1896_12-31-1896 Dec 2002-Kingston-carolina copy.jpg

Alice Austen Correspondence with Carolina, 1896

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:51:21 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:37:25 PM

Added description

Description

Alice Austen Correspondence with Carolina, 1896

Overview

This collection comprises two digitized letters exchanged in 1896 between Elizabeth Alice Austen, a pioneering Staten Island photographer, and a correspondent named Carolina. The letters are scanned as JPEG images and include OCR‑extracted text. They were written during the winter of 1896 and provide a snapshot of late‑Victorian social life, travel, and personal relationships among upper‑middle‑class families in New York, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Background

Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a prolific photographer whose work is preserved at the Alice Austen House Museum. While her photographic career is well documented, her personal correspondence offers insight into her social network and daily concerns. Carolina, whose full identity is not recorded in the collection, appears to be a close friend or family member who maintained regular contact with Austen. The letters were produced in the context of a broader correspondence network that included friends such as Miss Maclean, Maggie, and Lucy, and relatives like Ellen, Robert, and Genevieve.

Contents

The collection contains two scanned letters dated December 21 1896, originating from Kingston, New York. The first letter discusses delayed postcards from Montreal, the absence of daily mail in Cape Vincent, and the logistical challenges of sending news. The second letter references a variety of personal topics: the marriage of a friend named Virginia, the presence of Mrs. G. in Crewe, the well‑being of Carolina’s cousin Ellen, and financial support sent to Weidert Hill. Carolina also requests photographs of a person named Alwyn and mentions Miss Dorothy’s travel to New York en route to Virginia. The OCR text captures these details, providing a textual record that complements the visual scans.

Scope

The collection covers correspondence written in 1896, focusing on personal, familial, and travel matters. Geographic references include Kingston, Montreal, Cape Vincent, Crewe, Weidert Hill, and Virginia, reflecting a trans‑Atlantic social circle. The material is limited to two letters and does not include additional documents such as photographs or calling cards. It offers a concise view of Alice Austen’s social milieu and the logistical realities of 19th‑century communication.

Raw Cheimarros Data

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

@carolina:person {description: "Correspondent of Alice Austen in 1896"}

@alice_austen_correspondence_with_carolina_1896:collection {title: "Alice Austen Correspondence with Carolina, 1896", creator: @alice_austen, created: @date_1896, description: "Letters exchanged between Alice Austen and Carolina discussing personal, family, travel, and social matters."}

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @carolina {when: @date_1896, via: "letters"}

@kingston:place {state: "New York", country: @united_states}

@montreal:place {country: @canada}

@cape_vincent:place {state: "New York", country: @united_states}

@crewe:place {country: @united_kingdom}

@weidert_hill:place {state: "New York", country: @united_states}

@miss_maclean:person {role: "messenger"}

@carolina -> wrote letter to -> @alice_austen {date: @date_1896_12_21, location: @kingston}

@miss_maclean -> handled -> @postcards {status: "delayed", note: "postcards from Montreal experienced unaccountable delay"}

@cape_vincent -> lacks -> @daily_mail:concept {status: "no daily mail service"}

@maggie:person {description: "Friend mentioned in correspondence"}

@carolina -> mentions -> @maggie

@virginia:place {country: @united_states}

@carolina -> references -> @virginia {event: "marriage"}

@mabel:person {description: "Friend celebrated for Virginia's marriage"}

@carolina -> mentions -> @mabel

@maumee:place {type: "river", location: @new_york}

@carolina -> mentions -> @maumee {context: "daily hearing"}

@mrs_g:person {description: "Resident of Crewe mentioned in letter"}

@carolina -> mentions -> @mrs_g {residence: @crewe, duration: "last few weeks"}

@ellen:person {relation: "cousin"}

@carolina -> mentions -> @ellen {status: "well when she left home"}

@robert:person {relation: "brother"}

@genevieve:person {relation: "sister"}

@carolina -> sent money to -> @weidert_hill {amount: 5, currency: "dollars"}

@alwyn:person {description: "Subject of requested photographs"}

@carolina -> requested photos of -> @alwyn {from: @alice_austen}

@miss_dorothy:person {description: "First girl who travelled with Carolina to New York en route to Virginia"}

@carolina -> mentions -> @miss_dorothy {travel: "to New York en route to Virginia"}

@lucy:person {description: "Friend asked to take Miss Dorothy"}

@carolina -> mentions -> @lucy {request: "take Miss Dorothy"}

Metadata

Files (2)

1896_12-31-1896 Dec 2002-Kingston-carolina copy.jpgJPEG
3.64 MB
OCR Text

Kingston December 21st My Dear Miss Austen, I wonder if those unlucky postcards will ever reach you. There was such an unaccountable delay in their coming from Montreal and I am glad that when Miss Maclean took them to the express office they told her they did not know whether the service or boogies would allow dispatch of any further news. Cape Vincent will not have the daily mail. Miss Maclean told me they had only been sent back to see

1896_12-31-1896 Dec 2003-carolina copy.jpgJPEG
4.29 MB
OCR Text

Maggie showed such criticalness to poor sister, and her rejoicing over Virginia's marriage she thought Mabel was delighted to hear of. We were greatly struck at it in my last but we are so accustomed to go about to hear our good old friend the Maumee from day to day that we never knew her there before now. We could scarcely keep our chairs to settle hers. We had a good evening and very pleasant lecture the next night. Mrs. G. lived with us at Crewe these last few weeks. My cousin Ellen was quite well when she left home. You will see all when she gets changed and expect that upon the parcel just packed that they might not take her word for it. We have lately had so much trouble about the parcel we were sending to some cousins and friends. We stopped at Weidert hill we sent five dollars so I have a welcome oby and of your brother Robert and Genevieve some stamps hoping that when you write you will send me two more photos after of Alwyn for. Miss Dorothy the first girl who travelled with me to New York en route to Virginia writes me that she has written to Lucy to ask her if she would take her for just now for a few

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:51:21 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 9:02:53 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:55:18 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:37:25 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Carolina_Correspondence_1896"

Parent

01KC29F3B6BYD1NAPQJWHRPX6V

No children (leaf entity)