Alice Austen and Julia Martin Correspondence, 1896

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:51:30 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:37:17 PM

Added description

Description

Julia T. Martin–Alice Austin Correspondence, 1896

Overview

This collection comprises 28 digitized images of handwritten letters exchanged in 1896 between Elizabeth Alice Austen, a pioneering photographer from Staten Island, and her close friend Julia T. Martin of Santa Barbara, California. The letters are scanned in JPG format and accompanied by typed transcriptions. The material is part of the Austen Family Papers (MS1) housed at the Alice Austen House Museum and is in the public domain.

Background

Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a leading American photographer whose studio in New York City produced portraits and commercial work. Julia Martin, a resident of Santa Barbara, maintained a long‑distance friendship with Austen, writing to her from 1896 about daily life, business, and social events. The letters were sent during a period when Austen was traveling and working in the West, and they provide a rare glimpse into the trans‑

Raw Cheimarros Data

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

@julia_martin:person {full_name: "Julia T. Martin", residence: @santa_barbara, relationship: "close friend of @alice_austen"}

@herr_lehny:person {role: "conductor", affiliation: @santa_barbara_philharmonic}

@mr_colby:person {description: "member of the Colby family, from Portland"}

@mr_roberts:person {description: "individual mentioned in correspondence"}

@mr_howard:person {description: "friend referenced in letters"}

@mr_mcclyander_senior:person {description: "suggested addition of rooms at the Palms"}

@mr_mccnamee:person {description: "deceased individual referenced"}

@mr_eccleston:person {description: "person whose house is mentioned"}

@mr_miller:person {description: "individual mentioned in a letter"}

@mr_hall:person {description: "physician working with Julia"}

@mrs_burton:person {description: "friend of Julia, involved in entertainment"}

@mrs_kerr:person {description: "housekeeper hired by Julia"}

@mrs_moore:person {description: "resident mentioned"}

@mr_allen:person {description: "resident mentioned"}

@mrs_nicoll:person {description: "woman living with Julia during winter"}

@mrs_adam:person {description: "young married couple from Pennsylvania"}

@mrs_ward:person {description: "relative mentioned in a letter"}

@garden_st_1624:place {address: "1624 Garden St.", city: @santa_barbara, state: @california, country: @united_states}

@rosebank:place {address: "Rosebank", city: @staten_island, state: @new_york, country: @united_states}

@santa_barbara_philharmonic:organization {type: "orchestra", location: @santa_barbara}

@photography_business:concept {description: "Julia's and Alice's photographic enterprise"}

@music:concept {description: "Discussions of music and concerts"}

@social_life:concept {description: "Skating parties, sleight rides, church events, whist parties"}

@cottage_hospital_fair:event {type: "cottage hospital fair", location: @santa_barbara, date: @date_1896_10_??}

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

@file_pinax:file {title: "Alice Austen and Julia Martin Correspondence, 1896", creator: [@alice_austen, @julia_martin], institution: "Alice Austen House", created: @date_1896, subjects: ["Correspondence","Personal letters","Victorian-era social life","Photography business","Family matters","Music","World's Columbian Exposition"], place: [@santa_barbara, @staten_island]}

@letter_1896_10_23_1001:document {date: @date_1896_10_23, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Julia asks about Alice, mentions Colby family, expresses loneliness"} 
@file_1896_10_23_1896_oct_1001_martin_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_10_23_1001

@letter_1896_10_23_1002:document {date: @date_1896_10_23, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Julia discusses renting rooms, rent $20/week, barn improvements"} 
@file_1896_10_23_1896_oct_1002_martin_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_10_23_1002

@letter_1896_10_23_1003:document {date: @date_1896_10_23, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Julia mentions travel, San Francisco, vineyards"} 
@file_1896_10_23_1896_oct_1003_martin_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_10_23_1003

@letter_1896_10_23_1004:document {date: @date_1896_10_23, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Julia describes social entertainment with Mrs. Burton, Reddington girls, Miss Taylor"} 
@file_1896_10_23_1896_oct_1004_martin_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_10_23_1004

@letter_1896_10_23_1005:document {date: @date_1896_10_23, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Julia recounts a play, audience, refreshments"} 
@file_1896_10_23_1896_oct_1005_martin_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_10_23_1005

@letter_1896_10_23_1006:document {date: @date_1896_10_23, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Julia mentions Philharmonic concert, Herr Lehny, and helping at a fair"} 
@file_1896_10_23_1896_oct_1006_martin_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_10_23_1006

@letter_1896_10_23_1007:document {date: @date_1896_10_23, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Julia hires Mrs. Kerr as housekeeper"} 
@file_1896_10_23_1896_oct_1007_martin_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_10_23_1007

@letter_1896_10_23_1008:document {date: @date_1896_10_23, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Julia expresses longing for Alice to visit"} 
@file_1896_10_23_1896_oct_1008_martin_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_10_23_1008

@letter_1896_10_27_1009:document {date: @date_1896_10_27, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Address block for Alice"} 
@file_1896_10_27_1896_oct_1009_santabarbara_martin_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_10_27_1009

@letter_1896_12_06_001:document {date: @date_1896_12_06, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Letter heading with address"} 
@file_1896_12_6_julia_martin_dec_6_1896001_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_12_06_001

@letter_1896_12_06_002:document {date: @date_1896_12_06, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Julia discusses renting rooms at the Palms, rates $10-$12/week"} 
@file_1896_12_6_julia_martin_dec_6_1896002_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_12_06_002

@letter_1896_12_06_003:document {date: @date_1896_12_06, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Description of house layout, rooms, views"} 
@file_1896_12_6_julia_martin_dec_6_1896003_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_12_06_003

@letter_1896_12_06_004:document {date: @date_1896_12_06, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Colbys stay, Mrs. & Mr. Adam as potential boarders, travel plans"} 
@file_1896_12_6_julia_martin_dec_6_1896004_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_12_06_004

@letter_1896_12_06_005:document {date: @date_1896_12_06, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Discussion of Sanitarium, Gertrude Eccleston, request for photographs"} 
@file_1896_12_6_julia_martin_dec_6_1896005_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_12_06_005

@letter_1896_12_06_006:document {date: @date_1896_12_06, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Housekeeper evaluation, social visits, tea invitation"} 
@file_1896_12_6_julia_martin_dec_6_1896006_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_12_06_006

@letter_1896_12_06_007:document {date: @date_1896_12_06, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Detailed duties of housekeeper, invitation to visit"} 
@file_1896_12_6_julia_martin_dec_6_1896007_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_12_06_007

@letter_1896_12_06_008:document {date: @date_1896_12_06, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Closing salutations, love to the Wards and Miller family"} 
@file_1896_12_6_julia_martin_dec_6_1896008_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_12_06_008

@letter_1896_02_05_1001:document {date: @date_1896_02_05, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Address block for Alice"} 
@file_1896_2_5_1896_feb_1001_santabarbara_martin_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_02_05_1001

@letter_1896_02_05_1002:document {date: @date_1896_02_05, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Mrs. Nicoll lives with Julia, description of rooms, mention of Sanitarium"} 
@file_1896_2_5_1896_feb_1002_martin_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_02_05_1002

@letter_1896_02_05_1003:document {date: @date_1896_02_05, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Busy work at the house, mention of Howard, family news"} 
@file_1896_2_5_1896_feb_1003_martin_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_02_05_1003

@letter_1896_04_10_2003:document {date: @date_1896_04_10, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Address block for Alice"} 
@file_1896_4_10_1896_april_2003_santabarbara_martin_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_04_10_2003

@letter_1896_04_04_4001:document {date: @date_1896_04_04, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Letter about financial situation, patients, Dr. Hall"} 
@file_1896_4_4_1896_april_4001_martin_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_04_04_4001

@letter_1896_04_04_4002:document {date: @date_1896_04_04, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Boarders, nurses, plans to enlarge, mention of Chinnies"} 
@file_1896_4_4_1896_april_4002_martin_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_04_04_4002

@letter_1896_04_04_4003:document {date: @date_1896_04_04, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Mrs. Nicoll's situation, death of husband, family news"} 
@file_1896_4_4_1896_april_4003_martin_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_04_04_4003

@letter_1896_04_04_4004:document {date: @date_1896_04_04, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Winter reflections, financial concerns"} 
@file_1896_4_4_1896_april_4004_martin_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_04_04_4004

@letter_1896_04_04_4005:document {date: @date_1896_04_04, author: @julia_martin, recipient: @alice_austen, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Address block for Clara Austin"} 
@file_1896_4_4_1896_april_4005_santabarbara_martin_copy_jpg -> documents -> @letter_1896_04_04_4005

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @julia_martin {start: @date_1896, end: @date_1896, via: [@file_pinax, @file_1896_10_23_1896_oct_1001_martin_copy_jpg, @file_1896_12_6_julia_martin_dec_6_1896001_copy_jpg, @file_1896_2_5_1896_feb_1001_santabarbara_martin_copy_jpg, @file_1896_4_4_1896_april_4001_martin_copy_jpg]}

@julia_martin -> discussed -> @photography_business {through: @letter_1896_12_06_002}
@julia_martin -> discussed -> @music {through: @letter_1896_10_23_1006}
@julia_martin -> discussed -> @social_life {through: @letter_1896_10_23_1004}

@letter_1896_10_23_1006 -> mentions -> @santa_barbara_philharmonic
@letter_1896_10_23_1006 -> mentions -> @herr_lehny

@letter_1896_10_23_1005 -> mentions -> @play {type: "charades", participants: [@mrs_burton, @r_ reddington_girls, @miss_taylor]} 

@letter_1896_12_06_002 -> mentions -> @palms:place {description: "Julia's house in Santa Barbara", rooms_added: true, rent_rates: ["$10/week","$12/week"]} 

@letter_1896_04_04_4001 -> mentions -> @dr_hall:person {role: "physician", collaboration: @julia_martin}

@letter_1896_04_04_4002 -> mentions -> @chinnies:group {description: "local community members"} 

@letter_1896_04_04_4003 -> mentions -> @mr_hayton:person {context: "death"} 

@letter_1896_04_04_4005 -> mentions -> @clara_austin:person {relation: "possible relative"}

Metadata

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:51:30 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 9:05:29 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:55:17 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:37:17 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Julia_Martin_Correspondence_1896"

Additional Components (26)

Click to expand and load individual components

1896_10-23-1896 Oct 1001-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_10-23-1896 Oct 1002-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_10-23-1896 Oct 1003-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_10-23-1896 Oct 1004-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_10-23-1896 Oct 1005-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_10-23-1896 Oct 1006-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_10-23-1896 Oct 1007-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_10-23-1896 Oct 1008-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_10-27-1896 Oct 1009-SantaBarbara-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_12-6-Julia Martin Dec 6 1896001 copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_12-6-Julia Martin Dec 6 1896002 copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_12-6-Julia Martin Dec 6 1896003 copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_12-6-Julia Martin Dec 6 1896004 copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_12-6-Julia Martin Dec 6 1896005 copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_12-6-Julia Martin Dec 6 1896006 copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_12-6-Julia Martin Dec 6 1896007 copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_12-6-Julia Martin Dec 6 1896008 copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_2-5-1896 Feb 1001-SantaBarbara-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_2-5-1896 Feb 1002-Martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_2-5-1896 Feb 1003-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_4-10-1896 April 2003-SantaBarbara-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_4-4-1896 April 4001-Martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_4-4-1896 April 4002-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_4-4-1896 April 4003-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_4-4-1896 April 4004-martin copy.jpg.ref.json
1896_4-4-1896 April 4005-Santabarbara-martin copy.jpg.ref.json

Parent

01KC29F3B6BYD1NAPQJWHRPX6V

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