1893_7-10-Henry Gilman undated 2001 copy.jpg

Henry Gilman Correspondence Collection

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:48:16 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:36:25 PM

Added description

Description

Henry Gilman Correspondence Collection

Overview

The Henry Gilman Correspondence Collection is a digitized set of personal letters written by Henry Gilman to Elizabeth Alice Austen, the celebrated Staten Island photographer. The collection spans from 1893 to 1898 and is presented in scanned JPEG images of the original envelopes and handwritten pages, accompanied by typed transcriptions in TXT format. It is housed within the Austen Family Papers (MS1) at the Alice Austen House Museum and is available online through the museum’s digital archive.

Background

Henry Gilman was a contemporary of Alice Austen, residing in Staten Island during the late Victorian era. His letters, addressed to Austen, provide insight into the social milieu of upper‑middle‑class families on the island, as well as Austen’s burgeoning photography business. The correspondence was collected and digitized by the Alice Austen House to preserve the personal network that supported Austen’s career and to document the everyday life of the period.

Contents

The collection contains 15 year‑based folders, each holding scanned images of letters, envelopes, and calling cards, plus corresponding transcriptions. Key subjects include:
  • Social life – invitations to skating parties, sleigh rides, church events, and whist gatherings.
  • Photography business – references to sales of photographs, including images from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition.
  • Personal relationships – correspondence with close friends such as Julia T. Martin (Albany), Julie Bredt, Violet M.E. Ward, Isabella King (photograph buyer), and Bessie Strong.
  • Family matters – sympathy letters concerning the death of Austen’s grandfather (April 1894).
  • Music – discussions about purchasing a Steinway piano.
Representative files include two 1893 letters (dated July 10 and July 18) that illustrate Gilman’s friendly tone and his proposals for meetings.

Scope

The collection covers the years 1893‑1898, focusing on personal correspondence between Henry Gilman and Alice Austen. It is geographically centered on Staten Island, New York, and thematically encompasses Victorian social customs, the early photography industry, and personal networks of the era. The collection excludes any material not directly related to Gilman’s letters to Austen, such as unrelated photographs or unrelated family documents.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@henry_gilman:person {full_name: "Henry Gilman"}

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

@staten_island:place {location: "Staten Island, New York"}

@alice_austen_house:organization {name: "Alice Austen House Museum", location: @staten_island}

@henry_gilman_correspondence:document {creator: @henry_gilman, recipient: @alice_austen, start_year: @date_1893, end_year: @date_1898, location: @staten_island, description: "Correspondence from Henry Gilman to Alice Austen, providing insights into late 19th‑century social life and personal relationships."}

@file_pinax -> documents -> @henry_gilman_correspondence {title: "Henry Gilman Correspondence Collection", creator: @henry_gilman, institution: @alice_austen_house, created: @date_1893, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Personal letters","Social life","Victorian era","Staten Island"], description: "A collection of correspondence from Henry Gilman to Alice Austen, providing insights into late 19th‑century social life and personal relationships."}

@file_1893_7_10_henry_gilman_undated_2001_copy_jpg:file {filename: "1893_7-10-Henry Gilman undated 2001 copy.jpg.ref.json"}

@file_1893_7_10_henry_gilman_undated_2002_copy_jpg:file {filename: "1893_7-10-Henry Gilman undated 2002 copy.jpg.ref.json"}

@date_1893_07_10

@date_1893_07_18

@henry_gilman -> wrote -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1893_07_10, via: @file_1893_7_10_henry_gilman_undated_2001_copy_jpg}

@henry_gilman -> wrote -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1893_07_10, via: @file_1893_7_10_henry_gilman_undated_2002_copy_jpg}

@henry_gilman -> proposed meeting -> @alice_austen {date: @date_1893_07_18, via: @file_1893_7_10_henry_gilman_undated_2001_copy_jpg}

@harriet:person {first_name: "Harriet"}

@henry_gilman -> mentions -> @harriet {in: @file_1893_7_10_henry_gilman_undated_2001_copy_jpg}

@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"}

@henry_gilman -> corresponded with -> @julia_t_martin {through: @henry_gilman_correspondence}

@henry_gilman -> corresponded with -> @julie_bredt {through: @henry_gilman_correspondence}

@henry_gilman -> corresponded with -> @violet_m_e_ward {through: @henry_gilman_correspondence}

@henry_gilman -> corresponded with -> @isabella_king {through: @henry_gilman_correspondence}

@henry_gilman -> corresponded with -> @bessie_strong {through: @henry_gilman_correspondence}

Metadata

Title
Henry Gilman Correspondence Collection
Type
Collection
Creator
Henry Gilman
Institution
Alice Austen House
Created
1893
Language
en
Subjects
Correspondence, Personal letters, Social life, Victorian era, Staten Island
Place
Staten Island, New York
Source
PINAX

Files (2)

1893_7-10-Henry Gilman undated 2001 copy.jpgJPEG
2.4 MB
OCR Text

Monday Dear Miss Austen, I was delighted to receive your letter this morning—of course you are having a beautiful time—how could you help it. I wish that point out. Harriet and name some other night—if coming home so soon—but isn't it rather earlier than you expected? Shall I have the pleasure of seeing you on Sat. Tuesday morning? The 18th? Drop me a note or a message.

1893_7-10-Henry Gilman undated 2002 copy.jpgJPEG
2.35 MB
OCR Text

What is one's self known as a "person"? — However, they are not persons who are abundantly able to look after themselves if I were there to enjoy the music. From present appearances I shall have four female relations to look after without other male assistance when we go, so that I fear I shall not have too much trouble. I am glad you are coming.

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:48:16 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:52:14 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:52:43 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:25 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Henry_Gilman_correspondence"

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