> @letter_1893_03_20_2

@letter_1893_03_20_1 -> mentions -> @music

@letter_1893_03_20_1 -> mentions -> @easter

@letter_1893_03_20_1 -> mentions -> @worlds_columbian_exposition_1893

@letter_1893_03_20_2 -> mentions -> @will_hill

@letter_1893_03_20_2 -> mentions -> @mr_ludlow

@letter_1893_03_20_2 -> mentions -> @fred_parker

@letter_1893_03_20_1 -> contains -> @photograph_frame:concept {type: "photograph frame"}

@letter_1893_03_20_2 -> contains -> @ball:concept {type: "social dance event"}

Metadata

Files (2)

1893_3-20-March 4001-Randall copy.jpgJPEG
1.6 MB
OCR Text

get it again from Mrs. Austen. I am selfish enough to write most earnestly that Mrs. Austen will not leave town, for if she does, shall I ever see you again? I am not pleased with that idea! Have you heard any music this winter? I have been practising, and am going to play at an entertainment directly after Easter. I was also to have played a duet with a friend of mine who plays the Violin, but to my sorrow he is very ill, and if I ever get March 20th 1893 My dear Alice!— Sent you on Friday, a little photograph frame to let you know that I have not forgotten a certain young lady who was born on St. Patrick's day. I was later than I intended in sending it, as I had lost your address, and had to

1893_3-20-March 4002-Randall copy.jpgJPEG
1.12 MB
OCR Text

see him again I shall be thankful. I suppose you know that Will Hill is engaged. He is so happy that it is really very funny to me. I never saw any-one so intensely pleased with such an achievement before. He fairly bubbles! Mr. Ludlow and Fred Parker are alive and flourishing, the former particularly as, to judge from his dancing. Went to my first ball last month, danced twenty-four dances right through and reached home tired but happy (moderately) at 4:15. I have written more than I meant to do, so wishing you "many many happy returns" I will close, I am Yours affectionately Helen Constance Randall.

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:47:15 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:49:33 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:52:06 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:33:35 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Helen Randall Correspondence"

Parent

01KC29FCFKK3C5040R80KE1KY3

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