Eleanor Coleman Correspondence Collection
PI
Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:53:07 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:41:09 PM
Added description
Description
Eleanor Coleman Correspondence Collection (1898)
Overview
The Eleanor Coleman Correspondence Collection is a digitized assemblage of handwritten letters written by Eleanor Coleman to photographer Elizabeth Alice Austen in 1898. The collection comprises scanned images of the original letters, postmarks, and an undated letter from Alicia Lester to Coleman. All materials are in English and were produced in Santa Barbara, California, and Staten Island, New York.Background
Eleanor Coleman was a contemporary of Alice Austen, a pioneering photographer and resident of Staten Island. The letters were sent during a period when Victorian social networks were maintained through personal correspondence. Alice Austen’s home, now the Alice Austen House Museum, preserves these documents as part of its archival holdings. The collection reflects the close friendship between Coleman and Austen and the broader social milieu of upper‑middle‑class families in the late 19th century.Contents
- Five dated letters (March 4 and March 16, 1898): These discuss personal concerns such as a man’s marriage and financial condition, Julia Martin’s illness, and an impending appendicitis operation.
- Postmarks and envelopes: Images of postmarks from Montecito, Santa Barbara, and Rosebank, Staten Island, provide provenance details.
- Undated letter from Alicia Lester: Sent via Julia Martin, this letter expresses gratitude and affection toward Coleman.
- Metadata: Each item is catalogued with creator, recipient, date, and location information, and linked to related correspondents (Julia Martin, Julie Bredt, Violet Ward, Isabella King, Bessie Strong).
Scope
The collection covers a single year (1898) and focuses exclusively on letters from Eleanor Coleman to Alice Austen. It includes material from two geographic locations—Santa Barbara, California, and Staten Island, New York—illustrating trans‑regional Victorian communication. The documents provide insight into personal health concerns, social relationships, and the everyday life of a well‑connected woman in the late 19th century. The collection is a valuable resource for scholars of Victorian correspondence, social history, and the life of Alice Austen.Raw Cheimarros Data
@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth_year: @date_1866, death_year: @date_1952, occupation: "photographer", location: @staten_island}
@eleanor_coleman:person {full_name: "Eleanor Coleman", gender: "female"}
@julia_martin:person {full_name: "Julia T. Martin", location: @albany}
@julie_bredt:person {full_name: "Julie Bredt"}
@violet_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"}
@alicia_lester:person {full_name: "Alicia Lester"}
@staten_island:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@santa_barbara:place {state: @california, country: @united_states}
@albany:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}
@rosebank:place {city: @staten_island}
@montecito:place {state: @california, country: @united_states}
@garden_street:place {city: @staten_island, address: "1624 Garden Street"}
@file_pinax:file {title: "Eleanor Coleman Correspondence Collection", creator: @eleanor_coleman, institution: "Alice Austen House", created: @date_1898, subjects: ["Correspondence","Personal letters","Victorian social life","Health","Friendship","Illness"]}
@file_1898_3_17_1898_march_2003_coleman_copy_jpg:file -> contains -> @letter_1898_03_16:document {author: @eleanor_coleman, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1898_03_16, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Expresses concern about a man's marriage and financial condition"}
@file_1898_3_4_eleanor_coleman_mar_4_1897001_postmark_1898_copy_jpg:file -> contains -> @letter_1898_03_04_postmark:document {author: @eleanor_coleman, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1898_03_04, location: @montecito, address: "Rosebank, Staten Island"}
@file_1898_3_4_eleanor_coleman_mar_4_1897002_copy_jpg:file -> contains -> @letter_1898_03_04_2:document {author: @eleanor_coleman, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1898_03_04, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Mentions Julia's illness and bravery"}
@file_1898_3_4_eleanor_coleman_mar_4_1897003_copy_jpg:file -> contains -> @letter_1898_03_04_3:document {author: @eleanor_coleman, recipient: @alice_austen, date: @date_1898_03_04, location: @santa_barbara, content_summary: "Discusses appendicitis and upcoming operation"}
@file_1898_3_alice_austen_undated_001_copy_jpg:file -> contains -> @letter_undated_alicia:document {author: @alicia_lester, recipient: @eleanor_coleman, via: @julia_martin, location: @staten_island, content_summary: "Expresses gratitude and love"}
@eleanor_coleman -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen {when: @date_1898, via: [@julia_martin, @julie_bredt, @violet_ward, @isabella_king, @bessie_strong]}
@julia_martin -> mentioned in -> @letter_1898_03_04_2:document
@julia_martin -> mentioned in -> @letter_undated_alicia:document
@julie_bredt -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen {through: @eleanor_coleman, when: @date_1898}
@violet_ward -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen {through: @eleanor_coleman, when: @date_1898}
@isabella_king -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen {through: @eleanor_coleman, when: @date_1898}
@bessie_strong -> corresponded with -> @alice_austen {through: @eleanor_coleman, when: @date_1898}Metadata
Files (5)
OCR Text
It seemed to be deliberate. Not only one way to the dead end of her helplessness. Oh no, if she can only summon strength to really act on my hope, say something more about the man whom he marries. Of course her financial condition makes her so it-relates everything else. Why don't that old much do something? I should not have written that, so please do not read it. Yours very sincerely, Eleanor Coleman El Puntano March sixteenth Mrs. G.E. Coleman Santa Barbara
OCR Text
Miss Alice Austin Rosebank Satin Island New York MONTECITO MAR 4 1898 CAL.
OCR Text
If she had been permitted, she would undoubtedly have sent you a message. Poor Julia, she is so brave, and so utterly alone way out here, but she has some of good friends too. Your picture is familiar to me and Julia often speaks of you, so I feel as if you were not an utter stranger. I write sincerely, Eleanor A. Coleman Santa Barbara March 4/97. You dear Miss Austin— Miss Mar- tin wishes me to write to you telling you of her illness. She was so dreadfully weak that I did not dare to ask her how much you knew about it. She has been living and keeping up, and will recover soon.
OCR Text
and then she has been with really very comfort and in spite of all this had had this more, the last attack was really dreadful. I felt as if she could not rally, but she has done so and the physicians intend to operate on her Saturday or Monday. They now say it is appendicitis, it has gone on so long. I feel intensely worried over the outcome.
OCR Text
To Mrs Eleanor C. Coleman c/o Miss Julia F. Martin 1624 Garden Street Letter received, wire result, my expense, give love, anxious, thanks - Alicia Lester
Version History (4 versions)
- ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:53:07 PM
"Added description" - v3 · 12/9/2025, 9:10:43 PM · View this version
"Added knowledge graph extraction" - v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:56:52 PM · View this version
"Added PINAX metadata" - v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:41:09 PM · View this version
"Reorganization group: Eleanor_Coleman_Correspondence"
Parent
No children (leaf entity)