Alice Austen Photography Business Correspondence
PI
Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:49:25 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:36:10 PM
Added description
Description
Alice Austen Photography Business Correspondence (1894)
Overview
This collection consists of scanned images of handwritten and typed letters, together with a metadata file, documenting the commercial activities of Elizabeth Alice Austen, a pioneering photographer from Staten Island. The materials date mainly to 1894 and capture the business side of her practice, including orders for photographs taken at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago and subsequent sales to private clients.Background
Alice Austen (1866‑1952) operated a photography studio in Staten Island and was active in the broader New York photographic community. The correspondence was preserved by the Alice Austen House Museum and reflects the day‑to‑day operations of her studio during the early 1890s, a period when photographic portraiture and event photography were in high demand. The collection illustrates how Austen managed client orders, negotiated payment, and marketed her work after the exposition.Contents
- Eight scanned letter images (JPG) with OCR‑extracted text, each representing a distinct business communication.
- Metadata JSON detailing the collection’s provenance, subjects, and key entities.
- Key correspondents include Isabella King (photograph buyer), Marion J Withington (client), Emma (client), and others.
- Letter themes:
Scope
The collection covers correspondence dated primarily in 1894, with references to the 1893 exposition. Geographic focus includes Staten Island (Austen’s studio), New York City (client locations), and Chicago (exposition venue). It documents the commercial transactions of a late‑19th‑century photographer, but does not contain the photographs themselves. The materials provide insight into the business practices, client relationships, and marketing strategies of a professional photographer during the Victorian era.Raw Cheimarros Data
@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth: @date_1866, death: @date_1952, profession: @photographer, residence: @staten_island}
@staten_island:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@photographer:concept {field: "Photography"}
@alice_austen_photography_business:organization {founder: @alice_austen, location: @staten_island, industry: "Photography"}
@alice_austen -> ran -> @alice_austen_photography_business
@worlds_columbian_exposition:event {year: @date_1893, location: @chicago_illinois}
@chicago_illinois:place {state: @illinois, country: @united_states}
@isabella_king:person {full_name: "Isabella King"}
@emma:person {full_name: "Emma"}
@solla:person {full_name: "Solla"}
@john:person {full_name: "John"}
@lucy:person {full_name: "Lucy"}
@marion_j_withington:person {full_name: "Marion J Withington"}
@file_pinax -> documents -> @alice_austen_photography_business_collection:collection {description: "Correspondence related to Alice Austen's photography business", created: @date_1894, subjects: ["Photography business", "World's Columbian Exposition", "Photograph orders", "Photograph sales", "Correspondence"]}
@file_1894_12_24_dec_1001_vanren_copy_jpg -> is -> @letter:document {date: @date_1894_12_24}
@emma -> wrote -> @file_1894_12_24_dec_1001_vanren_copy_jpg
@file_1894_12_24_dec_1001_vanren_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @solla
@file_1894_12_24_dec_1002_vanren_copy_jpg -> is -> @letter:document {date: @date_1894_12_24}
@john -> mentioned in -> @file_1894_12_24_dec_1002_vanren_copy_jpg
@lucy -> mentioned in -> @file_1894_12_24_dec_1002_vanren_copy_jpg
@file_1894_2_14_feb_3_1_isabella_king_copy_jpg -> is -> @letter:document {date: @date_1894_02_14}
@isabella_king -> wrote -> @file_1894_2_14_feb_3_1_isabella_king_copy_jpg
@file_1894_2_14_feb_3_1_isabella_king_copy_jpg -> about -> @worlds_columbian_exposition
@file_1894_2_14_feb_3_2_isabella_king_copy_jpg -> is -> @letter:document {date: @date_1894_02_14}
@isabella_king -> wrote -> @file_1894_2_14_feb_3_2_isabella_king_copy_jpg
@file_1894_2_14_feb_3_2_isabella_king_copy_jpg -> about -> @worlds_columbian_exposition
@file_1894_2_26_feb_4002_cuthbertson_copy_jpg -> is -> @letter:document {date: @date_1894_02_26}
@marion_j_withington -> wrote -> @file_1894_2_26_feb_4002_cuthbertson_copy_jpg
@file_1894_2_26_feb_4002_cuthbertson_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen
@file_1894_2_26_feb_4003_cuthbertson_copy_jpg -> is -> @letter:document {date: @date_1894_02_26}
@marion_j_withington -> wrote -> @file_1894_2_26_feb_4003_cuthbertson_copy_jpg
@file_1894_2_26_feb_4003_cuthbertson_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austenMetadata
Files (6)
OCR Text
of back green house 3 green house 1 front of house 1 mother & mistress 92 now you must charge a sufficient sum to pay you for the trouble, expense. Oh I see the oval one is by the hedge. John is delighted with his photos and wants me to thank you very much for them. Mother joins with me dear Solla in all the kind - and sunk my love & thanks and every wish for a happy New Year to you all. Love affectionate Emma Gothamill on Hadsnole 25 94 My dear Solla The photos have just arrived & I can hardly stop feasting my eyes on them to write you my most vigorous heartfelt thanks for them to say that I am delighted beyond words - with mother's likeness not faintly expressed if no present that could come to me this year will be half so valuable as the one taken with Aunt
OCR Text
Inah is perfect. The one back of the greenhouse such a pretty Christmas picture with her upon m - & the one with the carriage wonderful in such a wee speck. I must not forget the one in the greenhouse too, among her happy children. But they are all good & valuable. You do not know the intense pleasure you have given. John will be delighted if we have not seen his yet as he has not yet come in from putting up the house-chimney. Church time it was so good of you to remind him & how dear Solla. I know Mother nicer will be crazy that photo of her by the barn. When was it Mother can't remember? Your little cousin Lucy to home several - will you please take an order from me - I would so like to have
OCR Text
Miss Manners Page Care Sir William Lane Borton Brewster House New York. Miss Hanny Morris 36 Washington Sq. West. & Mrs Kings can be sent with mine to my address. Very sincerely yours, Isabella King 7 University Place Feb. 14 - 94 My dear Miss Austen, I have the following orders for some of your delightful photography of the Fair. Mrs King wants Nos. 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 24, Lynn finish like engraving & unmounted.
OCR Text
Miss Page wishes Nov 5, 9, 7, 17, 24. Mounted & engraving finish. (Telovot know which you call it technically.) Miss Fanny Norris wishes Nov 7, 9, 10. Unmounted & the same finish as Miss Pages. I wish Nov. 2, 7, 14. unmounted, engraving finish & Nov 8 & 9 solid paper unmounted. Will you send me word how much they all come to & I will send you a cheque for the full amount. If you would specify each account it would be a great help to me, in collecting from the others. Miss Page's address is
OCR Text
Dear Alice, I have vainly tried to get over to you to thank you so much for the lovely photographs you so kindly left here. I was so sorry to be out when you came; please let me know what I owe you for them as I am anxious
OCR Text
to discharge my in debtedness to you. With love believe me Sincerely Yours Marion J Withington Acacia Bank Feb 26th
Version History (4 versions)
- ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:49:25 PM
"Added description" - v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:56:37 PM · View this version
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"Added PINAX metadata" - v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:10 PM · View this version
"Reorganization group: Photography_Business"
Parent
No children (leaf entity)