1897_10-6-Edwin Southworth Waterman002 copy 2.jpg

Alice Austen Envelopes Collection

PI

Version: 5 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:52:14 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:37:22 PM

Added description

Description

Alice Austen Envelopes Collection

Overview

The Alice Austen Envelopes Collection is a digitized set of four envelopes addressed to Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) in 1897. The items were scanned as JPEG images and are housed in the Alice Austen House Museum on Staten Island, New York. The collection is part of the broader Austen Family Papers (MS1) and provides a snapshot of Austen’s personal correspondence and travel arrangements during the late Victorian era.

Background

Elizabeth Alice Austen was a pioneering American photographer whose work documented New York society and the world’s fairs of the 1890s. In 1897, she maintained an active social and professional network that included friends, family, and business contacts. The envelopes in this collection were sent by individuals such as Edwin Southworth Waterman, Mrs. R. Y. Richards, and Julia T. Martin, reflecting the breadth of her connections across the United States and abroad.

Contents

The collection contains four envelopes, each scanned in high resolution:
  • October 6, 1897 – From Edwin Southworth Waterman, detailing a train itinerary from Grand Central Station to Southport, with return times.
  • December 31, 1897 – From Julia T. Martin, instructing Austen to return to “The Palms” in Santa Barbara after ten days, with her Staten Island address noted.
  • May 19, 1897 – From Mrs. R. Y. Richards, addressed to Austen via “Care of Mrs. R. Y. Richards” at 3 Channing St., Cambridge, Massachusetts.
  • May 30, 1897 – A simple address card confirming Austen’s residence at Rosebank, Staten Island, New York.
  • Each envelope’s content is captured in the OCR text, revealing travel schedules, destination details, and personal addresses. The images preserve the original paper texture, stamps, and handwritten notes, offering insight into Austen’s logistical arrangements and the social geography of her network.

    Scope

    The collection covers the year 1897 and documents Austen’s interactions with contacts in New York, Cambridge (Massachusetts), Santa Barbara (California), and Southport (likely a coastal town in the United States). It focuses on personal and travel correspondence rather than commercial photography contracts. The collection is limited to the four envelopes listed above and does not include other letters, calling cards, or negative sleeves that appear in the broader Austen Family Papers.

    Raw Cheimarros Data

    @alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth_year: @date_1866, death_year: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer", residence: @rosebank}
    
    @alice_austen_house:organization {type: "museum", location: @staten_island}
    
    @alice_austen_envelopes_collection:collection {title: "Alice Austen Envelopes Collection", created: @date_1897, institution: @alice_austen_house, description: "A collection of envelopes addressed to Alice Austen, containing information about her social life, travel, and photography business.", subjects: ["Correspondence","Envelopes","Victorian-era social life","Travel","Photography"]}
    
    @grand_central_station:place {city: @new_york, country: @united_states}
    
    @southport:place {country: @united_states}
    
    @santa_barbara:place {state: @california, country: @united_states}
    
    @rosebank:place {city: @staten_island, state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
    
    @staten_island:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
    
    @cambridge:place {state: @massachusetts, country: @united_states}
    
    @channing_st:place {address: "No 3 Channing St.", city: @cambridge}
    
    @edwin_southworth_waterman:person {full_name: "Edwin Southworth Waterman"}
    
    @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"}
    
    @mrs_r_y_richards:person {full_name: "Mrs R. Y. Richards"}
    
    @envelope_1897_10_06:document {date: @date_1897_10_06, source_file: @file_1897_10_6_edwin_southworth_waterman002_copy_2_jpg, sender: @edwin_southworth_waterman, recipient: @alice_austen, content: "Express leaving Grand Central Station, New York, at two o'clock will stop at Southport. Returning trains leave Southport at 5.16 & 6.23."}
    
    @envelope_1897_10_06 -> addressed to -> @alice_austen
    
    @envelope_1897_10_06 -> mentions -> @grand_central_station
    
    @envelope_1897_10_06 -> mentions -> @southport
    
    @envelope_1897_12_31:document {date: @date_1897_12_31, source_file: @file_1897_12_31_1897_dec_3006_martin_copy_jpg, recipient: @alice_austen, content: "After 10 days, return to \"The Palms\" Santa Barbara, CA. Miss Alice Austen, Rosebank, Staten Island, N.Y."}
    
    @envelope_1897_12_31 -> addressed to -> @alice_austen
    
    @envelope_1897_12_31 -> destination -> @rosebank
    
    @envelope_1897_12_31 -> mentions -> @santa_barbara
    
    @envelope_1897_05_19:document {date: @date_1897_05_19, source_file: @file_1897_5_19_1897_may_2001_aca_copy_jpg, recipient: @alice_austen, sender: @mrs_r_y_richards, content: "Miss Alice Austin Care of Mrs R. Y. Richards No 3 Channing St. Cambridge Mass."}
    
    @envelope_1897_05_19 -> addressed to -> @alice_austen
    
    @envelope_1897_05_19 -> destination -> @channing_st
    
    @envelope_1897_05_19 -> mentions -> @mrs_r_y_richards
    
    @envelope_1897_05_30:document {date: @date_1897_05_30, source_file: @file_1897_5_30_1897_may_1008_martin_copy_jpg, recipient: @alice_austen, content: "Miss Alice Austen Rosebank Staten Island N.Y."}
    
    @envelope_1897_05_30 -> addressed to -> @alice_austen
    
    @envelope_1897_05_30 -> destination -> @rosebank
    
    @alice_austen_envelopes_collection -> contains -> [@envelope_1897_10_06, @envelope_1897_12_31, @envelope_1897_05_19, @envelope_1897_05_30]
    
    @alice_austen_envelopes_collection -> created by -> @alice_austen
    
    @alice_austen_envelopes_collection -> held by -> @alice_austen_house

    Metadata

    Files (4)

    1897_10-6-Edwin Southworth Waterman002 copy 2.jpgJPEG
    266.61 KB
    OCR Text

    Express leaving Grand Central Station, New York, at two o'clock will stop at Southport. Returning trains leave Southport at 5.16 & 6.23.

    1897_12-31-1897 Dec 3006-Martin copy.jpgJPEG
    715.8 KB
    OCR Text

    After 10 days, return to "The Palms" SANTA BARBARA, CAL. Miss Alice Austen, Rosebank, Staten Island, N.Y.

    1897_5-19-1897 May 2001-ACA copy.jpgJPEG
    737.28 KB
    OCR Text

    Miss Alice Austin Care of Mrs R. Y. Richards No 3 Channing St. Cambridge Mass.

    1897_5-30-1897 May 1008-Martin copy.jpgJPEG
    839.17 KB
    OCR Text

    Miss Alice Austen Rosebank Staten Island N.Y.

    Version History (5 versions)

    • ✓ v5 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:52:14 PM
      "Added description"
    • v4 · 12/9/2025, 9:07:13 PM · View this version
      "Added knowledge graph extraction"
    • v3 · 12/9/2025, 9:06:46 PM · View this version
      "Added knowledge graph extraction"
    • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:56:03 PM · View this version
      "Added PINAX metadata"
    • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:37:22 PM · View this version
      "Reorganization group: Envelopes"

    Parent

    01KC29F44VZQYSDBNMSRBY37NN

    No children (leaf entity)