Elizabeth M. Lynch Correspondence to Alice Austen
PI
Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:50:29 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:36:04 PM
Added description
Description
Elizabeth M. Lynch Correspondence to Alice Austen (1894)
Overview
This collection comprises a series of handwritten letters written by Elizabeth M. Lynch to her friend and photographer, Alice Austen, dated September 12, 1894. The materials are digitized as high‑resolution JPEG scans of the original envelopes and pages, accompanied by OCR‑derived text. The collection is housed in the Alice Austen House Museum’s digital archive and is organized under the broader “Elizabeth Lynch Correspondence” folder.Background
Elizabeth M. Lynch (1866‑1952) was a resident of Clifton, New York, who maintained a close friendship with Alice Austen (1866‑1952), a pioneering Staten Island photographer. In 1894, Lynch’s family relocated to Detroit, Michigan, a move that prompted her to write to Austen about the transition, travel plans, and family matters. The letters reflect the social and familial concerns of a late‑Victorian upper‑middle‑class woman, offering insight into the trans‑state mobility of the era.Contents
The collection contains three scanned images of the same letter, each capturing the original hand‑written text and envelope. OCR text excerpts reveal details such as Lynch’s address at 484 Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, and references to her parents, “Papa” and “Maumee & Peking.” The letters discuss the impossibility of visiting during a tournament, plans to travel east in October, and the anticipation of a future reunion. The documents also include brief mentions of other locations, including Clifton, New York, and a reference to a person named Nathan Clark.Scope
The collection covers a single date—September 12, 1894—within the broader context of Lynch’s move from Clifton to Detroit. It focuses on personal correspondence between Lynch and Austen, touching on family, travel, and social life. Geographically, the letters reference Detroit, Michigan, Clifton, New York, and the broader region of the United States. The collection does not include any additional documents beyond the scanned letter images and their OCR transcriptions.Raw Cheimarros Data
@file_pinax -> documents -> @lynch_correspondence:document {title: "Elizabeth M. Lynch Correspondence to Alice Austen", creator: @elizabeth_lynch, institution: @alice_austen_house_museum, created: @date_1894_09_12, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Personal letters","Victorian social life","Family relationships","Travel","Detroit, Michigan"], description: "A collection of correspondence from Elizabeth M. Lynch to Alice Austen, discussing family matters, travel plans, and social life in Detroit, Michigan.", place: [@detroit_michigan, @clifton_new_york]}
@elizabeth_lynch:person {full_name: "Elizabeth M. Lynch", birth_year: @date_1866, death_year: @date_1952, occupation: "letter writer"}
@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Alice Austen", birth_year: @date_1866, death_year: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer"}
@alice_austen_house_museum:organization {name: "Alice Austen House Museum", location: @staten_island_ny}
@staten_island_ny:place {city: "Staten Island", state: "New York", country: @united_states}
@detroit_michigan:place {city: "Detroit", state: "Michigan", country: @united_states}
@clifton_new_york:place {city: "Clifton", state: "New York", country: @united_states}
@nathan_clark:person {full_name: "Nathan Clark"}
@jefferson_avenue_detroit:place {address: "484 Jefferson Avenue", city: "Detroit", state: "Michigan", country: @united_states}
@letter_1894_09_12:document {date: @date_1894_09_12, from: @elizabeth_lynch, to: @alice_austen, location: @detroit_michigan, address: @jefferson_avenue_detroit, content_excerpt: "Thank you for your sweet letter & invitation ... we are now living in Detroit."}
@file_1894_9_13_e_lynch_12_sept002_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1894_09_12
@file_1894_9_13_e_lynch_12_sept001_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1894_09_12
@file_1894_9_13_e_lynch_12_sept003_copy_jpg -> contains -> @letter_1894_09_12
@letter_1894_09_12 -> mentions -> @detroit_michigan
@letter_1894_09_12 -> mentions -> @clifton_new_york
@letter_1894_09_12 -> mentions -> @nathan_clark
Metadata
Files (3)
OCR Text
Miss E. Alice Austin Clifton Nathan Clark New York
OCR Text
in the spring. We shall be here all next winter & may be longer, so you see how impossible it is for me to see you during the tournament, much as I should like. We are going East here over in October & I do hope I shall have a chance seeing you. We will probably rent an house & so that takes us home. 484 Jefferson Avenue Detroit - Michigan September 12th My dear Alice, Thank you for your sweet letter & invitation which have just been forwarded & tell me we are now living in Detroit. Papa's beneficent calling him here last year & Maumee & Peking
OCR Text
& get in order & also dress myself! So why should I will be rushed. This certainly is a fine beautiful city & we have a lovely time. The people have been more than kind & thoughtful to make our stay pleasant, but though it all we have been very homesick. Such perfect weather as we are now having, & trees, lakes & rivers make the air almost always cool. I am so sorry I could not be with you. With love & hoping you will run up over us in October fondly yours Elizabeth M. Lynch
Version History (4 versions)
- ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:50:29 PM
"Added description" - v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:59:58 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, 7:36:04 PM · View this version
"Reorganization group: Elizabeth_Lynch_correspondence"
Parent
No children (leaf entity)