1897_4-3-IMG_0244-Wright copy.jpeg

Alice Austen Other Correspondence Collection, 1897

PI

Version: 5 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:52:16 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:37:24 PM

Added description

Description

Alice Austen 1897 Personal Correspondence Collection

Overview

This digitized collection contains scanned images and OCR‑derived transcriptions of nine handwritten letters addressed to Elizabeth Alice Austen in 1897. The materials are organized by date and correspondent and are part of the Alice Austen Papers (MS1) held by the Alice Austen House Museum in Staten Island, New York.

Background

Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering American photographer whose studio and home on Staten Island became a hub for artists, writers, and socialites. The 1897 correspondence reflects Austen’s extensive social network and the cultural milieu of late‑Victorian New York. The letters were collected by the museum’s archivists and digitized to preserve the original ink and paper, providing scholars with both visual and textual access to Austen’s personal communications.

Contents

  • Correspondents: Edith R. Wright, Trude, E.D. Vern Rinschler, “Mama,” the Cricket Club, Mr. Gould, and others.
  • Themes:
  • - Social life – golf membership details from the Cricket Club, invitations to social gatherings, and travel updates. - Professional interests – Trude’s notes on painting for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition and references to Austen’s photographic business. - Family matters – updates on relatives in Fishkill‑on‑Hudson, Yonkers, and Long Island, and personal health notes.
  • Geographic references: Staten Island, Fishkill‑on‑Hudson, Yonkers, Long Island.
  • Format: JPEG scans of the original letters with accompanying OCR text; some letters have typed transcriptions.

Scope

The collection covers the calendar year 1897 and focuses exclusively on personal correspondence received by Alice Austen. It provides insight into her social circles, professional pursuits, and the broader Victorian social network of the New York metropolitan area. The collection does not include Austen’s own photographs or business records, but it contextualizes the personal relationships that shaped her career and life.

Raw Cheimarros Data

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

@edith_r_wright:person {full_name: "Edith R. Wright"}

@trude:person {full_name: "Trude"}

@ed_v_rinschler:person {full_name: "E.D. Vern Rinschler"}

@mama:person {full_name: "Mama"}

@mr_gould:person {full_name: "Mr. Gould"}

@lucy:person {full_name: "Lucy"}

@dr_moore:person {full_name: "Dr. Moore"}

@nannie:person {full_name: "Nannie"}

@karl:person {full_name: "Karl"}

@ellie:person {full_name: "Ellie"}

@lou:person {full_name: "Lou"}

@lottie:person {full_name: "Lottie"}

@ella_miller:person {full_name: "Ella Miller"}

@amy:person {full_name: "Amy"}

@uncle_ed:person {full_name: "Ed"}

@lolla:person {full_name: "Lolla"}

@cricket_club:organization {type: "Sports club"}

@golf_membership:concept {description: "Ladies' Club golf membership, $5 per year"}

@worlds_columbian_exposition_1893:event {name: "World's Columbian Exposition", date: @date_1893, location: @chicago}

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

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

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

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

@alice_austen_other_correspondence_collection:collection {title: "Alice Austen Other Correspondence Collection, 1897", creator: [@edith_r_wright, @trude, @ed_v_rinschler, @mama], institution: "Alice Austen House", created: @date_1897, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Social life","Golf","Photography","Family","Victorian era","Staten Island","Fishkill-on-Hudson"], description: "A collection of personal letters to Alice Austen from various correspondents in 1897, discussing social activities, family matters, and personal news.", place: [@staten_island, @fishkill_on_hudson, @yonkers, @long_island]}

@file_pinax -> documents -> @alice_austen_other_correspondence_collection

@letter_wright_1897_04_03:document {author: @edith_r_wright, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1897_04_03, source_file: @file_1897_4_3_img_0244_wright_copy_jpeg, excerpt: "I am thankful to say that I have lots to do... With love I am very faithfully yours, Edith R. Wright."}

@edith_r_wright -> wrote -> @letter_wright_1897_04_03

@letter_wright_1897_04_03 -> addressed to -> @alice_austen

@letter_cricket_club_1897_05_17:document {author: @cricket_club, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1897_05_17, source_file: @file_1897_5_17_1897_may_5002_cricket_club_copy_jpg, excerpt: "Notice the Meal Formances already arranged by the Cricket Club... Golf Membership is only open to members of the Ladies' Club & is 5.00 a year payable to the treasurer of the Cricket Club."}

@cricket_club -> sent -> @letter_cricket_club_1897_05_17

@letter_cricket_club_1897_05_17 -> about -> @golf_membership

@letter_trude_1897_05_18_4001:document {author: @trude, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1897_05_18, source_file: @file_1897_5_18_1897_may_4001_trude_copy_jpg, excerpt: "I have been trying to do some painting for the fair... St John's Rectory May 1874... My dear Alice - I am going to write you a short letter..."} 

@trude -> wrote -> @letter_trude_1897_05_18_4001

@letter_trude_1897_05_18_4001 -> mentioned -> @worlds_columbian_exposition_1893

@letter_to_gould_1897_05_18:document {author: @trude, recipient: @mr_gould, date: @date_1897_05_18, source_file: @file_1897_5_18_1897_may_4002_trude_copy_jpg, excerpt: "Dear Mr. Gould, We are all right here... Lucy & Dr. Moore... Nannie... Karl... Ellie..."} 

@trude -> wrote -> @letter_to_gould_1897_05_18

@letter_to_gould_1897_05_18 -> mentions -> [@lucy, @dr_moore, @nannie, @karl, @ellie]

@letter_uncle_ed_1897_05_18:document {author: @uncle_ed, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1897_05_18, source_file: @file_1897_5_18_1897_may_4004_trude_copy_jpg, excerpt: "Tell Alice I must stop feeling cord & let me rest... With lots of love, Aff. Yours Uncle Ed."}

@uncle_ed -> wrote -> @letter_uncle_ed_1897_05_18

@letter_rinschler_1897_06_09:document {author: @ed_v_rinschler, recipient: @lolla, date: @date_1897_06_09, source_file: @file_1897_6_9_1897_june_2002_fishkill_copy_jpg, excerpt: "enlarged to same size... With much love to you both... Am dear Lolla your affectionate cousin E.D. Vern Rinschler."}

@ed_v_rinschler -> wrote -> @letter_rinschler_1897_06_09

@letter_rinschler_1897_06_09 -> addressed to -> @lolla

@letter_mama_1897_07_17:document {author: @mama, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1897_07_17, source_file: @file_1897_7_17_1897_july_8002_aca_copy_jpg, excerpt: "From I should like to see them... Mary Richardson's sister, Mrs. Kehlninger at Yonkers... Did you get the sailing tongs?... note from Ella Miller... September... Long Island..."} 

@mama -> wrote -> @letter_mama_1897_07_17

@letter_mama_1897_07_17 -> mentions -> [@ella_miller, @amy, @long_island]

Metadata

Files (7)

1897_4-3-IMG_0244-Wright copy.jpegJPEG
2.01 MB
OCR Text

pain. I am thankful to say that I have lots to do, more almost than I can accomplish. If ever you are near here! Would like so much to see you. It was never in my power to return your last visit. With love I am very faithfully yours, Edith R. Wright.

1897_5-17-1897 May 5002-cricket-club copy.jpgJPEG
3.49 MB
OCR Text

Notice the Meal Formances already arranged by the Cricket Club. My Dear Miss Austin, At last, I am able to give you some satisfactory news about Golf in the Ladies' Club. The Golf Membership is only open to members of the Ladies' Club & is 5.00 a year payable to the treasurer of the Cricket Club. The privileges are as follows - to play on

1897_5-18-1897 May 4001-trude copy.jpgJPEG
4.37 MB
OCR Text

play cards so she does not count much. I have been trying to do some painting for the fair of a great wine and have had of it rendezvous at mi Selwyn like riled (while have been numerous) and other things. I must get at it again tomorrow morning early - our Miss Lane supposed to be as hand at the parillen at eleven o'clock tomorrow morn. St John's Rectory May 1874 My dear Alice - I am going to write you a short letter in my "nightly" pen - jumpers into bed as I do not know when I shall have time again before you arrive home once more. I have been

1897_5-18-1897 May 4002-trude copy.jpgJPEG
4.21 MB
OCR Text

Dear Mr. Gould, We are all right here. If we have postal privileges at all will be O.K. How many autographs can we write? We will have to take Mrs. Lee as I do not know how many my allowance is to be. If you are busy I cannot edit on your number or any way she will not. So Lucy & Dr. Moore has been home and Nannie visiting Edith, Karl & I have had no time to answer your letter. It is all right about the 27th. I saw Ellie on Sunday and she said she was going to write you that she had arranged for you to have it.

1897_5-18-1897 May 4004-trude copy.jpgJPEG
4.5 MB
OCR Text

had a fine one by moonlight. Papsa is so much better but has his way fever now & I bother him. Tell Alice I must stop feeling cord & let me rest. When are you coming home? Give my love to Lou and let me know about how many I can ask to the enclose. With lots of love, Aff. Yours Uncle Ed. you never come with Ninnie & Morris on table so if you are at home before it is over you must turn up & assist. The times are Thursday aft & eve & Friday eve. The forks are all directed in Webers & are supposed to be impossible in the cattle when they are in duty. I do hope you will be home some of the time.

1897_6-9-1897 June 2002-fishkill copy.jpgJPEG
1.98 MB
OCR Text

enlarged to same size and a vignette of the face & shoulder of the me by the hedge taken with with Aunt Sarah I shall long to see thee in but for you I have nothing that at all satisfies me. We had hoped to have such a pleasant time with you this summer but now it may not be. With much love to you both Am dear Lolla your affectionate cousin E.D. Vern Rinschler my cousin will choose when they see the ones you send Fishkill on Hudson June 9th My dear Lolla It must seem strange that I have not answered either yours or your mother letter just to know you are very amu to hear about them mother not not having been well before mother was taken ill and having had a good deal of missing my strength gave way after all was over and I am only now beginning to write although I have been my sorry not to let you have from me. I am always my dear mother has a bronchial cold and had

1897_7-17-1897 July 8002-ACA copy.jpgJPEG
3.54 MB
OCR Text

From I should like to see them some in, they have been gone six years last spring. Their house being rented, they are going to Mary Richardson's sister, Mrs. Kehlninger at Yonkers. Work goes on next door, the whole place is turned up. In his stable is very neat indeed, and we see it plainly from the dining room. I am sorry today. That is a nice note from Mr. Richards and lovely love of praise is well deserved. Nothing could be more perfect than those photos. I am sure she has so other friends who would do the like. I would like you to see her in the roads if it can be managed. Stay as long as you like where you are, if you find it pleasant. Did you get the sailing tongs? You did just speak of it, 12 1/2c postage. I put it on a pos with 10 dollars. It is getting very warm again. I have not heard of Gracie or Violet. Yours Mama Saturday Your note came this morning. Dearest Lottie, it was most welcome. At the same time I had a note from Ella Miller saying what a pleasant journey she had with you, and the time passed so quickly. She was astonished when it ended. She now wants us to come to her in September instead of August. She finds that Amy has invited some of her friends whose vacations are in August, and she says September is very pleasant on Long Island, as it is cooler for going about. I think I should prefer it, and would it not suit you better?

Version History (5 versions)

  • ✓ v5 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:52:16 PM
    "Added description"
  • v4 · 12/9/2025, 9:07:36 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 9:06:48 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:56:04 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:37:24 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Other_Correspondence"

Parent

01KC29F44VZQYSDBNMSRBY37NN

No children (leaf entity)