1895_8-28-Aug 1001-trude copy.jpg

Trude Adirondacks Correspondence Collection

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:51:23 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:37:18 PM

Added description

Description

Trude Adirondacks Correspondence Collection

Overview

The Trude Adirondacks Correspondence Collection is a digitized set of nine scanned letters written by Trude to Elizabeth Alice Austen on August 28, 1895. The letters were produced during a vacation in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York and are preserved in the Alice Austen House Museum’s archival holdings. Each item is a JPEG image of a handwritten letter, accompanied by a brief OCR‑derived caption that identifies the location and key themes.

Background

Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering American photographer and longtime resident of Staten Island, New York. Trude, a close friend and correspondent, visited the Adirondacks with her family and wrote to Austen to share observations of the landscape, social life, and the photographer’s own business. The letters were later digitized by the museum’s PINAX project, providing contemporary scholars with access to Austen’s personal network and the cultural milieu of late‑19th‑century leisure travel.

Contents

The collection contains nine letters, each dated August 28, 1895, describing:
  • Scenic observations of Lake Kushaqua, Loon Lake, Raithow Lake, and the surrounding mountains.
  • Social events such as campfire meetings, bowling and tennis tournaments, lecture parties, and Palamagundi gatherings.
  • Family interactions with Trude’s mother and siblings, and references to travel logistics (railroad to Paul Smith’s, expenses).
  • Photography and business notes, including a desire for Austen’s camera and mention of her sale of World’s Columbian Exposition images.
  • Personal anecdotes about deer hunting, a Steinway piano, and the “Beautiful Resting Place” motto on the Kushaqua Lodge letterhead.

Each letter is presented as a high‑resolution JPEG, with OCR text providing a concise summary of its content.

Scope

The collection covers a single date in 1895 and focuses on the Adirondack region of Franklin County, New York. It documents leisure travel, social customs, and the interplay between nature and emerging photographic commerce in the late Victorian era. The materials are in English, and the collection is limited to the nine scanned letters; no transcriptions or additional contextual documents are included.

Raw Cheimarros Data

@trude_adirondacks_correspondence:collection {title: "Trude Adirondacks Correspondence Collection", creator: @trude, institution: "Alice Austen House", created: @date_1895_08_28, language: "en", subjects: ["Adirondacks","Lake Kushaqua","vacation","social life","photography","nature","family correspondence"], description: "Correspondence from Trude to Alice Austen during a vacation in the Adirondacks describing activities, scenery, and social interactions.", place: ["Adirondacks","Lake Kushaqua","Franklin County, NY","Loon Lake","Saranac","Placid"]}


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


@trude:person {role: "correspondent", relation: "friend of Alice Austen"}


@adirondacks:place {region: "Upstate New York", country: @united_states}


@lake_kushaqua:place {located_in: @adirondacks, type: "lake"}


@loon_lake:place {located_in: @adirondacks, type: "lake"}


@franklin_county_ny:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states, type: "county"}


@staten_island_ny:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states, type: "borough"}


@saranac:place {located_in: @adirondacks, type: "town"}


@placid:place {located_in: @adirondacks, type: "town"}


@paul_smiths:place {full_name: "Paul Smith's Hotel", located_in: @adirondacks, type: "hotel"}


@raithow_lake:place {located_in: @adirondacks, type: "lake"}


@campfire_meet:event {description: "Campfire gathering mentioned in Trude's letters"}


@bowling_tournament:event {description: "Bowling tournaments referenced in correspondence"}


@lecture_party:event {description: "Lecture parties referenced in correspondence"}


@palamagundi_party:event {description: "Palamagundi parties referenced in correspondence"}


@tennis_tournament:event {description: "Tennis tournaments referenced in correspondence"}


@worlds_fair_1893:event {name: "World's Columbian Exposition", year: @date_1893}


@file_1895_8_28_aug_1001_trude_copy_jpg:document {title: "Letter from Trude to Alice Austen (Aug 28, 1895) – Part 1", date: @date_1895_08_28, summary: "Describes Lake Kushaqua, camp activities, and social observations."}


@trude -> wrote -> @file_1895_8_28_aug_1001_trude_copy_jpg {when: @date_1895_08_28, where: @lake_kushaqua}


@file_1895_8_28_aug_1001_trude_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen


@file_1895_8_28_aug_1001_trude_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @campfire_meet


@file_1895_8_28_aug_1002_trude_copy_jpg:document {title: "Letter from Trude to Alice Austen (Aug 28, 1895) – Part 2", date: @date_1895_08_28, summary: "Talks about walks with Mother, family visits, and garden vegetables."}


@trude -> wrote -> @file_1895_8_28_aug_1002_trude_copy_jpg {when: @date_1895_08_28, where: @lake_kushaqua}


@file_1895_8_28_aug_1002_trude_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen


@file_1895_8_28_aug_1003_trude_copy_jpg:document {title: "Letter from Trude to Alice Austen (Aug 28, 1895) – Part 3", date: @date_1895_08_28, summary: "Describes rainy weather, damp conditions, and fire gatherings."}


@trude -> wrote -> @file_1895_8_28_aug_1003_trude_copy_jpg {when: @date_1895_08_28, where: @lake_kushaqua}


@file_1895_8_28_aug_1003_trude_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen


@file_1895_8_28_aug_1004_trude_copy_jpg:document {title: "Letter from Trude to Alice Austen (Aug 28, 1895) – Part 4", date: @date_1895_08_28, summary: "Comments on Loon Lake, fashion, railroad to Paul Smith's, and travel expenses."}


@trude -> wrote -> @file_1895_8_28_aug_1004_trude_copy_jpg {when: @date_1895_08_28, where: @loon_lake}


@file_1895_8_28_aug_1004_trude_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen


@file_1895_8_28_aug_1004_trude_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @paul_smiths


@file_1895_8_28_aug_1005_trude_copy_jpg:document {title: "Letter from Trude to Alice Austen (Aug 28, 1895) – Part 5", date: @date_1895_08_28, summary: "Mentions social gatherings, camera use, and desire for Alice's camera."}


@trude -> wrote -> @file_1895_8_28_aug_1005_trude_copy_jpg {when: @date_1895_08_28, where: @lake_kushaqua}


@file_1895_8_28_aug_1005_trude_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen


@file_1895_8_28_aug_1005_trude_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @photography_business:event


@file_1895_8_28_aug_1006_trude_copy_jpg:document {title: "Letter from Trude to Alice Austen (Aug 28, 1895) – Part 6", date: @date_1895_08_28, summary: "Describes deer hunting, shooting, and a trip to Raithow Lake."}


@trude -> wrote -> @file_1895_8_28_aug_1006_trude_copy_jpg {when: @date_1895_08_28, where: @raithow_lake}


@file_1895_8_28_aug_1006_trude_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen


@file_1895_8_28_aug_1006_trude_copy_jpg -> mentions -> @deer_hunting:event


@file_1895_8_28_aug_1007_trude_copy_jpg:document {title: "Letter from Trude to Alice Austen (Aug 28, 1895) – Part 7", date: @date_1895_08_28, summary: "Expresses difficulty writing, mentions noise, and desire for solitude in woods."}


@trude -> wrote -> @file_1895_8_28_aug_1007_trude_copy_jpg {when: @date_1895_08_28, where: @lake_kushaqua}


@file_1895_8_28_aug_1007_trude_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen


@file_1895_8_28_aug_1008_trude_copy_jpg:document {title: "Letter from Trude to Alice Austen (Aug 28, 1895) – Part 8", date: @date_1895_08_28, summary: "Describes small lake, boating, and social composition of guests."}


@trude -> wrote -> @file_1895_8_28_aug_1008_trude_copy_jpg {when: @date_1895_08_28, where: @lake_kushaqua}


@file_1895_8_28_aug_1008_trude_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen


@file_1895_8_28_aug_1009_trude_copy_jpg:document {title: "Letter from Trude to Alice Austen (Aug 28, 1895) – Part 9", date: @date_1895_08_28, summary: "Letterhead shows Kushaqua Lodge, Franklin County, and includes Alice's mailing address."}


@trude -> wrote -> @file_1895_8_28_aug_1009_trude_copy_jpg {when: @date_1895_08_28, where: @lake_kushaqua}


@file_1895_8_28_aug_1009_trude_copy_jpg -> addressed to -> @alice_austen


@alice_austen -> sold photographs from -> @worlds_fair_1893 {when: @date_1893}


@alice_austen -> purchased -> @steinway_piano:object {type: "grand piano", maker: "Steinway & Sons"}

Metadata

Files (9)

1895_8-28-Aug 1001-trude copy.jpgJPEG
1.83 MB
OCR Text

Lake Kushaqua in the Adirondacks. "Beautiful Resting Place." cannot move without paying out money. They have all sorts of things going on in the camps here, bowling tournaments, lecture parties, Palamagundi parties, tennis tournaments—etc. I join in sometimes when I feel like it—but I do not often honor them with my society—I prefer meeting a frig in bed—One night we had a fine Campfire Meet—was an awfully pretty sight—as we have several camps right near the hotel & it was right in front of them & all them all up. Now Alice I must stop my

1895_8-28-Aug 1002-trude copy.jpgJPEG
1.87 MB
OCR Text

scrambling & take Mother for a little walk between the flowers. I have not been able to induce Mr. B. to come up here to see me yet, but think he will return here with Sam any way. I shall see him before I come back, if I go where he is to see him. Write me all the news—I am glad you like the vegetables, hope Jane sends you nice ones. I was afraid you might be insulted & think we were working the Nichols racket. Papa expects to come up here next Monday till him to be sure & come that—Sam very much in some body to go walk with. With lots of love to all the girls & you so much for yourself yours aff—Luebie

1895_8-28-Aug 1003-trude copy.jpgJPEG
1.82 MB
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Lake Kushaqua in the Adirondacks. "Beautiful Resting Place." Mother managed to keep dry as I packed all her wraps around her & she had an umbrella, but I wish you could have seen me. I was a damp sight. We are having a great deal of rainy weather here so far when we start. If it is a spree we never know how we will come home. It has rather spoiled our time here for it gets so cold & dampy when it is rainy & then we all want to meddle around the fire. You are & Mine are too many people to make it pleasant. Still I am enjoying this beautiful little

1895_8-28-Aug 1004-trude copy.jpgJPEG
1.83 MB
OCR Text

lake & magnificent mountains immensely & Mother is so much better already. Loon Lake is a beautiful place but too fashionable, all the girls were dressed to kill & the men also, so I am glad we did not go there although the lake is so much larger & more beautiful than this one. The railroad going to Paul Smith's Saranac & Placid before we leave. The excursions have cost an awful lot both on the R.R. & driving & there are very few places we can walk to. So I expect we will come home dead broke. It is certainly true when people say the Adirondacks is an expensive place you

1895_8-28-Aug 1005-trude copy.jpgJPEG
1.82 MB
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Lake Kushaqua in the Adirondacks. "Beautiful Resting Place." like chummin' with, obel some & we married ladies are good fun and there are always by chummins being made up that we can join if they wish. I have been waiting for Papa to come up & for Sam to return in a few days before he goes back home, mi hopes that-they will want to take all the walks, rides & tours. I often wish you were here with me & had your camera along. There are so many beautiful views to take and the cameras around trees are everywhere. The men from the

1895_8-28-Aug 1006-trude copy.jpgJPEG
1.79 MB
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house for my deer hunting nearly every night—it is quite exciting seeing them—especially when they return in the early morning with a deer as they did the other day. They always run up to the flag pole & all the camera friends need a hat—I went shooting with Sam before the lift—in Saranac & got a fine broaking. This is my favorite occupation—Mother & I started off for a long visit while Ron came up the river into Raithow Lake in what we thought was a very fine day & we got caught in a broaking from

1895_8-28-Aug 1007-trude copy.jpgJPEG
1.87 MB
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Lake Kushagwa in the Adirondacks. "Beautiful Resting Place." August 28th, 1895 My dear Alice, I was so awfully glad to hear from you. Nine times I have begun a letter to you and every time it has been impossible for me to finish it—not that we have so much to do here but there is so much noise around that unless I go up in the woods alone (or Nat—I am not fond of doing) I cannot collect my thoughts. This is a beautiful spot—we are right in the woods and

1895_8-28-Aug 1008-trude copy.jpgJPEG
1.79 MB
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just a few steps above the lake. The people are all very nice, no Jews or radicals, so we are very comfortably fixed & feel we were lucky in getting to such a nice place without knowing where we were going. The Lake is very small but beautiful and of course the chief amusement is going out on it, we are lucky enough to get a boat (lots of people haven't got any) and I think I have rowed over every inch of it with Mother & Sam. There are women to speak of here and the girls are only half way good, we are next. I feel

1895_8-28-Aug 1009-trude copy.jpgJPEG
875.12 KB
OCR Text

Kushaqua Lodge IN THE ADIRONDACKS, FRANKLIN COUNTY, N.Y. "Beautiful Resting Place." A.S. DOMINICK & CO., MGRS. Miss Alice Austen Rosebank P.O. Staten Island N.Y.

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:51:23 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 9:03:04 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, 7:37:18 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Trude_Adirondacks_Correspondence"

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