1893_7-18-July 6001-HKG copy.jpg

Helen Constance Randall Correspondence Collection

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:48:16 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:36:30 PM

Added description

Description

Helen Constance Randall Correspondence Collection (1893‑1898)

Overview

The Helen Constance Randall Correspondence Collection is a digitized set of personal letters written by Helen Constance Randall to Elizabeth Alice Austen in the mid‑1890s. The collection is presented as a series of scanned JPEG images of the original envelopes and pages, accompanied by typed transcriptions. The material is organized by year, with the earliest surviving letters dated July 3 1893 and July 18 1893. The collection is housed at the Alice Austen House Museum in Staten Island, New York.

Background

Helen Constance Randall was a contemporary of photographer Alice Austen and maintained a close friendship with her. The letters were sent from various locations—including Staten Island, Chicago, and Gramercy Park—reflecting Randall’s social network across the northeastern United States. The Alice Austen House acquired the papers in the 20th century as part of its effort to preserve the personal documents of the Austen family and their associates. The collection provides insight into the social and cultural milieu of late‑Victorian upper‑middle‑class New York society.

Contents

The collection contains six primary documents: three letters dated July 18 1893 and three dated July 3 1893. The letters are addressed to Alice Austen and include correspondence from other individuals such as Miss Custer, F G Caressey, and H K. Themes recurring in the letters are:
  • Social life: invitations to skating parties, whist gatherings, and church events.
  • World’s Columbian Exposition: references to the 1893 Chicago fair, travel arrangements, and post‑fair reflections.
  • Photography: discussions of photographic work, equipment, and the sale of images.
  • Personal matters: expressions of affection, poetic verses, and updates on family events.
Each letter is available as a high‑resolution JPEG and a corresponding text file containing a typed transcription.

Scope

The collection covers the period 1893‑1898, though the extant letters are from 1893. It is geographically focused on Staten Island, Chicago, and Gramercy Park, New York. The subject matter spans social correspondence, cultural events, and early photographic practice. The collection does not include any of Alice Austen’s own writings or photographs; it is limited to Randall’s letters to Austen and the related transcriptions.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@file_pinax:file {title: "Helen Constance Randall Correspondence Collection", creator: @helen_constance_randall, institution: @alice_austen_house_museum, created: @date_1893, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Social life","Victorian era","World's Columbian Exposition","Photography"], description: "Correspondence from Helen Constance Randall to Alice Austen in 1893 discussing social events, the World's Columbian Exposition, and personal matters.", place: ["Staten Island, New York","Chicago, Illinois","Gramercy Park, New York"]}


@helen_constance_randall:person {full_name: "Helen Constance Randall", role: "Correspondent"}

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

@miss_custer:person {title: "Miss", last_name: "Custer"}

@h_k:person {initials: "H.K.", role: "Correspondent"}

@f_g_caressey:person {initials: "F.G.", last_name: "Caressey"}


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

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

@gramercy_park:place {city: @new_york, country: @united_states}

@chicago:place {state: @illinois, country: @united_states}

@rosebank:place {city: @staten_island, country: @united_states}


@worlds_columbian_exposition:event {year: @date_1893, location: @chicago}


@helen_constance_randall_correspondence:collection {creator: @helen_constance_randall, institution: @alice_austen_house_museum, start_year: @date_1893, end_year: @date_1898, description: "Correspondence from Helen Constance Randall to Alice Austen"} 


@file_pinax -> documents -> @helen_constance_randall_correspondence:collection


@letter_1893_07_18_6001:document {author: @alice_austen, date: @date_1893_07_18, location: @staten_island, content: "Header with address"} 

@letter_1893_07_18_6002:document {author: @alice_austen, recipient: @miss_custer, date: @date_1893_07_18, location: @gramercy_park, mentions: [@worlds_columbian_exposition], content: "Delighted to receive your note; you are back safely from the fair"} 

@letter_1893_07_18_6003:document {author: @alice_austen, date: @date_1893_07_18, location: @staten_island, content: "Travel arrangements and weather discussion"} 

@letter_1893_07_03_4001:document {author: @f_g_caressey, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1893_07_03, location: @chicago, content: "Please forward to Miss E. Alice Austin"} 

@letter_1893_07_03_4002:document {author: @h_k, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1893_07_03, location: @gramercy_park, content: "Apology for delayed photos; discussion of photography"} 

@letter_1893_07_03_4003:document {author: null, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1893_07_03, location: @staten_island, content: "Poetic verses about moonlight and longing"} 


@helen_constance_randall_correspondence -> includes -> [@letter_1893_07_18_6001, @letter_1893_07_18_6002, @letter_1893_07_18_6003, @letter_1893_07_03_4001, @letter_1893_07_03_4002, @letter_1893_07_03_4003] 


@alice_austen -> authored -> @letter_1893_07_18_6001

@alice_austen -> authored -> @letter_1893_07_18_6002

@alice_austen -> authored -> @letter_1893_07_18_6003

@f_g_caressey -> authored -> @letter_1893_07_03_4001

@h_k -> authored -> @letter_1893_07_03_4002


@letter_1893_07_18_6002 -> addressed to -> @miss_custer

@letter_1893_07_03_4001 -> addressed to -> @alice_austen

@letter_1893_07_03_4002 -> addressed to -> @alice_austen

@letter_1893_07_03_4003 -> addressed to -> @alice_austen


@letter_1893_07_18_6002 -> mentions -> @worlds_columbian_exposition

Metadata

Files (6)

1893_7-18-July 6001-HKG copy.jpgJPEG
318.55 KB
OCR Text

Miss E. Alice Austin Clifton (Richmond Co.) New York Statue Island

1893_7-18-July 6002-HKG copy.jpgJPEG
1.13 MB
OCR Text

THE PLAYERS, 16 GRAMERCY PARK. Tuesday Dear Miss Custer, I was delighted to receive your note this morning and to know that you are back safely from the fair—You have come back to finish it up. Hoping soon to see you! Always Yours, Your affy, Want me that evening when I first suggested Tuesday. I expected to go away on 19th for a week, but have given it up. As always

1893_7-18-July 6003-HKG copy.jpgJPEG
1.57 MB
OCR Text

I came to the conclusion that your worries not be expecting me tonight. So made no arrangements to come - all my charges of payment are in Furloughing - Thursday I will come in time prepared to appear) the weather. Don't take the trouble to telegraph or write unless you don't scorching hot weather in Ored, but I suppose you would rather have it here than in Chicago. I will come down on Thursday evening instead of tonight, if it is equally convenient for you - Not having heard from you up to last evening

1893_7-3-July 4001-HKG copy.jpgJPEG
456.67 KB
OCR Text

Please Forward c/o F. G. Caressey The University of Chicago Chicago, Ill. Miss E. Alice Austin Rosebank Richmond Co., Staten Island, New York

1893_7-3-July 4002-HKG copy.jpgJPEG
1.59 MB
OCR Text

THE PLAYERS, 16 GRAMERCY PARK. Monday, Dear Miss Austin, I meant to send you a line with the photos but found no letters paper at the office—forgot to get some Friday and so postponed Always yours, H.K. Of course you shall see each other if I come for a part I would run out soon—if only for a day—I have a good mind to do it as about that it is—I don't know photograph—unless it was taken what is the matter with it? I have one idea

1893_7-3-July 4003-HKG copy.jpgJPEG
1.8 MB
OCR Text

writing until today hoping I should hear from you with your Chicago address - Please don't aggravate me by prating of your lovely moon- light nights. I am just dying for one on your piazza with the moonlight on the water and all I I do not know how I shall get it unless I find a boarding place in Rosebank and take up a residence there for a few weeks. Today? I suppose your are enjoying the rain - I wish

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:48:16 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 8:53:07 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:52:46 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:36:30 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Helen_Constance_Randall_correspondence"

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