Alice Austen House 1896 Correspondence and Related Materials Collection

Version: 20 (current) | Updated: 12/4/2025, 4:14:46 PM

updated metadata removed odd subject (Updated PINAX metadata)

Description

Alice Austen House 1896 Correspondence and Related Materials Collection

Overview

The Alice Austen House 1896 Correspondence and Related Materials Collection is a digitized assemblage of 43 items produced during the calendar year 1896. The collection documents the social and familial networks of photographer Alice Austen (1858‑1952) and her contemporaries through handwritten letters, envelopes, postcards, and printed marriage announcements. All items are in English and are presented as high‑resolution JPEG images accompanied by OCR‑derived text. The collection is held in the public domain by the Alice Austen House.

Background

Alice Austen, a prominent New York photographer and philanthropist, lived at Rosebank on Staten Island. The 1896 collection reflects a period of extensive travel, community involvement, and correspondence with family, friends, and business associates. The provenance is clear: all items were collected by the house, scanned, and catalogued under the institutional name “Alice Austen House Test.” Contributors include Julia Tabor Martin, Violet Ward, Carrie M. Ward, J. Irving Goddard, and members of the Austin family, among others. The material spans the United States (California, New York, Michigan, Maryland, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago) and Canada (Ontario, Quebec), illustrating a trans‑national network of communication.

Contents

  • Marriage announcements (3) for the Clawson, Kirtland, and Bagley families.
  • Correspondence from Violet Ward (10 letters), Julia Tabor Martin (8 letters), Carrie M. Ward (2 letters), and J. Irving Goddard (5 letters).
  • Envelopes and postcards addressed to Austen from Staten Island, Connecticut, California, and Ontario.
  • Miscellaneous letters (2) added to the collection as part of the archival test.
  • Philatelic artifacts (10 envelopes and postcards) featuring U.S. and Canadian postmarks.

Representative items include Violet Ward’s May 21 letter, Julia Martin’s June 22 itinerary, and a postcard from Mountain Rest House, Mohonk Lake.

Scope

The collection is confined to the calendar year 1896 and includes only correspondence, marriage announcements, and postal artifacts. It excludes diaries, photographs, or other non‑letter materials. The items provide a comprehensive view of 19th‑century social networks, travel, and civic life in the New York metropolitan area and beyond, offering valuable insight for researchers of family history, social history, philately, and regional studies of the 1890s.

Entities

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Entity Relationships

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Raw Cheimarros Data

@file_pinax:file {title: "Alice Austen House 1896 Correspondence and Related Materials Collection", creators: [@alice_austen, @julia_martin, @alice_andrews, @austin_family, @alice_linden, @alice_husten, @alice_weston, @clara_austin, @lawrence_d_alexander, @mrs_lawrence_d_alexander, @mr_erving, @mrs_erving, @jane_allen, @american_collectors_association, @violet_ward, @julia_taber_martin, @carrie_m_ward, @j_irving_goddard, @william_clawson, @william_hathorne_kirtland, @francis_h_bagley, @b, @trude_eccleston, @carolina_machar, @ed_van_renselaer, @alice_aniston, @rhose_austin], institution: @alice_austen_house_test, created: {start: @date_1896_02_05, end: @date_1896_12_30}, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Personal letters","Postcards","Envelopes","Marriage announcements","Weddings","Social life","Social history","Boarding house","Family history","Photographs","Philately","Philatelic organizations","Collecting","19th century","Travel","Family relations","Family visits","19th century American life","Health","Family","Music","Business","transcriptions","documents"], description: "A comprehensive collection of 1896 materials related to Alice Austen and her correspondents, including correspondence, postcards, envelopes, marriage announcements, and related documents. The collection features communications between various individuals discussing personal, family, and social matters, as well as philately and other topics.", places: [@santa_barbara, @staten_island, @san_francisco, @kingston, @cape_vincent, @montreal, @virginia, @crescent_bay, @fishkill_new_york, @north_plains, @baltimore, @port_huron, @new_york, @canada, @clifton, @randall_memorial_church, @cazenovia_ny, @thompkinsville, @lancaster, @riverdale, @kingsley, @chatham, @gloucester, @albany, @los_angeles, @la_porte, @chicago, @syracuse, @new_canaan, @connecticut, @ontario, @alwington, @kingsboro, @barstow, @california, @mohonk_lake, @vineyard_haven, @alvington]}

@alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection {title: "Alice Austen House 1896 Correspondence and Related Materials Collection", creator: [@alice_austen, @julia_martin, @alice_andrews, @austin_family, @alice_linden, @alice_husten, @alice_weston, @clara_austin, @lawrence_d_alexander, @mrs_lawrence_d_alexander, @mr_erving, @mrs_erving, @jane_allen, @american_collectors_association, @violet_ward, @julia_taber_martin, @carrie_m_ward, @j_irving_goddard, @william_clawson, @william_hathorne_kirtland, @francis_h_bagley, @b, @trude_eccleston, @carolina_machar, @ed_van_renselaer, @alice_aniston, @rhose_austin], institution: @alice_austen_house_test, created: {start: @date_1896_02_05, end: @date_1896_12_30}, language: "en", subjects: ["Correspondence","Personal letters","Postcards","Envelopes","Marriage announcements","Weddings","Social life","Social history","Boarding house","Family history","Photographs","Philately","Philatelic organizations","Collecting","19th century","Travel","Family relations","Family visits","19th century American life","Health","Family","Music","Business","transcriptions","documents"], description: "A comprehensive collection of 1896 materials related to Alice Austen and her correspondents, including correspondence, postcards, envelopes, marriage announcements, and related documents."}

@file_pinax:file -> documents -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@alice_andrews:person {full_name: "Alice Andrews"}

@austin_family:organization {description: "Family group associated with the Austin surname"}

@alice_linden:person {full_name: "Alice Linden"}

@alice_husten:person {full_name: "Alice Husten"}

@clara_austin:person {full_name: "Clara Austin"}

@lawrence_d_alexander:person {full_name: "Lawrence D. Alexander"}

@mrs_lawrence_d_alexander:person {full_name: "Mrs. Lawrence D. Alexander"}

@mr_erving:person {full_name: "Mr. Erving"}

@mrs_erving:person {full_name: "Mrs. Erving"}

@cape_vincent:place {description: "Cape Vincent, New York"}

@montreal:place {country: @canada}

@virginia:place {country: @united_states}

@crescent_bay:place {description: "Crescent Bay"}

@fishkill_new_york:place {description: "Fishkill, New York"}

@north_plains:place {description: "North Plains"}

@port_huron:place {description: "Port Huron, Michigan"}

@clifton:place {description: "Clifton, Staten Island"}

@randall_memorial_church:place {description: "Randall Memorial Church, Staten Island"}

@cazenovia_ny:place {description: "Cazenovia, New York"}

@thompkinsville:place {description: "Thompkinsville"}

@lancaster:place {description: "Lancaster"}

@riverdale:place {description: "Riverdale"}

@kingsley:place {description: "Kingsley"}

@chatham:place {description: "Chatham"}

@gloucester:place {description: "Gloucester, Massachusetts"}

@albany:place {description: "Albany"}

@los_angeles:place {description: "Los Angeles"}

@la_porte:place {description: "La Porte, Indiana"}

@chicago:place {description: "Chicago"}

@syracuse:place {description: "Syracuse"}

@new_canaan:place {description: "New Canaan"}

@connecticut:place {description: "Connecticut"}

@ontario:place {description: "Ontario"}

@alwington:place {description: "Alwington"}

@kingsboro:place {description: "Kingsboro"}

@barstow:place {description: "Barstow"}

@california:place {description: "California"}

@mohonk_lake:place {description: "Mohonk Lake, Ulster County, New York"}

@vineyard_haven:place {description: "Vineyard Haven"}

@alvington:place {description: "Alvington, Ontario, Canada"}

# Contributions to the collection
@alice_austen -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@julia_martin -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@alice_andrews -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@austin_family -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@alice_linden -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@alice_husten -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@alice_weston -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@clara_austin -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@lawrence_d_alexander -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@mrs_lawrence_d_alexander -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@mr_erving -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@mrs_erving -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@jane_allen -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@american_collectors_association -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@violet_ward -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@julia_taber_martin -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@carrie_m_ward -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@j_irving_goddard -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@william_clawson -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@william_hathorne_kirtland -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@francis_h_bagley -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@b -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@trude_eccleston -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@carolina_machar -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@ed_van_renselaer -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@alice_aniston -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

@rhose_austin -> contributed_to -> @alice_austen_house_1896_collection:collection

# Synthesis: cross‑collection participation
@alice_austen -> appears in -> @correspondence_announcements_1896:collection

@alice_austen -> appears in -> @marriage_announcements_1896:collection

@alice_austen -> appears in -> @violet_ward_correspondence:collection

@alice_austen -> appears in -> @julia_martin_correspondence:collection

@alice_austen -> appears in -> @carrie_ward_correspondence_1896:collection

@alice_austen -> appears in -> @collection_1896_correspondence:collection

@alice_austen -> appears in -> @alice_austen_correspondence_collection:document

@julia_martin -> contributed_to -> @correspondence_announcements_1896:collection

@julia_martin -> contributed_to -> @marriage_announcements_1896:collection

@julia_martin -> contributed_to -> @violet_ward_correspondence:collection

@julia_martin -> contributed_to -> @julia_martin_correspondence:collection

# Aggregations
@file_pinax:file -> aggregates -> @weston_collection:collection

@file_pinax:file -> documents -> @collection_1896_envelopes_postcards:collection

@file_pinax:file -> documents -> @marriage_announcements_1896:collection

@file_pinax:file -> documents -> @violet_ward_correspondence:collection

@file_pinax:file -> documents -> @julia_martin_correspondence:collection

@file_pinax:file -> documents -> @carrie_ward_correspondence_1896:collection

@file_pinax:file -> documents -> @collection_1896_correspondence:collection

@file_pinax:file -> documents -> @alice_austen_correspondence_collection:document

@file_pinax:file -> documents -> @collection_1896_transcriptions:document

Metadata

Title
Alice Austen House 1896 Correspondence and Related Materials Collection
Type
Collection
Creator
Alice AustenJulia MartinAlice AndrewsAustin FamilyAlice LindenAlice HustenAlice WestonClara AustinLawrence D. AlexanderMrs. Lawrence D. AlexanderMr. ErvingMrs. ErvingJane AllenAmerican Collectors' AssociationViolet WardJulia Tabor MartinCarrie M. WardJ. Irving GoddardWilliam ClawsonWilliam Hathorne KirtlandFrancis H. BagleyTrude EcclestonCarolina MacharEd Van RenselaerAlice AnistonRhose Austin
Institution
Alice Austen House Test
Created
1896-02-05/1896-12-30
Language
en
Subjects
Correspondence, Personal letters, Postcards, Envelopes, Marriage announcements, Weddings, Social life, Social history, Boarding house, Family history, Photographs, Philately, Philatelic organizations, Collecting, 19th century, Travel, Family relations, Family visits, 19th century American life, Health, Family, Music, Business, transcriptions, documents
Rights
Public Domain
Place
Santa Barbara, California, Staten Island, New York, San Francisco, California, Kingston, Cape Vincent, New York, Montreal, Canada, Virginia, United States, Crescent Bay, Fishkill, New York, North Plains, Baltimore, Maryland, Port Huron, Michigan, New York, Canada, Clifton, Staten Island, Randall Memorial Church, Staten Island, Cazenovia, New York, Thompkinsville, Lancaster, Riverdale, Kingsley, Chatham, Gloucester, Massachusetts, Albany, Los Angeles, California, La Porte, Indiana, Chicago, Illinois, Syracuse, New York, New Canaan, Connecticut, Connecticut, Ontario, Canada, Alwington, Kingsboro, Barstow, California, California, Mohonk Lake, Ulster County, New York, Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, Alvington, Ontario, Canada
Source
PINAX

Version History (10 versions)

  • ✓ v20 (current) · 12/4/2025, 4:14:46 PM
    "updated metadata removed odd subject (Updated PINAX metadata)"
  • v19 · 12/4/2025, 4:13:40 PM · View this version
    "Manual edit to description.md"
  • v18 · 12/4/2025, 5:49:06 AM · View this version
    "Added description"
  • v17 · 12/4/2025, 5:47:01 AM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v16 · 12/4/2025, 5:42:21 AM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v15 · 12/4/2025, 5:39:10 AM · View this version
    "Split into 3 alphabetical chunks"
  • v14 · 12/4/2025, 5:39:09 AM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KBKXY60B2FXXQ0AQ79173BSX"
  • v13 · 12/4/2025, 5:39:08 AM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KBKXY4NRH3R5YN4DXDGERB1S"
  • v12 · 12/4/2025, 5:39:06 AM · View this version
    "Added child entity 01KBKXY2YKK6N5VAJ9XCH0ZV5T"
  • v11 · 12/4/2025, 5:38:46 AM · View this version
    "Added OCR to 8 files"

More versions available (pagination not yet implemented)

Additional Components

chunking-description.txt
# Alphabetical Chunking

Directory split into 3 alphabetical chunks for processing.

Total files: 90
Files per chunk: up to 40

## Organization Strategy

Organize by year and correspondence type. Create groups for each year found (1896, etc.) and subdivide into: letters, postcards/envelopes, announcements. Put undated files in 'undated'.

Parent

↑ 01KBKXTGX7BEV383XH60HMF19S

Children (3)