Alice Austen and Julia Martin Correspondence, 1894

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:50:31 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:36:02 PM

Added description

Description

Julia Martin–Alice Austen Correspondence, 1894

Overview

This collection comprises scanned reproductions of 17 handwritten letters and accompanying envelopes exchanged between Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952), a pioneering Staten Island photographer, and her close friend Julia T. Martin (Albany, New York). The documents were digitized in 2024 and include both the original paper images (JPG) and typed transcriptions (TXT). All items date to August 1894, with the bulk of the correspondence dated August 20, 1894, and a preliminary letter dated August 8, 1894.

Background

Alice Austen, resident of Rosebank, Staten Island, maintained an extensive personal correspondence network that offers insight into late‑Victorian social and business life. Julia Martin, a well‑connected Albany socialite, was a frequent correspondent and confidante. The letters were produced during a period when Martin was planning to launch a boarding house in Albany, a venture that would later be realized in November 1894. The collection is part of the Austen Family Papers (MS1) housed at the Alice Austen House Museum.

Contents

The collection contains:
  • Letters (17): Discussing the boarding‑house concept, logistical arrangements, financial agreements, and personal reflections on family matters (e.g., Martin’s mother’s death).
  • Envelopes: Corresponding stationery and calling cards that illustrate Victorian etiquette.
  • Transcriptions: Typed versions of each letter, facilitating research without handling fragile originals.
Key themes include business planning (rent, profit‑sharing, staffing), social networks (references to Mrs. Cooper, Mrs. Smirly, Mr. Alexander), and personal concerns (family health, travel logistics).

Scope

The collection covers a single month in August 1894, focusing on the Albany–Staten Island social sphere of upper‑middle‑class women. It documents the early stages of a small‑business venture, the role of women in 19th‑century commerce, and the interpersonal dynamics of a close friendship. The material is limited to correspondence; no photographs, diaries, or business records beyond the letters are included.

Raw Cheimarros Data

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

@julia_t_martin:person {full_name: "Julia T. Martin", relationship: "close friend of Alice Austen", location: @albany}

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

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

@rosebank:place {address: "Rosebank, Staten Island, New York", location: @staten_island}

@boarding_house:concept {type: "boarding house", location: @albany, owner: @julia_t_martin}

@house_albany:place {description: "new boarding house", double_bedrooms: 5, single_bedrooms: 2, rooms_total: 7, rent: 1200, location: @albany}

@amy:person {full_name: "Amy", role: "partner in boarding house"}

@mr_alexander:person {full_name: "Mr Alexander", occupation: "real estate agent"}

@mr_burton:person {full_name: "Mr Burton", relation: "partner of Mr Alexander"}

@walton:person {full_name: "Walton", relation: "acquaintance of Julia"}

@laurence:person {full_name: "Laurence", relation: "associate"}

@mrs_cooper:person {full_name: "Mrs. Cooper"}

@mrs_smirly:person {full_name: "Mrs. Smirly"}

@mrs_s:person {full_name: "Mrs. S"}

@alice_austen_julia_martin_correspondence:collection {title: "Alice Austen and Julia Martin Correspondence, 1894", created: @date_1894_08_08, description: "Scanned letters and envelopes between Alice Austen and Julia Martin discussing a boarding‑house venture, family matters, and social life.", language: "en"}

@file_pinax -> documents -> @alice_austen_julia_martin_correspondence {when: @date_1894_08_08}

@letter_1001:document {date: @date_1894_08_20, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, summary: "Introductory note answering Alice's letter about Julia's new undertaking."}
@file_1894_8_8_aug_1001_martin_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1001

@letter_1002:document {date: @date_1894_08_20, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, summary: "Explains inspiration for boarding‑house idea after Walton's visit to Albany."}
@file_1894_8_8_aug_1002_martin_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1002

@letter_1003:document {date: @date_1894_08_20, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, summary: "Describes lack of first‑class boarding houses and mentions helpful landlord's son."}
@file_1894_8_8_aug_1003_martin_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1003

@letter_1004:document {date: @date_1894_08_20, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, summary: "Details agreement with Mrs. Cooper to rent the house for a year, rent $1200 liability."}
@file_1894_8_8_aug_1004_martin_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1004

@letter_1005:document {date: @date_1894_08_20, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, summary: "Describes house layout: five double bedrooms, two single, furnishings, extra linens needed."}
@file_1894_8_8_aug_1005_martin_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1005

@letter_1006:document {date: @date_1894_08_20, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, summary: "Mentions piazza, ocean views, horse‑car service every twenty minutes, nearby beach and bathhouses."}
@file_1894_8_8_aug_1006_martin_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1006

@letter_1007:document {date: @date_1894_08_20, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, summary: "Outlines profit‑sharing agreement: Amy handles catering/housekeeping, Julia handles business side."}
@file_1894_8_8_aug_1007_martin_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1007

@letter_1008:document {date: @date_1894_08_20, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, summary: "Plans to open boarding house on November 1st; discusses uncertainty of Mrs. Cooper and Mrs. Smirly staying through winter."}
@file_1894_8_8_aug_1008_martin_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1008

@letter_1009:document {date: @date_1894_08_20, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, summary: "Reflects on possible remarriage to Mrs. Cooper for winter, expresses personal strain."}
@file_1894_8_8_aug_1009_martin_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1009

@letter_1010:document {date: @date_1894_08_20, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, summary: "Describes winter hardships, Mrs. S's refusal to carry parasol, Walton's departure on June 28th."}
@file_1894_8_8_aug_1010_martin_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1010

@letter_1011:document {date: @date_1894_08_20, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, summary: "Notes twenty‑day mail delay, worries about Howard's wellbeing, uncertainty about Walton's response."}
@file_1894_8_8_aug_1011_martin_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1011

@letter_1012:document {date: @date_1894_08_20, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, summary: "Mentions mother’s death, limited acquaintances, gratitude for kindness of locals."}
@file_1894_8_8_aug_1012_martin_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1012

@letter_1013:document {date: @date_1894_08_20, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, summary: "Introduces Mr Alexander (real‑estate agent) and Mr Burton as potential contacts for the boarding house."}
@file_1894_8_8_aug_1013_martin_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1013

@letter_1014:document {date: @date_1894_08_20, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, summary: "Expresses sympathy for Amy’s difficult situation, concerns about rent and children."}
@file_1894_8_8_aug_1014_martin_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1014

@letter_1015:document {date: @date_1894_08_20, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, summary: "Requests cost estimate for shipping a crate, mentions distance of three thousand miles, promises a “word picture” on Aug 19th."}
@file_1894_8_8_aug_1015_martin_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1015

@letter_1016:document {date: @date_1894_08_20, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, summary: "Asks Alice to burn the letter, mentions secrecy, references S.J., J.S. Mi (likely family members)." }
@file_1894_8_8_aug_1016_martin_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1016

@letter_1017:document {date: @date_1894_08_20, from: @julia_t_martin, to: @alice_austen, summary: "Signature block: “Miss Alice Austin, Rosebank, Staten Island, New York.”"}
@file_1894_8_8_aug_1017_martin_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1017

@julia_t_martin -> discusses -> @boarding_house {when: @date_1894_08_20, via: [@letter_1001, @letter_1002, @letter_1003, @letter_1004, @letter_1005, @letter_1006, @letter_1007, @letter_1008]}

@julia_t_martin -> mentions -> @amy {when: @date_1894_08_20, via: @letter_1007}
@julia_t_martin -> mentions -> @mrs_cooper {when: @date_1894_08_20, via: @letter_1004}
@julia_t_martin -> mentions -> @mrs_smirly {when: @date_1894_08_20, via: @letter_1008}
@julia_t_martin -> mentions -> @mrs_s {when: @date_1894_08_20, via: @letter_1010}
@julia_t_martin -> mentions -> @walton {when: @date_1894_08_20, via: @letter_1010}
@julia_t_martin -> mentions -> @mr_alexander {when: @date_1894_08_20, via: @letter_1013}
@julia_t_martin -> mentions -> @mr_burton {when: @date_1894_08_20, via: @letter_1013}
@julia_t_martin -> mentions -> @laurence {when: @date_1894_08_20, via: @letter_1007}
@julia_t_martin -> mentions -> @walton {when: @date_1894_06_28, via: @letter_1010}

@boarding_house -> opening_date -> @date_1894_11_01

@letter_1010 -> notes -> @date_1894_06_28 {event: "Walton sailed"}

Metadata

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:50:31 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 9:00:38 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:54:33 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:02 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Julia_Martin_correspondence"

Additional Components (17)

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1894_8-8-Aug 1001-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1894_8-8-Aug 1002-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1894_8-8-Aug 1003-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1894_8-8-Aug 1004-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1894_8-8-Aug 1005-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1894_8-8-Aug 1006-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1894_8-8-Aug 1007-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1894_8-8-Aug 1008-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1894_8-8-Aug 1009-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1894_8-8-Aug 1010-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1894_8-8-Aug 1011-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1894_8-8-Aug 1012-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1894_8-8-Aug 1013-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1894_8-8-Aug 1014-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1894_8-8-Aug 1015-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1894_8-8-Aug 1016-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1894_8-8-Aug 1017-martin copy.jpg.ref.json

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