1894_3-18-Mar 3003-martin copy.jpg

Alice Austen Correspondence with Julia T. Martin

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:49:25 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:36:13 PM

Added description

Description

Correspondence between Julia T. Martin and Alice Austen (1894)

Overview

This collection comprises handwritten letters written by Julia T. Martin to her close friend, photographer Elizabeth Alice Austen, in 1894. The letters have been digitized as high‑resolution JPEG scans and accompanied by typed transcriptions. The material spans March and April of 1894 and reflects Victorian social life, travel, and early professional pursuits.

Background

Julia T. Martin, a resident of Albany, New York, maintained a long‑standing friendship with Alice Austen, who lived on Staten Island and was a pioneering photographer. The correspondence was preserved by the Alice Austen House Museum and offers insight into the social networks of upper‑middle‑class New York families during the late 19th century.

Contents

The collection contains seven scanned letters (OCR‑extracted text is available) that cover a range of topics:
  • Travel and Education: Julia discusses her planned journey to Riverdale, a stop in San Francisco, and her enrollment in the Dearonnessa nursing school.
  • Social Events: References to weddings (e.g., Kate Walsh), gifts from Mrs. Robt and Mr. Robt, and social gatherings.
  • Professional Matters: Mentions of Alice’s photography business, including sales of images from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition.
  • Personal Relationships: Correspondence with acquaintances such as Walton, Mr. McKim, and Mr. Battershall, as well as updates on family members.

The letters are dated March 18 and April 11, 1894, and are addressed to “Miss Alice Austin” (a variant spelling of Austen) at Burbank, Staten Island.

Scope

The collection is confined to the year 1894, focusing on the months of March and April. It documents the personal, social, and professional interactions between Julia T. Martin and Alice Austen across several New York locations and beyond. The material is part of the Alice Austen House Museum’s archival holdings and provides a window into Victorian social customs, early nursing education, and the photographic enterprise of Alice Austen.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@file_pinax:file {title: "Alice Austen Correspondence with Julia T. Martin", creator: [@julia_t_martin, @alice_austen], institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1894, language: "en", subjects: ["Personal correspondence","Victorian social life","Family relationships","Photography","Travel","Nursing education","Weddings"], description: "A collection of personal letters from Julia T. Martin to Alice Austen in 1894, discussing social events, family matters, and Julia's pursuit of nursing education.", place: [@staten_island, @schenectady, @albany, @san_francisco, @riverdale]}

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

@julia_t_martin:person {relationship: "close friend", location: @albany}

@jubia_t_martin:person {relationship: "correspondent", location: @albany}

@alice_austen_house:organization {location: @staten_island}

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

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

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

@san_francisco:place {state: @california, country: @united_states}

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

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

@walton:person {role: "travel companion"}

@mr_mckim:person {title: "Mr."}

@mr_battershall:person {title: "Mr."}

@kate_walsh:person {gender: "female"}

@mrs_robt:person {gender: "female"}

@mr_robt:person {gender: "male"}

@john_c_martin:person {full_name: "John C. Martin"}

@dearonnessa:organization {type: "nursing school"}

@worlds_columbian_exposition_1893:event {name: "World's Columbian Exposition", year: @date_1893, location: @chicago}

@julia_t_martin -> wrote -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1894_04_11, content: "addressed to Miss Alice Austin, Burbank, Staten Island, NY"} 

@jubia_t_martin -> wrote -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1894_03_18, content: "letter discussing travel to Riverdale, stop in San Francisco, school attendance, and photograph"} 

@jubia_t_martin -> planned travel to -> @riverdale {when: @date_1894_03_18}

@jubia_t_martin -> mentioned -> @san_francisco {when: @date_1894_03_18}

@walton -> helped -> @julia_t_martin {context: "took her to Mr. McKim's house for nursing examinations", when: @date_1894_04_11}

@julia_t_martin -> discussed -> @dearonnessa {topic: "nursing education", when: @date_1894_04_11}

@julia_t_martin -> mentioned -> @mr_mckim {context: "host of examinations", when: @date_1894_04_11}

@julia_t_martin -> mentioned -> @mr_battershall {context: "signed letter for Mr. McKim", when: @date_1894_04_11}

@julia_t_martin -> reported -> @kate_walsh:wedding:event {date: @date_1894_04_11, gifts: {"Mrs. Robt": "$500 and diamond crescent", "Mr. Robt": "$1000"}} 

@julia_t_martin -> mentioned -> @mrs_robt {gift: "$500 and diamond crescent", when: @date_1894_04_11}

@julia_t_martin -> mentioned -> @mr_robt {gift: "$1000", when: @date_1894_04_11}

@john_c_martin -> wrote -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1894_04_11, content: "illness, cold, and well-wishes"} 

@alice_austen -> sold photographs from -> @worlds_columbian_exposition_1893 {when: @date_1893}

Metadata

Files (5)

1894_3-18-Mar 3003-martin copy.jpgJPEG
1.8 MB
OCR Text

than this summer. Mrs. Smiley writes that they will start for home on the 15th of May, stopping at San Francisco for a few days. It will soon be here now. I am going to Riverdale on Wednesday & will write you from there what day to meet & see her town. We must have a day together, as we did before. I have been very quiet for the last few weeks. My time is much taken up at the school, when I go every morning to listen to the teaching. All the teachers are white to me. I will write to you again later in the week. This is only a line to tell you the photograph has had come. My best love Sincerely, Jubia T. Martin

1894_4-11-April 1001-martin copy.jpgJPEG
466.54 KB
OCR Text

Miss Alice Austin Burbank Staten Island N.Y.

1894_4-11-April 1002-martin copy.jpgJPEG
2.37 MB
OCR Text

Walton was waiting for me & he also had found out about Dearonnessa and liked the idea very much. He agreed to take me to Mr. McKim's the next day. I met him early in the morning & we took ourselves to his house & if you please, spent the day with him having to pass my examinations etc. I stayed to lunch & met Mrs. & Miss McKim & got to be very good friends with them. Mr. Kim. He gave me a paper to fill out & which Schenectady, N.Y. April 19th 1894. My dear Alice, I know how glad you will be to hear from me and of all the latest developments in regard to Dearonnessa and trained nurses. After leaving you on Monday I rushed for the train & lost it by three minutes, so had to possess my soul in patience for a half hour & consequently was late to dinner.

1894_4-11-April 1003-martin copy.jpgJPEG
1.63 MB
OCR Text

Mr. Battershall had to sign. He had quite a long talk with me & is kindly going to write Mr. McKim a letter saying I am what I pretend to be. I can not know until the middle of August if I am admitted, which is hard luck I think. The course of study is very hard & that is the only objection I have to it all, but I think I can get through if I work hard & do not strike a very clever class of women, and so this about settled. I think it is the next best thing to being at St. Agnes & it certainly will be pleasant living near you all. Walton met me on Wednesday at five & at six I turned my face toward Albany. Kate Walsh's wedding was last. She made a very handsome bride, and her presents were superb, over three hundred. Mrs. Robt gave her $500 & a diamond crescent. Mr. Robt $1000 &

1894_4-11-April 1004-martin copy.jpgJPEG
724.71 KB
OCR Text

that was the style of things she had. I came here on Monday for a few days. It is as cold as Greenland and I have an awfully bad cold and feel like a wreck. Writ on Sunday without fail and with much love affectionately, John C. Martin

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
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:53:31 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:13 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Personal_Letters_Julia_Martin"

Parent

01KC29FE5ZKKYK14D7TSAK7R28

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