Lou Alexander Richards Correspondence Collection
PI
Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:47:10 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:33:38 PM
Added description
Description
Lou Alexander Richards Correspondence Collection
Overview
The Lou Alexander Richards Correspondence Collection is a digitized set of two handwritten letters written by Lou Alexander Richards to his friend Elizabeth Alice Austen in March 1893. The materials are captured as high‑resolution JPEG scans and include OCR‑derived transcriptions. The collection is housed at the Alice Austen House Museum in Staten Island, New York, and is accessible through the museum’s digital archive.Background
Lou Alexander Richards (born 1866) was a Cambridge, Massachusetts resident and close associate of Alice Austen, a pioneering American photographer. Richards’ letters reflect the social and familial milieu of late‑Victorian New England and New York. The correspondence was created on March 16, 1893, a date that situates the exchange within the broader context of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition and the seasonal rhythms of the period.Contents
The collection contains two primary documents:Both letters are accompanied by OCR text that captures the handwritten content, providing a searchable transcription for researchers.
Scope
The collection covers a single date (March 16, 1893) and focuses on personal correspondence between Richards and Austen. It documents social invitations, family events, and photography interests within the Cambridge–Staten Island network. The materials are limited to these two letters and do not include additional photographs, envelopes, or ancillary documents. The collection offers insight into the everyday life and social networks of upper‑middle‑class Victorian families in the northeastern United States.Raw Cheimarros Data
@file_pinax -> documents -> @lou_alexander_richards_correspondence:collection {title: "Lou Alexander Richards Correspondence Collection", creator: @lou_alexander_richards, institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1893_03_16, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Social life","Victorian era","Friendship","Photography"], description: "Correspondence from Lou Alexander Richards to Alice Austen discussing social visits, family matters, and photography.", place: [@cambridge_massachusetts, @staten_island_ny]}
@lou_alexander_richards:person {full_name: "Lou Alexander Richards", gender: "male"}
@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth: @date_1866, death: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer", residence: @staten_island_ny}
@alice_austen_house:organization {name: "Alice Austen House Museum", location: @staten_island_ny}
@cambridge_massachusetts:place {state: @massachusetts, country: @united_states}
@staten_island_ny:place {borough_of: @new_york, state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@3_channing_street:place {address: "3 Channing Street", city: @cambridge_massachusetts}
@letter_1893_03_16_1:document {author: @lou_alexander_richards, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1893_03_16, location: @cambridge_massachusetts, content_summary: "Invitation to visit, mention of Fairness, Easter, Carine Hankey, stay until Good Friday"}
@letter_1893_03_16_2:document {author: @lou_alexander_richards, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1893_03_16, location: @cambridge_massachusetts, content_summary: "Mention of Barry's christening, clothing, summer plans, request to bring camera, friendly tone"}
@file_1893_3_16_lou_alexander_mar_16001_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1893_03_16_1:document
@file_1893_3_16_lou_alexander_mar_16002_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1893_03_16_2:document
@carine_hankey:person {full_name: "Carine Hankey"}
@frank:person {full_name: "Frank"}
@barry:person {full_name: "Barry", relation: "child of @lou_alexander_richards"}
@letter_1893_03_16_1 -> mentions -> [@carine_hankey, @good_friday:event, @easter:event, @3_channing_street]
@good_friday:event {related_to: @easter:event, year: 1893}
@easter:event {year: 1893}
@letter_1893_03_16_2 -> mentions -> [@barry, @frank]Metadata
Files (2)
OCR Text
turn to you, knowing that you are a "person" who can enter Fairness herself & enjoy prancing about & exploring if I do not feel equal to going about with you. I should like you to come next Thursday or Wednesday if you would and stay until Good Friday, as Carine Hankey is coming on Saturday before Easter. If this is an inconvenient time put it off until the 3 Channing Street Cambridge My dear Alice, I want to know if you don't want to leave your Spring dress making & come & stay a week or ten days with me. This is not for any desire to enter Fairness you, but I feel the need of someone to brighten me up now, so
OCR Text
Tenth of April - I am very busy just now, Barry is going to be christened next Monday & that is on my hands. Also as he is out growing all his clothes I am busy getting his little short ones together. We are trying to find out a place for the summer too. It is quite a problem. Bring your camera and don't expect to see a very settled house when you do come. We can manage to have some quiet little times together & I expect you to be a perfect tonic. With kindest regards from Frank & my love to you & all the girls. Sincerely your friend, Lon Alexander Richards March sixteenth.
Version History (4 versions)
- ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:47:10 PM
"Added description" - v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:50:02 PM · View this version
"Added knowledge graph extraction" - v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:52:07 PM · View this version
"Added PINAX metadata" - v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:33:38 PM · View this version
"Reorganization group: Lou Alexander Richards Correspondence"
Parent
No children (leaf entity)