1898_1-2-1898 Jan 3001-fishkill copy.jpg

E.D. Van Dusenlan Correspondence to Alice Austen

PI

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/9/2025, 9:52:29 PM | Created: 12/9/2025, 7:41:42 PM

Added description

Description

E.D. Van Dusenlan Correspondence to Alice Austen (1883‑1898)

Overview

This digitized collection comprises personal letters sent by E.D. Van Dusenlan to Elizabeth Alice Austen, a pioneering photographer from Staten Island. The materials are presented as scanned JPEG images of the original letters, envelopes, and related artifacts, accompanied by typed transcriptions. The collection spans 1883‑1898 and is housed in the Alice Austen House Museum’s archival holdings.

Background

Alice Austen (1866‑1952) was a leading American photographer whose work documented late‑Victorian life in New York. E.D. Van Dusenlan, a resident of Newburgh, New York, corresponded with Austen as a family friend and cousin. Their exchanges provide insight into the social networks and domestic concerns of upper‑middle‑class New Yorkers during the period, reflecting the broader Victorian culture of leisure and family ties.

Contents

  • Letter dated 2 January 1898: A three‑page letter from Van Dusenlan to Austen, addressed to “Lolla.” The text discusses family matters, winter activities, sleighing, and skating, and includes a mention of a unique cloth calendar.
  • Photographic scans: High‑resolution JPEG copies of the original letter, envelope, and ancillary items, each with OCR‑extracted text.
  • Transcriptions: Typed versions of the handwritten letters, facilitating textual analysis.
  • Supplementary items: Photographs of calling cards and negative sleeves related to Austen’s photographic practice.

Scope

The collection covers personal correspondence between Van Dusenlan and Austen from 1883 to 1898, focusing on domestic and social themes rather than Austen’s professional photography. It includes materials originating in Newburgh, NY, and Staten Island, NY, and is limited to letters, envelopes, and related artifacts. The archive does not contain business records, photographs taken by Austen, or other correspondents’ materials.

Raw Cheimarros Data

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


@ed_van_dusenlan:person {full_name: "E.D. Van Dusenlan", relationship: "correspondent", residence: @newburgh}


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


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


@rosebank:place {city: @staten_island, description: "Neighborhood on Staten Island"}


@ed_van_dusenlan_correspondence:collection {title: "E.D. Van Dusenlan Correspondence to Alice Austen", creator: @ed_van_dusenlan, institution: "Alice Austen House", start_year: @date_1898, description: "Correspondence from E.D. Van Dusenlan to Alice Austen, 1883-1898"}


@letter_jan_2_1898:document {title: "Letter from E.D. Van Dusenlan to Alice Austen", date: @date_1898_01_02, from: @ed_van_dusenlan, to: @alice_austen, location: @newburgh, topics: ["family matters","winter activities","sleighing","skating"]}


@file_pinax -> documents -> @ed_van_dusenlan_correspondence


@image_fishkill_1:file {filename: "1898_1-2-1898 Jan 3001-fishkill copy.jpg", type: "image", ocr_text: "NEWBURGH JAN 3 11-AM 1898 N.Y. Miss Alice Austin Rosebank Staten Island N.Y."}


@image_fishkill_2:file {filename: "1898_1-2-1898 Jan 3002-fishkill copy.jpg", type: "image", ocr_text: "Mathiasen Jan. 2, 98 My dear Lolla, How sweet and thoughtful of you to send me the unique cloths calander..."} 


@image_fishkill_3:file {filename: "1898_1-2-1898 Jan 3003-fishkill copy.jpg", type: "image", ocr_text: "snow we have—and good sleight and skating. Do let me hear from you sometime. With much love to you both, Your affectionate cousin, E.D. Van Dusenlan"} 


@image_fishkill_1 -> depicts -> @letter_jan_2_1898


@image_fishkill_2 -> depicts -> @letter_jan_2_1898


@image_fishkill_3 -> depicts -> @letter_jan_2_1898

Metadata

Title
E.D. Van Dusenlan Correspondence to Alice Austen
Type
Collection
Creator
E.D. Van Dusenlan
Institution
Alice Austen House
Created
1898-01-02
Language
en
Subjects
Correspondence, Personal letters, Family relationships, Victorian social life
Place
Newburgh, NY, Staten Island, NY
Source
PINAX

Files (3)

1898_1-2-1898 Jan 3001-fishkill copy.jpgJPEG
802.65 KB
OCR Text

NEWBURGH JAN 3 11-AM 1898 N.Y. Miss Alice Austin Rosebank Staten Island N.Y.

1898_1-2-1898 Jan 3002-fishkill copy.jpgJPEG
3.17 MB
OCR Text

Mathiasen Jan. 2, 98 My dear Lolla, How sweet and thoughtful of you to send me the unique cloths calander. It has been so much admired. Mine has I could have a very sad Christmas and Lynn took one whom helped to make it less lonely. I thank you for it dear. I wish you all a very happy New Year. I hope you have the

1898_1-2-1898 Jan 3003-fishkill copy.jpgJPEG
3.21 MB
OCR Text

snow we have—and good sleighing and skating. Do let me hear from you sometime. With much love to you both, Your affectionate cousin, E.D. Van Dusenlan

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/9/2025, 9:52:29 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/9/2025, 9:08:53 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/9/2025, 7:56:20 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/9/2025, 7:41:42 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: E_D_Van_Dusenlan_Correspondence"

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