Alice Austen Family Correspondence Collection, 1896
PI
Version: 5 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:51:57 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:37:57 PM
Added description
Description
Alice Austen Family Correspondence Collection, 1896
Overview
The Alice Austen Family Correspondence Collection, 1896, is a digitized assemblage of personal letters, envelopes, and scanned reproductions of handwritten documents. The materials span the calendar year 1896 and are organized into a single folder that contains both the original paper images (JPEG scans) and typed transcriptions (TXT). The collection is part of the broader Alice Austen Papers housed at the Alice Austen House Museum in Staten Island, New York.Background
Elizabeth Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a pioneering American photographer and a prominent figure in late‑Victorian Staten Island society. Her correspondence offers insight into her domestic life, social networks, and entrepreneurial activities. The 1896 letters were written by Austen to relatives and friends, and received by Lottie (her sister or close kin) and other correspondents. The letters were often forwarded through intermediaries such as W.R. Shortt Esq. (Kingston, Ontario) and Max W.H. Townsend (77 Park Avenue, New York), reflecting the trans‑Atlantic communication practices of the era.Contents
The collection contains:- Letters (≈ 15 items): Written by Austen to Lottie, W.R. Shortt Esq., and Max W.H. Townsend, dated from early September to late September 1896. Topics include travel itineraries, family news, and business matters.
- Envelopes and postal markings: Captured in the scanned images, showing addresses in Staten Island, Kingston (Ontario), New York City, and Halifax (Nova Scotia).
- Transcriptions: Typed versions of the handwritten letters, facilitating textual analysis.
- Photographic scans: High‑resolution JPEGs of the original letters (e.g., “1896_9‑2‑1896 Sept 1001‑Rosebank‑ACA copy.jpg”), preserving the visual details of paper, ink, and marginalia.
Key correspondents mentioned in the letters include Julia T. Martin (Albany), Julie Bredt, Violet M.E. Ward, Isabella King (photograph buyer), and Bessie Strong. Austen also references her photography business, the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, and the purchase of a Steinway piano.
Scope
The collection is confined to the year 1896 and documents personal communication within the Austen family and their social circle. It covers geographic locations in the United States (Staten Island, New York City) and Canada (Kingston, Ontario; Halifax, Nova Scotia). The materials are in English, public‑domain, and provide a window into Victorian social customs, travel, and the early professional life of a female photographer.Raw Cheimarros Data
@file_pinax:document {title: "Alice Austen Family Correspondence Collection, 1896", creator: [@alice_austen, @lottie, @various_correspondents], institution: "Alice Austen House", created: @date_1896, language: "en", subjects: ["Family correspondence","Victorian social life","Staten Island history","19th century photography","Personal relationships","Travel","Family news","Social customs"], description: "A collection of personal letters and envelopes from the Austen family, primarily between Alice Austen and her family members, dated 1896.", rights: "Public Domain", places: [@staten_island, @kingston_ontario, @new_york_city, @halifax_nova_scotia]}
@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth: @date_1866, death: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer", residence: @staten_island}
@lottie:person {relationship: "correspondent of Alice Austen"}
@julia_t_martin:person {relationship: "close friend of Alice Austen", residence: @albany}
@julie_bredt:person {relationship: "correspondent"}
@violet_m_e_ward:person {relationship: "correspondent"}
@isabella_king:person {relationship: "photograph buyer"}
@bessie_strong:person {relationship: "correspondent"}
@w_r_shortt_esq:person {title: "Esq.", residence: @kingston_ontario}
@max_w_h_townsend:person {address: @park_avenue_77_new_york}
@dr_wheelock:person {}
@dr_may:person {}
@dr_o_ke:person {name: "Dr. O'ke"}
@judge_greenfield:person {title: "Judge"}
@captain:person {title: "Captain"}
@john:person {}
@billy:person {}
@pete:person {}
@mrs_murray:person {}
@mrs_lewis:person {}
@alice_temple:person {}
@hanny:person {}
@plankard:person {}
@chinese_minister:person {action: "picked his teeth with his long fingernail"}
@methodist_minister:person {}
@chinese_factory:organization {}
@staten_island:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@albany:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@kingston_ontario:place {province: @ontario, country: @canada}
@park_avenue_77_new_york:place {address: "77 Park Avenue, New York", city: @new_york_city, country: @united_states}
@slater_island:place {location: @staten_island}
@halifax_nova_scotia:place {province: @nova_scotia, country: @canada}
@st_lawrence_river:place {}
@worlds_columbian_exposition_1893:event {name: "World's Columbian Exposition", year: @date_1893}
@fair:concept {refers_to: @worlds_columbian_exposition_1893}
@steinway_piano:object {type: "piano", manufacturer: "Steinway"}
@microscope:object {type: "microscope"}
@silk_waist:object {type: "fashion item"}
@ann:person {}
@mills:organization {}
@letter_1896_09_24_slater_island:document {date: @date_1896_09_24, location: @slater_island, author: @alice_austen, recipient: @lottie}
@letter_1896_09_02_kingston:document {date: @date_1896_09_02, location: @kingston_ontario, recipient: @alice_austen, via: @w_r_shortt_esq}
@letter_1896_09_02_sept_1003:document {date: @date_1896_09_02, location: @staten_island, author: @alice_austen, recipient: @lottie}
@letter_1896_09_30_new_york:document {date: @date_1896_09_30, location: @new_york_city, recipient: @alice_austen, via: @max_w_h_townsend}
@letter_1896_09_alice_to_lottie_2001:document {author: @alice_austen, recipient: @lottie, location: @staten_island}
@letter_1896_09_alice_to_lottie_2002:document {author: @alice_austen, recipient: @lottie, location: @staten_island}
@alice_austen -> wrote -> @letter_1896_09_24_slater_island
@alice_austen -> wrote -> @letter_1896_09_02_sept_1003
@alice_austen -> wrote -> @letter_1896_09_alice_to_lottie_2001
@alice_austen -> wrote -> @letter_1896_09_alice_to_lottie_2002
@w_r_shortt_esq -> delivered -> @letter_1896_09_02_kingston
@max_w_h_townsend -> delivered -> @letter_1896_09_30_new_york
@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @julia_t_martin
@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @julie_bredt
@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @violet_m_e_ward
@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @isabella_king
@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @bessie_strong
@alice_austen -> sold photographs from -> @worlds_columbian_exposition_1893
@alice_austen -> purchased -> @steinway_piano
@isabella_king -> bought photographs from -> @alice_austen
@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @dr_wheelock
@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @dr_may
@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @dr_o_ke
@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @judge_greenfield
@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @captain
@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @john
@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @billy
@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @pete
@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @mrs_murray
@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @mrs_lewis
@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @alice_temple
@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @hanny
@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @plankard
@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @chinese_minister
@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @methodist_minister
@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @st_lawrence_river
@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @microscope
@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @silk_waist
@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @ann
@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @mills
@alice_austen -> mentioned -> @chinese_factoryMetadata
Files (6)
OCR Text
Miss Alice Aniston Care of W.R. Shortt Esq. Aludington Kingston Ontario Canada
OCR Text
given to him, the Chinese minister picked his teeth with his long finger nail. Willie left word he would return on the 8th of September, will you and Lucy return with him or do you stay longer? Give my love to them both, and say I think they were kind to invite you. Do you notice the different intonation of the voices? Where are Willie's parents? I thought they lived in a place called Colong. I do not know where that is. What regiment do the officers at Kingston belong to? Tell all you possibly can, though there is hardly need to say that you are so wide awake. I wish you could see the Rapids of the St Lawrence, a grand sight; what a fine large river it is. We are all well here. Punch gets on better now it is cool, Kate is dressed to him, it is curious to see Soup watching over him at night. Now I shall send this right off. I see your letters here & I sent Stamp, they say at the P.O. that I want it right from here. When Slater Island September 24, 196 My dearest Lottie, Your welcome. Letter of Aug. 31st, I was so glad to find when I returned from the City last evening. I write you Aug. 28th, it was mailed Saturday afternoon, perhaps Sunday coming next. I delayed the letter somewhat but I do hope you have got it now. I wrote you August 23rd to Mohawk, did you get that? In my last I put the express receipt as you wished. Your two last are very interesting. I have read them many times, it is like a dream that you are in Canada, it is a good one I am sure. You seem to be missing the
OCR Text
Most of your time as usual, good weather & better travel. I am pleased about the tickets; it seems to me you must want it up there if you would like the gold life and homespun. Do get it if you have money enough, the homespun is well known. Green of Cahins' the best seems to prevail in the autumn goods, flecked with red it is pretty much smelled & loved, just with a puff on the top, are to be seen in the new fashion plates. People are coming back to the City, the stores are quite full; the weather yesterday lovely and bright, today is the same. Hanny says she heard that Plankard was coming back to the Fort also. Mrs Murray, the Malleys have gone, Miss Comagys has a baby, and Mrs Lewis expects one next month. Alice Temple offered to raffle off her piano at 25ths & thanks it doesn't add. Of course, the Island is very quiet now, men, the factory have kind- eyed. It is needed that persons to go to Halifax. I think he will. May there be good do you think you will go before home? It would be nice in one way but John would be a little regret by leaving you and the Captain. Mindly says Maple should send him for. I am a little sorry about Billy too. If you will come when you may, Head, will it be too late when you return if they ask you? We have been nothing of Pete, the Maude's house - no mention of Dr. by Mr & Mrs. who please. The houses are full of the things of the Chinese factory, the women to be a main old gentleman. He told a department store manager, and Methodist minister who called upon him, that there was very little difference between Christianity and atheism.
OCR Text
Miss Rhose Austin Care of Max W. H. Townsend No 77 Park Avenue New York
OCR Text
Staten Island Wednesday Morning My Dearest Lottie, I was so glad to find your note beside my plate this morning, it is very good of you to write me. Last night we had a hard rain, showers, your blouse and the Captain arrived at the Cameron's, I have not been back yet today. She wore a chilie dress for the first time that she has had for years, it had been altered several times, it is pretty. Katie ran in the plants. Sinking the milkman has taken the poor stray cat, he was glad to get it, if he will only be kind to it. Punch is trotting round the place today, the bump is certainly diminishing. I suppose the trunk arrived all right, I have got it. The step is the one I intended for the Michael trunk, but Katie that time took off the wrong one that which has not come back. Is Dr Wheelock back yet? and have you seen Dr May? I suppose the Wrights have moved, Clara Maguire, Ella Willis sister lives on the 10th floor and likes it. I intend to come up some day, my love to Aunt S.A., goodbye my dearest. Yours Mama
OCR Text
Early in the afternoon to prevent their thrashing for day it is pitchy, & flight and Hill. What will you do with so many little photos? I wish you would bring the Microscope for Alice offered, they are a great deal, and if have quite a number of friends, put something to look at them with, too. If the fine day in getting better, Aunt J.R. noted to have some good weather for it. I would like Alice to give you these $40. What a good chance you having off your little sister, if with you had a girl to help, it in the first time you have driven around N.Y. in a carriage for that purpose I think it'll help some—Any you will go on your side. Get of course what you want for the silk waist, look at Ann's new fashion plates, and insist on small sleeves, she does so hate to change. If the Mills are in town, it would be well to go there, but perhaps they stay late in those sand hills. I have not seen A tonl since you left, so have no news. Your Auntie says Dr. O'ke stays half an hour talking to Frannie, what an ear he can, he said to say to her Judge Greenfield is very anxious for the Captain and your Aunt to come to the City next winter and board in the same house, so they can go to the theatre together, but much chance of that.
Version History (5 versions)
- ✓ v5 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:51:57 PM
"Added description" - v4 · 12/9/2025, 9:07:30 PM · View this version
"Added knowledge graph extraction" - v3 · 12/9/2025, 9:07:06 PM · View this version
"Added knowledge graph extraction" - v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:55:52 PM · View this version
"Added PINAX metadata" - v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:37:57 PM · View this version
"Reorganization group: Family_Correspondence_1896"
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