1894_3-28-May 5001-jones copy 3.jpg

Austen Family Papers (MS1) - Miscellaneous Business Letters Collection

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:49:23 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:36:21 PM

Added description

Description

Miscellaneous Business Letters Collection – Austen Family Papers (MS1)

Overview

This digital collection comprises business‑related correspondence from the Austen Family Papers, dated 1894. It is organized into scanned images of handwritten letters and their typed transcriptions. The materials illustrate Alice Austen’s professional and social engagements in New York and Staten Island, covering topics such as photography sales, legal matters, and everyday social life.

Background

The Austen Family Papers were assembled by the Alice Austen House Museum in Staten Island, New York. Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering photographer who operated a studio in New York City and sold prints, including images from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. The 1894 letters were curated by Frederick C. Lewis, a lawyer and contemporary of Austen, who maintained correspondence with her and other acquaintances. The collection reflects the business practices and social networks of upper‑middle‑class families during the late Victorian era.

Contents

  • Business Letters: 1894 correspondence between Frederick C. Lewis and Miss Foster, discussing inventory and legal concerns.
  • Client and Friend Letters: A letter from Mrs. E.A. Chesten (33 E 17 St., New York) and a letter to Miss Alice Austen (Rosebank P.O., Halew Island).
  • Photography Business: References to the sale of photographs, including those from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition.
  • Social Life: Mentions of skating parties, sleigh rides, church events, and whist parties, illustrating the social milieu of the period.
  • Personal Relationships: Correspondence with close friends such as Julia T. Martin, Julie Bredt, Violet M.E. Ward, Isabella King, and Bessie Strong.

Each letter is accompanied by a high‑resolution JPEG scan and a typed transcription, enabling both visual and textual research.

Scope

The collection covers the year 1894, with geographic focus on New York City, Staten Island, and Halew Island. It documents business transactions, legal discussions, and social interactions relevant to Alice Austen’s professional life. The materials exclude broader archival items such as photographs, calling cards, or negative sleeves, which are housed in separate Austen Family Papers collections.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@austen_family_papers_ms1:collection {title: "Austen Family Papers (MS1) - Miscellaneous Business Letters Collection", creator: [@frederick_c_lewis], institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1894, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Business Letters","Victorian Social Life","Photography","Law"], description: "A collection of business-related letters and correspondence from the Austen Family Papers, spanning 1894. Includes letters discussing business matters, photography, and personal communications.", place: [@new_york, @staten_island, @halew_island]}

@alice_austen_house:organization {type: "Museum", location: @staten_island}

@halew_island:place {location: @staten_island, country: @united_states}

@frederick_c_lewis:person {full_name: "Frederick C. Lewis"}

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

@miss_foster:person {title: "Miss"}

@letter_1894_03_28:document {author: @frederick_c_lewis, recipient: @miss_foster, date: @date_1894_03_28, location: @new_york}

@date_1894_03_28 {month: 3, day: 28, year: 1894}

@frederick_c_lewis -> wrote -> @letter_1894_03_28

@miss_foster -> received -> @letter_1894_03_28

@mrs_e_a_chesten:person {full_name: "Mrs. E.A. Chesten"}

@letter_1894_04_02:document {sender: @mrs_e_a_chesten, date: @date_1894_04_02, location: @new_york, address: "33, EAST 17 ST., NEW YORK."}

@date_1894_04_02 {approximate: true, month: 4, year: 1894}

@mrs_e_a_chesten -> sent -> @letter_1894_04_02

@letter_1894_04_30:document {recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1894_04_30, location: @halew_island, address: "Miss Alice Austen, Rosebank P.O., Halew Island, N.Y."}

@date_1894_04_30 {month: 4, day: 30, year: 1894}

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1894_04_30

@julia_t_martin:person {full_name: "Julia T. Martin", relationship: "close friend", location: @albany}

@julie_bredt:person {full_name: "Julie Bredt"}

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

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

@bessie_strong:person {full_name: "Bessie Strong"}

@julia_t_martin -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen

@julie_bredt -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen

@violet_m_e_ward -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen

@isabella_king -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen

@bessie_strong -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen

@photography_business:concept {description: "Alice Austen sold photographs, including images from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition"}

@alice_austen -> participated in -> @photography_business

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

@date_1893 {year: 1893}

@alice_austen -> sold photographs from -> @worlds_columbian_exposition_1893

@steinway_piano:object {type: "musical instrument", brand: "Steinway"}

@alice_austen -> purchased -> @steinway_piano

@victorian_social_life:concept {description: "Social activities such as skating parties, sleigh rides, church events, and whist parties among upper-middle-class Staten Island families"}

@alice_austen -> engaged in -> @victorian_social_life

Metadata

Files (3)

1894_3-28-May 5001-jones copy 3.jpgJPEG
1.3 MB
OCR Text

New York, March 28, 1894 Dear Miss Foster, I called at home last evening and looked in the stockroom but could find nothing to appeal to our selection just now. So far removed it would appear from the entire department and never from items more beautiful! I send you an interesting piece of literature received by us from whom you may have received and can only hope you will be speeded right. Remember your season has to be for all practical purposes, or we enter so near as good residence is the idea. I am sure you know as I am a lawyer and believe me. Sincerely yours, Frederick C. Lewis

1894_4-2ish-Trude Eccelston Aug 2001-postmark Apr-1894-NOT TRUDE copy.jpgJPEG
1.01 MB
OCR Text

33, EAST 17 ST. NEW YORK. Mrs. E.A. Chesten Rheban Po Staten Island N.Y.

1894_4-30-April 2003 copy.jpgJPEG
352.72 KB
OCR Text

Miss Alice Austen Rosebank P.O. Halew Island N.Y.

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:49:23 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:56:27 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:53:30 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:21 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Miscellaneous_Business_Letters"

Parent

01KC29FE5ZKKYK14D7TSAK7R28

No children (leaf entity)