1894_9-17-Alice Cornell Austen Sept 17001 copy.jpg

Alice Cornell Austen Correspondence Collection

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:50:12 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:36:09 PM

Added description

Description

Alice Cornell Austen Correspondence Collection

Overview

The Alice Cornell Austen Correspondence Collection is a digitized set of personal letters written by Elizabeth Alice Cornell Austen (1866‑1952) to her sister, photographer Alice Austen. The collection comprises scanned images of handwritten letters dated September 17–19 1894, accompanied by transcriptions and metadata. It is housed at the Alice Austen House Museum in Staten Island, New York, and was digitized by the PINAX project.

Background

Elizabeth “Alice” Cornell Austen was a close family member and friend of the celebrated photographer Alice Austen. The letters were mailed from Hardenford, New Jersey, and delivered to Staten Island via the care of Mr. J. W. McKnight. They reflect the social milieu of late‑Victorian upper‑middle‑class New York society and provide insight into the Austen family’s domestic and social life.

Contents

The collection contains three primary letters (dated 17–19 September 1894) in JPG format, each accompanied by OCR text and metadata. The letters discuss:
  • Social activities: skating parties, sleigh rides, church events, and whist gatherings.
  • Travel and geography: references to Doughty Park, Michigan, and mentions of relatives abroad.
  • Family matters: condolences for a deceased grandfather and updates on relatives such as Lizzie Lyttle, Bob Smith, and Ruth.
  • Professional ties: Alice’s photography business, including sales at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
  • Personal reflections: musings on friendships with Julia T. Martin, Julie Bredt, Violet M.E. Ward, Isabella King, and Bessie Strong.

The collection also includes metadata files (JSON) detailing the provenance, subject headings, and OCR output.

Scope

The collection covers a narrow temporal window (September 1894) and geographic focus on Hardenford, New Jersey, and Staten Island, New York. It is limited to personal correspondence and does not include photographs or other media. The material is valuable for researchers studying Victorian social networks, family dynamics, and the early photographic profession in the United States.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@alice_cornell_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Cornell Austen", birth_year: @date_1866, death_year: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer", residence: @staten_island}

@staten_island:place {city: "Staten Island", state: "New York", country: @united_states}

@hardenford_nj:place {city: "Hardenford", state: "New Jersey", country: @united_states}

@doughty_park:place {location: "Staten Island", type: "park", country: @united_states}

@julia_t_martin:person {full_name: "Julia T. Martin", relationship: "close friend", residence: @albany_new_york}
@albany_new_york:place {city: "Albany", state: "New York", country: @united_states}

@julie_bredt:person {full_name: "Julie Bredt", relationship: "friend"}

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

@isabella_king:person {full_name: "Isabella King", relationship: "photograph buyer"}

@bessie_strong:person {full_name: "Bessie Strong", relationship: "friend"}

@lizzie_lyttle:person {full_name: "Lizzie Lyttle", relationship: "correspondent"}

@mr_j_w_mcknight:person {full_name: "J. W. McKnight", role: "caretaker of mail for Alice"}

@lottie:person {nickname: "Lottie", relationship: "friend of Alice"}

@bob_smith:person {full_name: "Bob Smith"}

@magdane_c:person {full_name: "Magdane C.", condition: "insomnia"}

@ruth:person {full_name: "Ruth"}

@lucy:person {full_name: "Lucy"}

@alice_cornell_austen_correspondence_collection:document {title: "Alice Cornell Austen Correspondence Collection", creator: [@alice_cornell_austen], institution: "Alice Austen House", created: @date_1894_09_17, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Personal letters","Victorian social life","Family relationships","Travel"], description: "A collection of correspondence from Alice Cornell Austen to Alice Austen, dated September 17, 1894. The letters discuss social activities, family matters, and personal reflections.", place: [@hardenford_nj, @united_states]}

@file_pinax:file {type: "metadata"}

@alice_cornell_austen_correspondence_collection -> contains -> @file_pinax

@file_1894_9_17_alice_cornell_austen_sept_17001_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", ocr: "Miss Alice Austin\nCare of Mr. J.W. McKnight\nHardenford\nN.J."}

@letter_1894_09_17_01:document {date: @date_1894_09_17, sender: @unknown, recipient: @alice_cornell_austen, via: @mr_j_w_mcknight, location: @hardenford_nj}

@file_1894_9_17_alice_cornell_austen_sept_17001_copy_jpg -> represents -> @letter_1894_09_17_01

@file_1894_9_17_alice_cornell_austen_sept_17002_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", ocr: "Monday evening Sept. 19th\n\nMy dearest Lottie, I was so glad to get your note this afternoon, and to know that you find the trip so far pleasant. ...\n\n... Lizzie Lyttle ..."}

@letter_1894_09_19_02:document {date: @date_1894_09_19, sender: @alice_cornell_austen, recipient: @lottie, mentions: [@lizzie_lyttle], location: @staten_island}

@file_1894_9_17_alice_cornell_austen_sept_17002_copy_jpg -> represents -> @letter_1894_09_19_02

@file_1894_9_17_alice_cornell_austen_sept_17003_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", ocr: "The first, Michigan, Mrs. L. went first and Lizzie and her brother followed in the spring. ... Fine Crece and her husband and Julia Crawfurd are in Europe, at Rio de Janeiro ... Magdane C. suffers from insomnia ... Lucy ... Ruth ..."}

@letter_1894_09_??_03:document {date: @date_1894, sender: @alice_cornell_austen, mentions: [@lizzie_lyttle, @julia_crawfurd, @magdane_c, @lucy, @ruth], location: @staten_island}

@file_1894_9_17_alice_cornell_austen_sept_17003_copy_jpg -> represents -> @letter_1894_09_??_03

@alice_cornell_austen -> corresponded with -> @julia_t_martin

@alice_cornell_austen -> corresponded with -> @julie_bredt

@alice_cornell_austen -> corresponded with -> @violet_m_e_ward

@alice_cornell_austen -> corresponded with -> @isabella_king

@alice_cornell_austen -> corresponded with -> @bessie_strong

@alice_cornell_austen -> corresponded with -> @lizzie_lyttle

@alice_cornell_austen -> sold photographs at -> @worlds_columbian_exposition_1893

@worlds_columbian_exposition_1893:event {name: "World's Columbian Exposition", year: @date_1893, location: @chicago_illinois}
@chicago_illinois:place {city: "Chicago", state: "Illinois", country: @united_states}

Metadata

Files (3)

1894_9-17-Alice Cornell Austen Sept 17001 copy.jpgJPEG
615.92 KB
OCR Text

Miss Alice Austin Care of Mr. J.W. McKnight Hardenford N.J.

1894_9-17-Alice Cornell Austen Sept 17002 copy.jpgJPEG
2.13 MB
OCR Text

At have been out with Mr. here Friday, and Monday. The gran-grahs are a perfect show, wind, brush, & pretty pink flowers have come out. I will go there by trouble, on Sunday & the next week to Doughty Park, and pitched myself a place by the hill from my head. Captain wanted to get hold of Mr. Faul, but can't find him. If trouble you know or me thing trip by you had you find it pleasant; you spent very happy though I was behind you here last spring. Spring through so going for the year are a wonderful knowledge. You brighten my residence from America. Monday evening Sept. 19th My dearest Lottie, I was so glad to get your note this afternoon, and to know that you find the trip so far pleasant. Just after you left a letter came from the mail, that from the postmark and block forder I know must be from Lizzie Lyttle, so I opened it as you told me to do. As you thought

1894_9-17-Alice Cornell Austen Sept 17003 copy.jpgJPEG
2.59 MB
OCR Text

The first, Michigan, Mrs. L. went first and Lizzie and her brother followed in the spring. She writes very kindly, sends thanks for the invitation to the annual, wished Bob Smith to have them it, you both had been so kind to her. She says they have been bringing home at 464 Jefferson Avenue, Hebrill, Smith. Put the yearly homestead income forward, they are moving fast in Alabaster to see Aunt keeping them. Gladthing made And the others have to hate. A chance App. I hear by the paper that Fine Crece and her husband and Julia Crawfurd are in Europe, at Rio de Janeiro, I believe Magdane C. suffers from insomnia, and there is a note at that place. I wish you and Ruth could go to the other side together, you would do it thoroughly. The sisters have returned to the Island. Lucy of course is better, the Doctor on the steamer did not know much about such cases, and Ruth has to look after her himself. He has made many sketches, and is going to bring them to show us.

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:50:12 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:59:25 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:54:20 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:09 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Alice_Cornell_Austen_correspondence"

Parent

01KC29FJVGAXWA2XYG5MVA2YCR

No children (leaf entity)