1898_3-22-1898 March 6001-jewett-collins copy.jpg

Charles Jewett Collins Correspondence Collection

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:53:14 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:41:11 PM

Added description

Description

Charles Jewett Collins Correspondence Collection

Overview

The Charles Jewett Collins Correspondence Collection is a digitized set of eight handwritten letters written by Charles Jewett Collins to Elizabeth Alice Austen (later known as Alice Austen) between 1896 and 1898. The collection is housed at the Alice Austen House Museum in Staten Island, New

Raw Cheimarros Data

@charles_jewett_collins:person {full_name: "Charles Jewett Collins"}

@alice_austen:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Alice Austen", birth: @date_1866, death: @date_1952, occupation: @photography:concept, residence: @staten_island}

@photography:concept {description: "the art and practice of creating photographs"}

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

@alice_austen_house:organization {type: "museum", location: @staten_island}

@charles_jewett_collins_collection:document {title: "Charles Jewett Collins Correspondence Collection", creator: @charles_jewett_collins, institution: @alice_austen_house, date_created: @date_1898, language: "en", subjects: ["Photography","Correspondence","Victorian-era social life","Casco Bay","New York City","Family relationships"]}

@file_pinax -> documents -> @charles_jewett_collins_collection

@letter_1898_03_22_6001:document {date: @date_1898_03_22, from: @charles_jewett_collins, to: @alice_austen, location: @251_west_92d_st, summary: "Discusses summer recreation at Falmouth Fairside (Casco Bay, Maine), photography plans, and sympathy for Alice's mother's health."}

@letter_1898_03_22_6002:document {date: @date_1898_03_22, from: @charles_jewett_collins, to: @alice_austen, location: @251_west_92d_st, summary: "Expresses gratitude for Alice's photographic instruction and describes health setbacks affecting his work."}

@letter_1898_03_22_6003:document {date: @date_1898_03_22, from: @charles_jewett_collins, to: @alice_austen, location: @251_west_92d_st, summary: "Mentions an interior photograph of his apartment and encloses a blueprint."}

@letter_1898_03_22_6004:document {date: @date_1898_03_22, from: @charles_jewett_collins, to: @alice_austen, location: @251_west_92d_st, summary: "Describes a second photograph taken with a 'Tom Thumb' camera on their Casco Bay cottage."}

@letter_1898_03_22_6006:document {date: @date_1898_03_22, from: @charles_jewett_collins, to: @alice_austen, location: @rosebank_post_office, summary: "Simple address label for Miss Alice Austin at Rosebank Post Office, Staten Island."}

@letter_1898_03_09_3001:document {date: @date_1896_03_09, from: @charles_jewett_collins, to: @alice_austen, location: @251_west_92d_st, summary: "Invites Alice to visit after pleasant interviews at Bay Head, hoping to discuss photography over lunch."}

@letter_1898_03_09_3002:document {date: @date_1896_03_09, from: @charles_jewett_collins, to: @alice_austen, location: @251_west_92d_st, summary: "Requests Alice's assistance to regain photographic knowledge after prolonged illness."}

@letter_1898_03_09_3003:document {date: @date_1896_03_09, from: @charles_jewett_collins, to: @alice_austen, location: @251_west_92d_st, summary: "Proposes coordinating a visit that fits both parties' schedules, invoking Divine Providence."}

@251_west_92d_st:place {address: "251 West 92nd Street", city: @new_york_city}

@rosebank_post_office:place {city: @staten_island}

@falmouth_fairside:place {description: "Recreational area on Casco Bay, Maine"}

@casco_bay:place {state: @maine, country: @united_states}

@bay_head:place {description: "Coastal resort area referenced in correspondence"}

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

@maine:place {country: @united_states}

@new_york:place {country: @united_states}

@charles_jewett_collins -> wrote -> @letter_1898_03_22_6001

@charles_jewett_collins -> wrote -> @letter_1898_03_22_6002

@charles_jewett_collins -> wrote -> @letter_1898_03_22_6003

@charles_jewett_collins -> wrote -> @letter_1898_03_22_6004

@charles_jewett_collins -> wrote -> @letter_1898_03_22_6006

@charles_jewett_collins -> wrote -> @letter_1898_03_09_3001

@charles_jewett_collins -> wrote -> @letter_1898_03_09_3002

@charles_jewett_collins -> wrote -> @letter_1898_03_09_3003

@letter_1898_03_22_6001 -> mentions -> @falmouth_fairside

@letter_1898_03_22_6001 -> mentions -> @casco_bay

@letter_1898_03_22_6002 -> mentions -> @photography

@letter_1898_03_22_6004 -> mentions -> @casco_bay

@letter_1898_03_09_3001 -> mentions -> @bay_head

@letter_1898_03_09_3002 -> mentions -> @photography

@letter_1898_03_09_3003 -> mentions -> @divine_providence:concept {description: "religious concept invoked for guidance"}

@charles_jewett_collins_collection -> contains -> [@letter_1898_03_22_6001, @letter_1898_03_22_6002, @letter_1898_03_22_6003, @letter_1898_03_22_6004, @letter_1898_03_22_6006, @letter_1898_03_09_3001, @letter_1898_03_09_3002, @letter_1898_03_09_3003]

@charles_jewett_collins_collection -> held by -> @alice_austen_house

@alice_austen -> corresponded with -> @charles_jewett_collins

@julie_bredt:person {full_name: "Julie Bredt"}

@julia_t_martin:person {full_name: "Julia T. Martin", location: @albany:place {state: @new_york, country: @united_states}}

@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"}

@annie_howe:person {full_name: "Annie (Mrs. Walter B. Howe)"}

@charles_jewett_collins -> corresponded with -> @julie_bredt

@charles_jewett_collins -> corresponded with -> @julia_t_martin

@charles_jewett_collins -> corresponded with -> @violet_m_e_ward

@charles_jewett_collins -> corresponded with -> @isabella_king

@charles_jewett_collins -> corresponded with -> @bessie_strong

@charles_jewett_collins -> corresponded with -> @annie_howe

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1898_03_22_6001

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1898_03_22_6002

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1898_03_22_6003

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1898_03_22_6004

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1898_03_22_6006

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1898_03_09_3001

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1898_03_09_3002

@alice_austen -> received -> @letter_1898_03_09_3003

Metadata

Files (8)

1898_3-22-1898 March 6001-jewett-collins copy.jpgJPEG
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within instrument having bellows and calling for plates: of these I have two. Of course, where there is the film, it is "hit or miss" & little credit! We are thinking of a return, in the summer, to our place of recreation—Falmouth Fairside (Casco Bay), Maine. If, though any success in meeting problems, photography becomes dearer, I may ask of you to accept some picture of what may be about us, there. Our plans are not yet very definite, but our hopes are decided. It would greatly please us to welcome you at our delightful little home here—251, and I feel assured that you would be greatly pleased with Mrs. Collins. She has the most delightful recollection of your visit such as in this photograph which letter of mine she sends to you her very tender regard. Believe me so now Most faithfully yours, Charles Jewett Collins. 251 West 92d St., March 22, 1898. Our dear Friend, Miss Austin. You may be assured of our tender sympathy, at a view of your Mother's impaired health and of our hope that your gentle ministrations may very speedily be attended by recovered health, to your Mother's comfort and to your very great joy. I most heartily thank you for your very kind letter in acknowledgment of mine, and for its comforting expressions relative to what you witnessed in my el-

1898_3-22-1898 March 6002-jewett-collins copy.jpgJPEG
2.01 MB
OCR Text

sidious devotion to the camera, while spending the summer at Bayhead. Your testimony was unduly generous, for I am pleased to assure you that the first clear idea upon the subject of photography was imparted by your patient and good self, in an effort to meet the exigency in my slow progress. I distinctly recall the afternoon in the little cottage, and how absolute the progress consequent upon the instruction rendered. As regards my present needs and desires, I may be allowed to say, that a protracted period of debility, since our return from our trip across the Atlantic, has not a little confused my ideas upon the subject of photography, and rendered more difficult the manipulation of plates and lenses, as also the determination of what may be best as regards distance, time &c &c. I hardly need remark that I have some consolation of experience and results, but I have, in all honesty, to rely on such success—so very often—to good luck—may I not say? You kindly promise reply to inquiries. I fear that I should hardly be able to make my questions intelligible as to make my case clear. At present, much of my embarrassment is due to a want of clear understanding of

1898_3-22-1898 March 6003-jewett-collins copy.jpgJPEG
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P.S. I have just discovered an "interior" of the front room in our apartment at 251 and I am pleased to send it to you in testimony of my appreciation your country & kindness - sorry that you can not occupy one of the vacant chairs. Also I enclose a "blue print"

1898_3-22-1898 March 6004-jewett-collins copy.jpgJPEG
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OCR Text

of our cottage on Casco Bay, Maine. The picture is our second by my little Tom Thumb! Doubtless you remember the little instrument. It is a gun. Very truly yours, C.P.C

1898_3-22-1898 March 6006-jewett-collins copy.jpgJPEG
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Miss Alice Austin - Rosebank Post Office - Staten Island -

1898_3-9-1898 March 3001-jewett-collins copy.jpgJPEG
1.83 MB
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251 West 92d St., New York City March 9, 1896 Our Dear Friend, Miss Austin— In memory of many very pleasant interviews at Bay Head, so many of which bore upon photography, I hereby send more to account for the work of my pen in addressing you. Annie (Mrs. Walter B. Howe) has given us your address, hoping that it is correct, and I ask your indulgence, in my making inquiry, whether there may not possibly be some day when your engagements in the city would admit of your calling upon us, and while taking luncheon with us, being disposed to submit to questions on photography, with

1898_3-9-1898 March 3002-jewett-collins copy.jpgJPEG
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Which you are so familiar. I am sorry to say that I have so long been quite an invalid that my desire to protect my pleasure in the use of the camera has been very decidedly held in check, till I have become sadly unfamiliar with some of the essential principles. I happily call to mind your excellent methods of instruction, and your success in manipulating the instrument, and I am hoping that you may be disposed to repeat your kindness, in renewing my familiarity with the lenses &c. May you not be expecting to visit friends or relatives in the city, and at once see the possibility of making a call upon us, and of thus making us your debtor? Could we but know when such visit is soon to be appointed by you, we could at once determine its

1898_3-9-1898 March 3003-jewett-collins copy.jpgJPEG
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possibly coinciding with our own expected arrangements in our home here at 251 W. 92 (corner of 92nd and Bowery), and everything could be arranged, dependent only upon the permission of Divine Providence. Let me leave the subject with you, asking your favorable attention, if all things may render my application advisable, and assuring you of the widest respects and friendly regards of wife and myself— Most faithfully yours, Charles Jewitt Collins

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:53:14 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 9:11:20 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:56:49 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:41:11 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Charles_Jewett_Collins_Correspondence"

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01KC29FACWR7P2XQ81QA18GXKR

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