Bessie Strong Correspondence to Alice Austen
PI
Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:48:03 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:36:20 PM
Added description
Description
Bessie Strong Correspondence to Alice Austen (June 27, 1893)
Overview
This collection consists of six digitized pages of a single letter written by Bessie Strong to photographer Elizabeth Alice Austen on 27 June 1893. The letter is preserved as a series of JPEG scans, each accompanied by OCR text. It is part of the Austen Family Papers (MS1) housed at the Alice Austen House Museum on Staten Island, New York.Background
Bessie Strong was a close friend of Alice Austen, residing in New Brunswick, New Jersey, during the early 1890s. The letter reflects the social milieu of the upper‑middle‑class Victorian era, illustrating the network of acquaintances that surrounded Austen. The correspondence was originally written in ink on paper, later digitized for preservation and research. The letter was sent from New Brunswick, a naval hub, and mentions several ships and naval officers, underscoring the maritime connections of the period.Contents
- Personal Narrative: Strong recounts her recent stay in New Brunswick, noting her reluctance to leave and her excitement about upcoming visits.
- Social Events: Detailed accounts of a tennis tournament (with winners Rosalie and Mr. Reid), dances at the tennis club and Colonel Honey’s venue, a trip to Staten Island, and a party at Manhattan Beach.
- Maritime References: Mentions of ships such as the Philadelphia, Bennington, and San Francisco, including departures and the presence of naval officers.
- People Mentioned: Friends and acquaintances—Rosalie, Mr. Reid, Ed Bregent, Mr. Titelle, Colonel Honey, Colonel Tommy, Miss Robinson, Florence Robinson, Miss Price, Mr. Kittelle, Mr. Faust, and Mr. H.
- Cultural Notes: References to music (“Robin Hood”), dining experiences, and the social customs of the time.
Scope
The collection covers a single correspondence dated 27 June 1893, written in English, and situated within the broader Austen Family Papers. It provides a snapshot of Victorian social life, naval culture, and the personal relationships that connected Alice Austen to her contemporaries. The material is valuable for scholars studying late‑19th‑century New York society, maritime history, and the personal networks of early American photographers.Raw Cheimarros Data
@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth_year: @date_1866, death_year: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer", location: @staten_island}
@bessie_strong:person {full_name: "Bessie Strong", role: "correspondent"}
@new_brunswick:place {region: "New Jersey", country: @united_states}
@staten_island:place {region: "New York City", country: @united_states}
@brooklyn:place {region: "New York City", country: @united_states}
@manhattan_beach:place {region: "Brooklyn", country: @united_states}
@philadelphia:organization {type: "ship", name: "Philadelphia"}
@bennington:organization {type: "ship", name: "Bennington"}
@san_francisco:organization {type: "ship", name: "San Francisco"}
@rosalie:person {relationship: "friend of Bessie Strong"}
@mr_reid:person {full_name: "Mr. Reid"}
@ed_bregent:person {full_name: "Ed Bregent"}
@mr_titelle:person {full_name: "Mr. Titelle"}
@colonel_honey:person {title: "Colonel Honey"}
@colonel_tommy:person {title: "Colonel Tommy"}
@miss_robinson:person {full_name: "Miss Robinson"}
@florence_robinson:person {full_name: "Florence Robinson"}
@miss_price:person {full_name: "Miss Price"}
@mr_kittelle:person {full_name: "Mr. Kittelle"}
@mr_faust:person {full_name: "Mr. Faust"}
@mr_h:person {full_name: "Mr. H"}
@letter_1893_06_27_strong_to_austen:document {date: @date_1893_06_27, sender: @bessie_strong, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @new_brunswick}
@file_1893_6_27_june_5002_strong_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", description: "Letter page 1 (OCR)", source: @letter_1893_06_27_strong_to_austen}
@file_1893_6_27_june_5003_strong_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", description: "Letter page 2 (OCR)", source: @letter_1893_06_27_strong_to_austen}
@file_1893_6_27_june_5004_strong_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", description: "Letter page 3 (OCR)", source: @letter_1893_06_27_strong_to_austen}
@file_1893_6_27_june_5005_strong_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", description: "Letter page 4 (OCR)", source: @letter_1893_06_27_strong_to_austen}
@file_1893_6_27_june_5006_strong_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", description: "Letter page 5 (OCR)", source: @letter_1893_06_27_strong_to_austen}
@file_1893_6_27_june_5007_strong_copy_jpg:file {type: "image", description: "Letter page 6 (OCR)", source: @letter_1893_06_27_strong_to_austen}
@bessie_strong -> wrote -> @letter_1893_06_27_strong_to_austen {when: @date_1893_06_27, where: @new_brunswick}
@letter_1893_06_27_strong_to_austen -> mentions -> @tennis_tournament_1893:event {type: "tennis tournament", date: @date_1893_06_27, location: @new_brunswick}
@tennis_tournament_1893:event -> winners -> [@rosalie, @mr_reid]
@letter_1893_06_27_strong_to_austen -> reports -> @ed_bregent:sailing {ship: @philadelphia, departure: @date_1893_06_20, destination: "Pacific"}
@letter_1893_06_27_strong_to_austen -> notes -> @mr_titelle:person {relationship: "new friend"}
@mr_titelle -> befriended -> @bessie_strong
@letter_1893_06_27_strong_to_austen -> describes -> @dance_tennis_club:event {type: "dance", venue: "tennis club", date: @date_1893_06_27, participants: [@bessie_strong, @rosalie]}
@letter_1893_06_27_strong_to_austen -> describes -> @dance_colonel_honey:event {type: "dance", venue: @colonel_honey, date: @date_1893_06_27, participants: [@bessie_strong, @rosalie]}
@letter_1893_06_27_strong_to_austen -> mentions -> @bennington:organization {status: "anchored off Alice's place"}
@letter_1893_06_27_strong_to_austen -> mentions -> @san_francisco:organization {event: "dance on the San Francisco"}
@letter_1893_06_27_strong_to_austen -> mentions -> @miss_robinson:person {activity: "lunch on Saturday"}
@letter_1893_06_27_strong_to_austen -> mentions -> @florence_robinson:person {activity: "present at party"}
@letter_1893_06_27_strong_to_austen -> mentions -> @miss_price:person {activity: "visited in evening"}
@letter_1893_06_27_strong_to_austen -> mentions -> @mr_kittelle:person {activity: "present at dinner and music"}
@letter_1893_06_27_strong_to_austen -> mentions -> @mr_faust:person {activity: "present at dinner"}
@letter_1893_06_27_strong_to_austen -> mentions -> @mr_h:person {activity: "escort on Tuesday"}
@letter_1893_06_27_strong_to_austen -> includes -> @event_trip_to_staten_island:event {type: "trip", date: @date_1893_06_27, destination: @staten_island}
@letter_1893_06_27_strong_to_austen -> includes -> @event_party_manhattan_beach:event {type: "party", location: @manhattan_beach, date: @date_1893_06_27}Metadata
Files (6)
OCR Text
I was having such a good time I could not bear to think of going away. Mother tells me that all accounts of your dance were complimentary and enthusiastic. We had planned to go down to see you, or to ask you over to Brooklyn for lunch, but just one thing and then another prevented, and finally we heard you were in N.B. New Brunswick June 27th '93 My dear Alice: It was very provoking to think that you were in New Brunswick and I was not, also that I could not be at the dance. But when the cards came I had already decided to stay until Monday, as everyone made such a fuss about my leaving, and
OCR Text
could not have made my visit at a more favorable time, for with seven or eight ships in the yard you can imagine how gay we were. There was a tennis tournament going on when I arrived. Rosalie and Mr. Reid won the mixed doubles; the gentlemen's doubles are yet to be played, but I doubt if they ever will be, as it is next to impossible for four men from different ships to get off at the same time, and now so many of the ships are leaving. Ed Bregent sailed on the "Philadelphia" last Thursday, bound for the Pacific. His family feel dreadfully over it as it is his first long cruise. By the way please do not let only one know that his fiancée is not approved of by the family. It might in some way reach her ears, and I should be very sorry for anything of that sort. Do you remember that once when I was
OCR Text
Each Sunday, and spent nearly the whole day at the house. The three evening he was not at the house he was standing watch or dining out. He is simply the most perfect dancer I have ever met; at a dance given for the tennis-club on the Wednesday after I got there I had six out of fourteen dances with him, and at Col. Honey's on Saturday we were together the whole evening except for about ten minutes when he danced with the hostess. Spending a few days with you the "Bennington" was anchored just off your place; how you got down behind my chair and waved to some of the officers, and how they returned it? Well, I met one of those officers the day I reached Brooklyn; Mr. Titelle was the man; we became the best kind of friends at once, and there were only three days out of the sixteen I spent with Rosalie that we were not together. He went to church with us
OCR Text
and one other girl. It was a Welsh rackets party, and when supper time came we ran out walking round the "Parade ground." As neither of us cared anything for Welsh rackets he did not hurry in and when we did get there everyone was seated round the table. You should have heard the shout that went up as we entered the door. But fortunately we gets hardened to that sort of thing over there, for people always think of it in that way. Our first event after my arrival was a lunch on the "Bancroft" on Sunday, given by the Captain. It was a scorching day but it was a novel experience and I enjoyed it. Monday was tennis; Tuesday tennis, and Seidle in the evening with Mr. H. as escort. Wed. The dance at the barracks, Thursday a dinner-party at Col. Tommy's, Friday a trip to Staten Island, and in the evening callers. Saturday we lunched with Miss Robinson and heard "Robin Hood" in the afternoon: we to have had a tug-party up the Hudson but it rained, as we had a dance at Dr. Boyd
OCR Text
Mrs. Kittelle in the evening. Rosalie was feeling so badly over Ed's departure that she did not care to go to either. It was hotter than Tophet on the ship, but I enjoyed it immensely and danced in spite of the heat. Wednesday Tennis and callers again; Thursday night a dinner on the Bennington after which I "stood watch" with the "Officer of the deck" until it was time for us to leave. The tugler on that ship is one of the finest in the service, and during dinner he played so sweetly we always listened to "tops" from the Bennington and Mr. Kittelle had him play up on deck so we could hear it at the hospital. Friday we were invited to a big party in the evening, but I was under the weather and Rosalie did not want to go, so we stayed at home and entertained one of the young doctors from the hospital. Saturday was the party at Mrs. Torney's as I said, Sunday Mr. Kittelle was there for both lunch and dinner, and Mr. Faust alas for the latter. Florence Robinson
OCR Text
as staying at the house too. She is great fun to anything. In the evening Miss Price, Cor and Hicks called, and I sat with Mr. K. till after eleven. Have given you a full account of it all you see. Do you wonder I had such a good time? Rosalie has promised me a visit sometime in July. Mother and I are to divide August between my sister-in-law at Delray. Of course when Mother is there I must be at Shoreham. I hear you want a visit from me this summer. Shall be delighted to provide for you. instead, with six pieces from The San Francisco's band to furnish music Sunday callers all day, but a crowd in the evening. Monday Rosalie and I took the car down to Manhattan Beach in the afternoon simply to get cooled off, and we did it. The air there was heavenly. In the evening Mr. Tittelle came up singing his guitar. Thursday I went to a dance on the "San Francisco" in the afternoon, and over to hear Peidl with
Version History (4 versions)
- ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:48:03 PM
"Added description" - v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:51:10 PM · View this version
"Added knowledge graph extraction" - v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:52:32 PM · View this version
"Added PINAX metadata" - v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:20 PM · View this version
"Reorganization group: Bessie_Strong_correspondence"
Parent
No children (leaf entity)