Épisodes

  • Chapter 1: Introductions

    Chapter 1: Introductions
    Sep 28 2022
    Chapter 1: Introductions (the story / the house / the characters / the letters) Image attributions: (HRT) Historic Richmond Town archive; (AAH) Alice Austen House Museum collection. Letter album at Historic Richmond Town Archive Album of 1830s through 1870s letters written by Sarah Ann & John Haggerty Austen Sarah Ann Austen Townsend in 1832 John Haggerty Austen’s 17-yr-old sister. Portrait, courtesy of the Frick Art Reference Library. (AI colorized) Alice’s grandmother, Elizabeth Alice Townsend Austen Alice Austen’s maternal grandmother, painted circa 1840 (HRT) David Austen Alice Austen’s paternal great-grandfather, painted in 1846 (HRT) Alice Cornell Townsend Alice Austen’s maternal great-grandmother, circa 1835. (HRT) Alice’s Book circa 1877 Book given to a friend by Alice Austen as she was leaving her home. Returned to Clear Comfort decades later. (AAH) Peter Townsend Alice Austen’s maternal great-grandfather, painted circa 1840 (HRT) 1870 painting of Clear Comfort circa 1870 painting by William Hart (HRT) 3 year old Alice Austen in 1869 Studio portrait re-photographed by Alice Austen in the 1890s (HRT) 1883 letter from Auntie Min Minnie Austen Hicks Miller letter from Hong Kong – earliest letter in the collection. (AAH) 1884 envelope from Brooklyn Envelope for Bessie Hazard’s letter – a fragment of it showing a child’s scribbling from decades later. (AAH) 1884 letter fragment with more recent scribbles Evidence of the Mandia family’s children’s interactions with the letters they kept for 40 years. (AAH) Clear Comfort in 1885 19-year-old Alice Austen on the house’s piazza (AAH) Julia & Alice at 19 in 1885 Julia Martin and Alice Austen with Chico & Punch (AAH) Auntie Min, Uncle Peter & Alice in 1885 19-year-old Alice with her aunt and uncle (AAH) 1885: Alice and Her Friends Alice (far left) and Trude Eccleston (2nd from left) and friends in their bathing suits at Clear Comfort. (HRT) 1887: View from Clear Comfort’s front lawn View of the Narrows from Clear Comfort’s front lawn. (AAH) 2021 View from Clear Comfort’s front lawn A cruise ship passes by Clear Comfort in 2018. Photograph by Pamela Bannos. Chico & Punch in 1887 Chico the chihuahua and Punch the pug on Clear Comfort’s piazza (AAH) 1887 Scrapbook page An article about Clear Comfort in one of Alice Austen’s scrapbooks (AAH) Aunt Min, Uncle Oswald & Alice Austen 18-year-old Alice with Aunt Min & her husband Uncle Oswald (AAH) Elizabeth Alice Townsend Austen Alice Austen’s grandmother in 1885 (AAH) Alice Austen in 1887 Dunn studio portrait taken in New Brunswick, New Jersey. (AAH) Minnie Austen Hicks Miller Alice Austen’s Auntie Minn, circa 1885 (AAH) 1888 Tennis Group Alice in tie, middle in bottom row. Trude Eccleston, 2nd from left top row. (HRT) Contemporary panoramic view of Clear Comfort Photograph by Pamela Bannos. PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Opening music… [Bessie Strong]1885, July 19, New Brunswick:My dear Alice – Perhaps when you discover that this letter was written on Sunday, you will hesitate about reading it. New Brunswickers are never troubled with such compunctions, but with Staten Island people it may be different. You began your letter with a slurring remark about our “metropolis” or rather our weather, which was unjust, and words cannot describe the pain it caused me. However, I will try to forget and forgive. Have you heard the song “Forget, Forgive” by the same composer as “Some Day”? [Narrator]This is one letter among hundreds that were sent to 19th century photographer Alice Austen. I’m Pamela Bannos, in collaboration with the Alice Austen House Museum, and this is My Dear Alice, a podcast series that explores the life of photographer Alice Austen through her photographs and these letters that were discovered decades after her death. Here, we will piece together Austen’s story through her extensive photographic legacy, while filling in new details through these rediscovered letters that were sent to her historic home, called Clear Comfort. +++++++ [Narrator]This is a story of home, history, celebration, and reclamation. Clear Comfort, now known as the Alice Austen House Museum, sits on the bank of the Narrows with a sweeping view of the Manhattan skyline. Passing through this narrow channel that separates Staten Island from Brooklyn, and known as the gateway to New York City and America, generations of immigrants would see Alice Austen’s house before they spotted the Statue of Liberty on their way to Ellis Island. Dating back to pre-Revolutionary days, this modest cottage remains a sentry to our changing world. Groundbreaking nineteenth-century Staten Island photographer Elizabeth Alice Austen – known formally as E. Alice Austen, and familiarly as simply Alice – lived at Clear Comfort from around the time of her birth in 1866 until she was evicted in 1945. It was a chaotic exit ...
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    39 min
  • Chapter 2: 1880s Recreation

    Chapter 2: 1880s Recreation
    Oct 5 2022
    Chapter 2: 1880s Recreation (tennis-mania & summer resorts) Image attributions: (HRT) Historic Richmond Town archive; (AAH) Alice Austen House Museum collection. 22-year-old Alice Austen in 1888 1888 portrait by Austen’s Uncle Oswald Muller. (HRT) Bradish Carroll letter The opening letter from this episode. Bradish Carroll danced the Santiago Waltz with Alice – it is the music from which this podcast theme music was derived. (AAH) 1888 Tennis Group Carrie Ward (top row, left); Nellie Janssen (top row, right); and Bradish Carroll (seated with cane.) (HRT) 1888 Dance Card Dance card showing Alice danced the Santiago Waltz with Bradish Carroll. (AAH) Emily Babbitt & Lieutenant Edwin Babbitt Alice’s tennis doubles partner with his wife, who wrote Alice congratulating her on winning her tennis match. (AAH) 1888 letter from Emily Babbitt Fragment from letter from Emily Babbitt, as part of this chapter’s narrative. (AAH) 1889 Costume Party at a Catskills summer resort Alice & Trude Eccleston dressed as nuns, advertising Pear’s Soap. Charlie Barton seated in military costume. (HRT) 1889 Catskill costume party detail Detail showing Alice & Trude Eccleston dressed as nuns, with Charlie Barton on the floor. (HRT) 1889 in Costume (HRT) 1888 Staten Island’s best women tennis players Published in Outing Magazine, Alice Austen is standing at far right in the top row. (AAH) 1885 Katie with Punch & Chico Alice Cornell Austen often wrote of Katie, the Austens’ live-in helper who, among other duties, tended to the dogs. (HRT) Alice Cornell Austen (Alice’s mother) in 1887 Alice Cornell Austen with Tristan, the cat. (HRT) 1887 scrapbook page Alice’s scrapbook showing 1887 & 1888 tennis news, obituaries, and other items. (AAH) 1887 scrapbook page detail Detail showing Alice’s tennis results, her grandmother’s obituary, and her aunt Mary Austen’s obituary. (AAH) Tennis Club receipts Facing pages showing membership receipts for the Staten Island Ladies Club & the SI neighborhood club, Ladies Tennis Club of Clifton. (HRT) 1888 Tennis Group The photo Nellie Janssen asked for – she is seated at top right. Bradish Carroll is at middle left with striped beanie. (HRT) 1888 scrapbook item Badge to attend the 1888 tennis matches. (AAH) Lake Mahopac, 1888 Lake Mahopac, where Alice joined Trude Eccleston in the summer of 1888. (HRT) Lake Mahopac today Lake Mahopac in 2022. Photograph by Pamela Bannos. 1888 letter from Effie Emmons Fragment from letter from Cushings Island, Maine, as part of this chapter’s narrative. (AAH) 1889 the Ward family Violet Ward (standing, looking right), Carrie Ward (seated far right) and their father, a Civil War general, standing with bugle. (HRT) 1889 Tennis Group Group photo showing several of Alice’s correspondents. (HRT) 1889 Bessie Strong Detail from group showing Bessie Strong. (HRT) 1889 Charlie Barton Detail from group showing Charlie Barton. (HRT) 1889 Effie Emmons Detail from group showing Effie Emmons. (HRT) 1889 Lou Alexander Detail from group showing Lou Alexander. (HRT) 1889 Trude Eccleston Detail from the group showing Trude Eccleston. (HRT) 1888 scrapbook item Clipped cartoon in Austen’s 1888 scrapbook. (AAH) 1888 Alice with Trude’s family at Lake Mahopac Alice at far right; Trude Eccleston seated with Charlie Barton at her feet. (HRT) 1889 Catskills Group at creek in Catskills. Trude Eccleston at far left. From photo album with title, “The Creek.” (HRT) PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Opening: [Bradish J Carroll]My Dear Miss Austen, I have to thank you very much indeed for giving me one of those prints of the tennis match, as I particularly wanted it. I found it at home when I got down from the City today. Had I known it was on the way this morning when I met you on the Boat, I most certainly would have thanked you in person. I am going to frame all of them and hang them in my room so as to keep those pleasant days fresh in my mind.Hoping to have the good fortune to meet you soon at some of the dances. Believe me, Most sincerely yours,Bradish J Carroll +++++++ [Narrator]Mr. Carroll’s mention of meeting Alice Austen at some of the dances ties in with a notable item in Austen’s archive. One of her scrapbook’s dance cards (detailing an evening’s music by song, dance style, and with the penciled name of each dance partner) shows Austen danced the Santiago Waltz with Bradish Carroll in early 1889. It is the melody from which this podcast theme music was derived. I’m Pamela Bannos, in collaboration with the Alice Austen House Museum, and this is My Dear Alice, a podcast series that explores the life of photographer Alice Austen through her photographs and these letters that were discovered decades after her death. Here, we will piece together Austen’s story through her extensive photographic legacy, while filling in new details through these ...
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    34 min
  • Chapter 3: 1890 & 1891 – Enigmatic Portraits

    Chapter 3: 1890 & 1891 – Enigmatic Portraits
    Oct 13 2022
    Chapter 3: 1890 & 1891 (Enigmatic Portraits: musings on the past and the things we leave behind) Image attributions: (HRT) Historic Richmond Town archive; (AAH) Alice Austen House Museum collection. 1887 Bessie Strong & Alice Austen Bessie Strong lived in New Brunswick, New Jersey. (HRT) (see notes) 1890 Alice and Julie Bredt Julie and Alice at Clear Comfort on Hallooween, 1890 (HRT) c. 1890 Julia Martin (right) & the Sibleys at Clear Comfort’s piazza Julia Martin (right) wrote the most letters in the collection – 87. (HRT) 1887 Alice Cornell Austen with Tristan Alice’s mother with their cat, Tristan, perhaps named for a character from the opera she saw as in this episode’s narrative. (HRT) 1890 letter from Alice’s mother Alice Cornell Austen tells of the opera Tristan & Isolde. (AAH) Metropolitan Opera season tickets Theatre & concert tickets that Alice saved and donated to the Staten Island Historical Society at her eviction from Clear Comfort. (HRT) 1888 Emily Denning Van Rensselaer & her daughter Emmie Emily, Emmie, and their dog Beauty – referenced in a letter from Jane Denning in this episode. (HRT) 1888 Denning’s Point The Denning sisters family home Presqu’ile stood on this peninsula on the Hudson River. (AAH) Denning’s Point today. July 2022. Photograph by Pamela Bannos. 1888 Presq’uile (home at Denning’s Point) Jane Louise Denning and sister Emily Denning Van Rensselaer’s house at Fishkill on Hudson. (AAH) 1888 Presqu’ile interior Alice made many photographs of this house and its grounds. (AAH) 1890 nighttime bloom of the cereus plant Captured with flash, this group gathered to witness the flower that blooms once a year, at night. (HRT) 1890 Simpkins family, Bennington VT Alice, Mrs. Snively, Mary Sanford & others at a village fair. (HRT) 1890: Mrs. Snively & Mary Sanford Mary Sanford and her partner Helen Stokes would become part of the early socialist movement in Greenwich Village (see notes for this chapter.) (HRT) 1890: Mrs. Snively, Julia Martin, and Alice Alice spent part of the summer with Julia and Mrs. Snively in Bennington, Vermont. (HRT) Negative sleeve for the 3 women in bed. The envelope does not divulge the intention of this portrait. (AAH) 1890 letter from Alice’s mother Alice Cornell Austen borrowed her daughter’s tennis stationery. (AAH) 1891 Trude Eccleston & Mr. Gregg at Clear Comfort Only spoken of as Mr. Gregg, he and Trude were engaged, but did not marry. (HRT) 1890 letter from Trude Eccleston Trude tells of meeting Mr. Gregg. (AAH) 1891 Trude and Alice Alice titled the photo during this summer of dramatized photographs. (HRT) 1891 Trude & Alice Masked This enigmatic portrait was shot at 11pm on an August night. (HRT) Envelope for masked portrait Alice noted the portrait as “Trude & I masked, short skirts.” (AAH) (see notes) 1891 Trude & Alice in bed An enigmatic portrait, taken the same night as “Trude & I masked.” (HRT) (see notes) 1891 The Darned Club Alice, Trude Eccleston, Julia Lord, and Sue Ripley. (HRT) (see notes) PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Opening music … [Trude Eccleston]My dear Alice;You are quite the meanest girl I know. Why haven’t you written to me when I know you have lots more time for it than I have. I am pining and homesick for some news of Staten Island. Do write & tell your famishing friend all you can.It seems useless to say I am having a gorgeous time as I don’t see how anyone could help it down here.If this is not the place to turn a girl’s head in, “so help me gracious.” Last night I went on a moonlight sail – Oh it was scrumptious.Now Alice, do write me one letter before I leave here.Love to all inquiring friends & yourself. Ever your loving friend, Trudie +++++++ Theme Music … [Narrator]I’m Pamela Bannos, in collaboration with the Alice Austen House Museum, and this is My Dear Alice, a podcast series that explores the life of photographer Alice Austen through her photographs and these letters that were discovered decades after her death.You’ll find images of some of these letters, along with photographs referred to here, at the website that accompanies this podcast. Chapter 3: It’s tricky to tell Alice Austen’s story through the letters she received because basically everyone is always asking Alice to join them or they are thanking her for sending them a photo or are relaying the time they’re having while they’re away from her. So we don’t exactly know what happens when they’re together unless Alice photographs the gathering – but which she does mostly seem to do. And yet, like any archive, we only know about what is there, not so much about what is missing. Just as there are gaps in these letters that were returned to Clear Comfort forty years after they were found in a closet there, from the thoroughness of Austen’s photography, it seems certain that there should be more pictures. And even so, Alice is mostly behind the ...
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    30 min
  • Chapter 4: Relationships

    Chapter 4: Relationships
    Oct 20 2022
    Chapter 4: 1891 & 1892 – Relationships (male interactions / hijinks with the ladies / queerness) Image attributions: (HRT) Historic Richmond Town archive; (AAH) Alice Austen House Museum collection. 1892 Alice Austen Alice Austen on Clear Comfort’s piazza in September 1892 (HRT) 1892 Julie Bredt Julie Bredt on Clear Comfort’s piazza in September 1892. (HRT) 1892 Trude Eccleston Trude Eccleston on Clear Comfort’s piazza in July 1892. (HRT) 1890 letter from Julie Bredt Julie Bredt did not favor punctuation. (AAH) 1891 Alice, Julia, and Julie (L-R) Alice Austen, Julia Martin, and Julie Bredt. (HRT) 1891 Alice, Julia and Julie (L-R) Alice Austen, Julia Martin, and Julie Bredt. (HRT) 1891 letter from Mr. Gilman Letter from Henry K. Gilman, as presented in this episode. (AAH) 1890 Ward family’s wagonette Violet Ward, standing at back; Carrie Ward, middle seated, at the front of Oneata. (HRT) 1891 Richmond Valley Woods picnic (L-R) Trude Eccleston, Violet and Carrie Ward, Miss Jenkins. (HRT) 1891 Party on the steps of the wagonette (L-R) Violet Ward, Trude Eccleston, Miss Jenkins, Carrie Ward. (HRT) 1892 Alice Austen, Julie Bredt, and Trude Eccleston Studio portrait by Staten Island photographer, Isaac Almstaedt. (HRT) 1892 February 14 gathering with Julie Bredt Valentine’s Day gathering. Julie Bredt, third from left; Alice Austen, far right. (HRT) 1892 February 20 gathering with Julie Bredt Tea party at Bethlehem, PA. Julie Bredt pouring tea; Alice Austen, second from right. (HRT) 1892 February 21 gathering with Julie Bredt A rare smile from Alice Austen, second from right; Julie Bredt to her right. (HRT) 1892 February 22 gathering with Julie Bredt Alice Austen, seated far right; Julie Bredt, standing center. Bethlehem, PA. (HRT) 1892 letter from Julie Bredt Julie Bredt appreciating Alice’s photos of their gathering. (AAH) 1892 Nellie Austen with her children and their nanny Alice’s Uncle Peter’s wife Nellie Austen, with their children William, Lysbeth, and Oswald, and their nanny Miss Butler. (HRT) 1892 letter from Julia Martin Julia Martin introducing “the two Marys.” (AAH) The Two Marys “The two Marys” grave in Lucerne, Switzerland. (see notes) (photo credit: Philipp Lustenberger) 1892 envelope from Henry K. Gilman Letter sent from Flushing, NY, to Clear Comfort; forwarded to Alice at her Uncle Peter’s house in New Brunswick, New Jersey. (AAH) 1892 Concord, Massachusetts Nellie Austen with her Uncle Alfred Munroe on the Assabet River in Concord, MA. (HRT) 1892 letter from Trude Excerpt from Trude Eccleston letter, referring to Mr. Gregg, to whom she was to become engaged. (AAH) 1892 Watkins Glen, NY Exquisite landscape photograph by Alice Austen. (HRT) 1892 Watkins Glen Sanitarium, Mr. Hopper Titled, “A lunch at the ‘San,'”Mr. Hopper & Alice Austen pour each other a drink. (HRT) 1892 a rare smile from Alice Austen Mr. Hopper opens a bottle of wine. (HRT) Trude & Mr. Hopper approaching 1892 dramatization at Watkins, NY. Tombstone Trude & Mr Hopper “yes” 1892 dramatization at Watkins, NY. Tombstone Myself & Mr Hopper approaching 1892 dramatization at Watkins, NY. Myself & Mr Hopper “yes” 1892 dramatization at Watkins, NY. Trude Ec. & Mr Hopper “No” 1892 dramatization at Watkins, NY. Tombstone Trude Ec. Mr Hopper & self 1892 dramatization at Watkins, NY. 1892 letter from Mr. Hopper Sent from the Springs at Watkins, NY – as presented in this episode. (AAH) 1892 John Coates Browne Alice accompanied noted amateur photographer Browne on a nature walk – his correspondences offered her photographic advice. (HRT) PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Opening music … [Henry K. Gilman]Dear Miss Austen.I enclose a few stamps which I have collected for you. Perhaps some of them will be new ones to your collection.The reception at the “Players” is to be on Friday, April 22nd and not Saturday as I thought.When I come down next Tuesday, I will bring the tickets, which I truly hope you and your mother will find agreeable to use.As always, yours, Henry K. Gilman Theme music … [Narrator]I’m Pamela Bannos, in collaboration with the Alice Austen House Museum, and this is My Dear Alice, a podcast series that explores the life of photographer Alice Austen through her photographs and these letters that were discovered decades after her death.You’ll find images of some of these letters, along with photographs referred to here, at the website that accompanies this podcast. Chapter 4: We left off with a litany of glimpses into the parties, dances, and fashion as conveyed by the three main correspondents of 1890 and 1891: Julie Bredt, Julia Martin, and Bessie Strong, who relayed their doings from beyond Staten Island’s social scene. The letters also show how relationships may or may not be different from today. Inexplicably, we last heard from Henry K Gilman in 1889. He is the gentleman who wrote from the Players Club in...
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    35 min
  • Chapter 5: 1892 & 1893 – On the Go

    Chapter 5: 1892 & 1893 – On the Go
    Oct 27 2022
    Chapter 5: 1892 & 1893 – On the Go (photography / travel / athletics / dashed plans) Image attributions: (HRT) Historic Richmond Town archive; (AAH) Alice Austen House Museum collection. 1892 Bessie Strong & Jack Van Dyke Strong often mentions her cousin Jack Van Dyke, an art historian who taught at Rutgers University and gave public lectures to audiences upwards of 1,000 people. The emulsion peeled from the glass plate. (HRT) 1892 Mr. Hopper Photographed by Alice Austen at Watkins Glen, NY. (HRT) 1892 View from Clear Comfort with Violet & Trude Clear Comfort was visible to passing vessels, which Austen photographed for many decades. This image shows a camera on a tripod, a telescope, and Violet Ward & Trude Eccleston viewing the passing boats. (HRT) 1894 Camera Mosaics journal The journal published American Camera Club photographs. (AAH) 1894 Austen’s photos in the Camera Mosaics journal An uncharacteristic set of Austen’s photographs. (AAH) 1894 Austen’s photos in the Camera Mosaics journal Images from the 1892 canal trip and summer resorts. (AAH) 1891 letter from Violet Ward 1891 Letter from Bessie Strong Strong would sometimes obscure her own writing by writing over it, making for challenging transcription. (AAH) 1892 Letter from Ralph Munroe Munroe wrote from the yacht Wabun, filling in Alice on their activities since her departure. (AAH) 1892 Canal Trip aboard the yacht Wabun 1892 Butterball and Nellie Austen Aboard the yacht Wabun (HRT) 1892 view of the yacht Wabun Alice Austen print of scene from the canal trip. (AAH) 1892 Canal trip Alice Austen blowing into a conch shell, earning her the nickname “Gabriel” the biblical horn blower. Austen nicknamed Thomas Brown (pictured in Harvard sweater) Butterball. (HRT) 1892 the yacht Wabun in a narrow passage 1893 Daisy Elliott at the Berkeley Ladies Athletic Club Daisy Elliott demonstrating an early athletic pose as described in the narrative. Carrie Ward on the mat at left, her sister Violet seated next to her. (HRT) 1893 Daisy Elliott & Violet Ward in the Berkeley Gymnasium Daisy Elliot hangs, demonstrating her athletic prowess. (HRT) 1893 Daisy Elliott and a group at the Berkeley Gymnasium Daisy Elliott on rings; Violet Ward holding football at left; Carrie Ward to right of Daisy. (HRT) 1893 Daisy Elliott 1893 Violet Ward 1893 Carrie Ward 1893 Violet Ward, Daisy Elliott, and Caroline Lawrence At the Berkeley Gymnasium. (AAH) 1893 Alice Austen prepares to leave for Chicago’s Columbian Exposition Austen poses with her pug, Punch, at the front of Clear Comfort. (HRT) 1893 Ferris Wheel at Chicago’s Columbian Exposition A rare view of the Ferris Wheel. Austen stayed on campus at the University of Chicago, from which this photo appears to have been taken. (AAH) 1893 Statue of the Republic at Chicago’s Columbian Exposition Austen copyrighted 25 of her World’s Fair photographs. (HRT) 1893 Statue of Columbus at Chicago’s Columbian Exposition A very rare view of Chicago’s Lake Park (now Grant Park) and Columbus statue during the 1893 World’s Fair. (HRT) 1893 Alice Austen copyrighted photos from the Chicago World’s Fair Card from the U.S. Copyright Office. 1893 letter from Henry K. Gilman at The Players Club in Gramercy Park Gilman wrote to Austen at Chicago during the Columbian Exposition. (AAH) 1893 letter from Austen’s mother to Alice at Lake George She tells of a big storm that ravaged Clear Comfort – as presented in this episode. (AAH) 1893 Trude Eccleston and reflection at Lake George Austen posed Trude Eccleston to obscure her face with her hat, while reflecting it in the rock’s puddle. (HRT) 1893 Violet Ward’s Bodkin patent excerpt 1892 Poker game with Mr. Gilman (left), Julie Bredt, and G. Wildrick This is the only photo in the archive that shows Henry K. Gilman. (HRT) 1892 negative sleeve of Poker game with Henry Gilman & Julie Bredt Austen referred to Henry Gilman as Mr. Gilman, and she was Miss Austen to the end. (AAH) PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Opening music … [Bessie Strong]My Dear Alice, “Many happy returns of the day” to you and St Patrick. With this I send you three photographs. Two of them I am quite ashamed of, but as I had no others ready and wanted them to go at once, I concluded to send them with an apology. I do not like them, but there has been no time since Monday to do any others. So please accept these with my love, and trust to getting some better specimens one of these days. Have not heard from you in an age, but as I am becoming a poor correspondent myself, perhaps I had better not say much.Mother joins me in love and best wishes, Always affectionately, Elisabeth B. Strong +++++++ [Narrator]I’m Pamela Bannos in collaboration with the Alice Austen House Museum, and this is My Dear Alice, a podcast series that explores the life of photographer Alice Austen through her photographs and these letters ...
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    34 min
  • Chapter 6: 1894 – An Intensity of Intention

    Chapter 6: 1894 – An Intensity of Intention
    Nov 3 2022
    Chapter 6: 1894 – an Intensity of Intention (photography / music / travel / bicycling) Image attributions: (HRT) Historic Richmond Town archive; (AAH) Alice Austen House Museum collection. 1894 Alice Austen & Violet Ward in their bicycle costumes Violet and Alice posed for two portraits in their matching outfits. (HRT) 1894 Violet Ward’s little camera (detail) Ward is holding her new Kombi camera that shot 1 1/8″ square negatives. Alice’s 4×5″ glass plate camera is alongside her. (HRT) 1894 Alice Austen & Violet Ward in their canal costumes Austen and Ward changed their clothes to make this portrait the same day as the portrait of them wearing their bicycle outfits. They traveled together in September. (HRT) 1894 New York City knife sharpener One of Austen’s earliest New York street photographs that would lead to her Street Types project. (HRT) 1894 letter ordering World’s Fair photos Isabella C. King’s letter, as presented in this episode (see notes) (AAH) 1894 envelope from Julie Bredt Showing the commemorative stamp from the Columbian Exposition. (AAH) Painting of the clipper Samar, which Uncle Oswald captained after the Agra. Oswald Otto Miller (or Muller) captained this ship & Aunt Min often sailed with him. (see notes) 1875 article about the piano aboard the ship Agra 1884 Aunt Min, Uncle Oswald, and Alice Austen Uncle Oswald holds the long cable release, squeezing the bulb to take the photograph. (AAH) c 1885 Aunt Min, John Haggerty Austen & Alice A young Alice Austen sits with her grandfather, aunt, and her pug, Punch. Photograph by Uncle Oswald. (HRT) 1890 banjos and guitars with Julie Bredt Alice (left) with Julie Bredt and 2 men, including Trude Eccleston’s brother John, at right. (see notes) (HRT) 1887 the Steinway upright piano in Clear Comfort’s parlor The piano which may be referenced in the newspaper article as presented in this episode. (HRT) 1895 Alice’s baby grand Steinway piano The piano referenced in letters in this episode. Alice was very particular in her questions before purchasing this piano. (HRT) 1894 piano tuner’s letter Frederic E. Jones letter as presented in this episode (see notes) (AAH) c 1890 Clear Comfort’s middle parlor Another view of the middle parlor, also showing the Duncan Phyfe sofa. (see notes) (HRT) 1888 view of Clear Comfort’s parlor The brightness and clarity in this photo is the result of an 11 1/2 minute exposure, as indicated on Alice Austen’s negative sleeve. (HRT) 1887 view of Alice’s bedroom Brightness and clarity as a result of a 7 1/2 minute exposure, as indicated on Austen’s negatives sleeve. Alice shared this room with her mother. (HRT) c 1890 view of Alice’s bedroom Another view of Alice’s room that she shared with her mother. (HRT) 1889 view of Clear Comfort’s parlor View of the parlor showing the 1835 painting of Alice Cornell Townsend, as presented in Chapter 1. (HRT) c 1890 portrait of Alice Cornell Austen Alice’s mother stand in front of Clear Comfort. (HRT) 1891 parlor with John Haggerty Austen Alice’s 80-year-old grandfather, who bought Clear Comfort in 1844. (HRT) 1890s Alice Cornell Austen Alice’s mother sits in the bedroom she shared with Alice. (HRT) 1897 Clear Comfort’s middle parlor View showing the piano moved as more furniture was added to the room. (HRT) 1887 view of Clear Comfort’s piazza An unusual view of the house’s porch. (HRT) 1891 Alice’s grandfather tending to the vines 80-year-old John Haggerty Austen (1811-1894). (HRT) 1891 Clear Comfort Alice’s grandfather and Julia Martin sit on the piazza. (HRT) 1894 Julia Martin condolence letter Alice’s friends wrote at the death of her grandfather, John Haggerty Austen. (AAH) 1888 view of the Narrows from Clear Comfort’s lawn Alice’s grandfather views the ships in the narrows, two days after her 22nd birthday. (AAH) 1891 Clear Comfort A view of the property showing the lush grounds. (HRT) 1894 Annapolis Alice & Violet Ward went on a canal trip that ended here, at Annapolis, Maryland. (see notes) (HRT) 1894 Maryland oyster shuckers Photographed after the canal trip with Violet Ward. (see notes) (HRT) 1896 Bicycling for Ladies book notice 1896 notice for the publication of Violet Ward’s book – as presented in Chapter 7. 1896 Bicycling for Ladies Violet Ward’s book, as presented in Chapter 7, with an introduction at the end of this episode. PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Opening music … [Alice Cornell Austen]My dearest Lollie, You wrote a very interesting letter that I received yesterday, that was a wonderful dream of yours; indeed, would it only come true. Your auntie has just bought a dream book. I must look it over about goats. Well, on Monday I went to Mrs. Hoods and left my dress. She finds she will have ripped the skirt apart entirely. It is too short on the sides. The back seam puckered, etc. She will charge. $1.00 for doing it. I...
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    29 min
  • Chapter 7: 1895 & 1896 – Bicycling for Ladies & Street Types of New York

    Chapter 7: 1895 & 1896 – Bicycling for Ladies & Street Types of New York
    Nov 10 2022
    Chapter 7: 1895 & 1896 – Bicycling for Ladies & Street Types of New York (collaboration / publication / attribution) Image attributions: (HRT) Historic Richmond Town archive; (AAH) Alice Austen House Museum collection; (NYPL) New York Public Library. 1889 Violet Ward and unknown friend at Clear Comfort Austen spent time traveling and collaborating with Violet Ward in 1895 & 1896. (AAH) 1895 bowling party Austen’s friend Julia Marsh Lord had a bowling alley in her home. (HRT) 1896 Julia Martin, with Austen & nephew at Clear Comfort Martin visited from Santa Barbara, CA, with her nephew Kingsley. (HRT) 1894 envelope from Julia Martin in Santa Barbara, California Envelope from Santa Barbara, CA, with torn corner stamp removal. AAH) 1894 letter from Julia Martin in Santa Barbara, California Letter from Julia Martin with torn center from envelope stamp removal. (AAH) 1894 The Palms boarding house item Item from Julia Martin’s Santa Barbara boarding house. (AAH) 1895 Violet and Carrie Ward On the set for the Bicycling for Ladies book photos. (HRT) 1896 Bicycling for Ladies Book cover of the original edition – re-issued in 2021. 1895 Daisy Elliott posing for Bicycling for Ladies The bicycle is propped as Elliott holds her pose on the wrong way to turn. (HRT) 1896 page from Bicycling for Ladies One of very few images that was not heavily retouched. 1896 the Bicycle Club Tea event Staten Island Bicycle Club’s clubhouse on the day of the Ride & Tea. 1896 Bicycle Club Ride & Tea A photo in one of Austen’s photo albums. (HRT) 1895 Bicycle Tea event envelope Glass plate envelope with Austen’s meticulous notations. (AAH) 1896 Bicycling for Ladies page Drawn over illustration of Daisy Elliott. c 1895 portrait of Alice Austen Austen poses with her new bicycle. 1895 letter on Staten Island Bicycle Club stationary Letter from Daisy Elliott. (AAH) 1895 Daisy Elliott poses for Bicycling for Ladies Original caption, “Wheeling From the Peg — Showing Distribution of Weight” (HRT) April 1895 New York street market An early Austen street photograph. (HRT) 1896 Street Types of New York card insert The complete list of Street Types from the portfolio album. (AAH) 1896 Street Type photogravure of Organ Grinder & Wife A photogravure print from the portfolio. (AAH) 1896 Organ Grinder and Wife Photograph of a Street Type image donated in 1950 to the New York Public Library (see notes) (NYPL) 1896 Newspaper vendor A print in the collection of the New York Public Library (see notes) (NYPL) 1896 Hansom Cab at Union Square An image also included in the Street Types portfolio. (see notes) (NYPL) 1896 Mounted Messenger Boy At 30th Street. From the Street Types portfolio – a photogravure print. (AAH) 1896 Newspaper vendors Photograph in the collection of the New York Public Library (NYPL) 1896 Police Officer right profile Austen’s only side view portraits seem to be of large-bellied policemen. (NYPL) 1896 Police Officer left profile Austen’s only side view portraits seem to be of large-bellied policemen. (NYPL) 1896 Rag Carts Photograph in the collection of the New York Public Library (see notes) (NYPL) 1896 copyright submissions Alice Austen copyrighted photographs of the disinfecting boat and her New York street portraits. 1896 New York Quarantine Station A room in the Quarantine Station. (HRT) 1896 mattress and disinfecting chamber One of many photographs Austen shot of the NY Quarantine Station. (HRT) January 1897 Popular Science Monthly Austen collaborated with Violet Ward on two articles about New York’s quarantine facilities. 1895 disinfecting boat negatives envelops Austen made these photos for articles that Violet Ward wrote (see notes) (AAH) 1896 Harper’s Weekly article with Austen’s photographs Violet Ward wrote the article to accompany Alice Austen’s photos. PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Opening music … [Violet Ward]Chapter 10: Difficulties to Overcome. The first thing to do after learning the theory of starting and stopping the machine is to make it go. No matter what happens, keep it going, the faster the better, until a taste is acquired for the pastime; until the going forward forever idea seems to have taken possession of you. Then you want to try it again, but mounting seems more difficult than ever. The machine will not do anything it ought to do; it bucks and kicks and stops and spills and slips, and will not stand still, or even move on. You know how to mount, or think you know; but that knowledge does not seem to aid materially in overcoming the tendencies of the machine.Now be sure that you do know what to do. The first thing to know is that the weight placed on the pedal starts the machine; that the foot on the ground will hold the machine, and keep it from starting; that the machine when in motion will move without falling, and when at rest will not stand still unless held up. Theme Music ...
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    33 min
  • Chapter 8: 1897 – Daisy Elliott bicycles the Alps & Twilight Park transitions

    Chapter 8: 1897 – Daisy Elliott bicycles the Alps & Twilight Park transitions
    Nov 17 2022
    Chapter 8: 1897 (Daisy Elliott bicycles the Alps & Twilight Park transitions) Daisy invites Alice to “read between the lines” while Alice meets Gertrude Tate, who will become the love of her life. Image attributions: (HRT) Historic Richmond Town archive; (AAH) Alice Austen House Museum collection. 1895 Daisy Elliot posing for Bicycling for Ladies book Demonstrating how to carry a bicycle. (HRT) 1895 Violet Ward & Daisy Elliott On the set for Bicycling for Ladies book illustrations. (HRT) c 1895 Violet Ward & Daisy Elliott Posing with their wheels. (HRT) 1895 Daisy Elliott posing for Bicycling for Ladies book Demonstrating coasting. (HRT) April 27, 1897 parade to dedicate Grant’s Tomb Alice accompanied Violet & her father, as referenced in a letter in this episode. (AAH) 1898 headline for article about Daisy Elliott’s bicycling excursion. Front page New York Times, November 13, 1898. June 26, 1897 letter from Daisy Elliott Written over 10 days on the steamship. (AAH) Daisy Elliott’s steamship The German ship from which Daisy wrote Alice during the 10-day voyage. c 1897 view from Clear Comfort Demonstrating the proximity to passing vessels. (HRT) July 30, 1897 letter from Daisy Elliott Written from the Tyrolean mountains in Austria. (HRT) July 31, 1897 postal from Switzerland Sent to Alice around the time she met Gertrude Tate. (AAH) June 19, 1897 letter from Daisy Elliott First letter, as read in this episode. (AAH) August 1, 1897 postal card from Switzerland Forwarded from Clear Comfort to Twilight Park. (AAH) August 1897 Twilight Park group Gertrude Tate (far left) next to Trude Eccleston. Tate’s mother, back, right, in black. (AAH) August 1897 Twilight Park group with Alice & Gertrude Earliest known image of them together – Alice squeezed in alongside Gertrude. (AAH) 1835 engraving, Catskill Mountain House Same location as Austen’s portrait of Tate. (HRT) August 1897, Gertrude Tate Viewing the Hudson Valley from a perch on a Catskill Mountain. (see notes) (HRT) August 1897, Gertrude Tate dances Part of a photo album sequence. (AAH) August 1897, Gertrude Tate dances Part of a photo album sequence. (AAH) August 1897 Gertrude Tate dancing Animated sequence of nine photographs. (AAH) August 1897, view of Ledge End Inn Group including Trude Eccleston at the cottage where they stayed. (HRT) August 1897, group at Santa Cruz Falls Gertrude Tate center, in profile, dressed in black – Twilight Park. (HRT) July 2022, Santa Cruz Falls Photograph by Pamela Bannos. August 25, 1897, letter from Trude Eccleston Writing about their new friend, Gertrude Tate. (AAH) August 1897, Gertrude Tate dancing on rock Alice Austen at left. Group at Twilight Park. (HRT) Twilight Park Engraving on postal card. July 2022, Twilight Park View of the Hudson Valley. Photograph by Pamela Bannos. c 1900, Union Chapel Twilight Park postcard. July 2022, Union Chapel Twilight Park. Photograph by Pamela Bannos. July 2022, Kaaterskill Falls panorama Near Twilight Park. Photograph by Pamela Bannos. July 2022, Kaaterskill Falls, rocks & bathers below View from lookout. Photograph by Pamela Bannos. Santa Cruz Falls panorama July 2022 photograph by Pamela Bannos. July 2022, Twilight Park Dripping rocks near the Santa Clara Waterfall. Photograph by Pamela Bannos. July 2022, Twilight Park gazebo & Santa Cruz Falls Photograph by Pamela Bannos. July 2022, View from Twilight Park View of the Hudson Valley from Twilight Park. Photograph by Pamela Bannos. PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Opening music … [Daisy Elliott] People over here seem to think us curiosities in our bicycle dresses, occasionally it has been embarrassing. The other night on the train a young peasant man was especially interested in us; he began to talk and ask questions, and as it is the custom of the country to converse with one’s travelling companions, we began by politely responding. He began by inquiring about where we came from and customs over in America; then about where we had been and where going; so far, all right, but when particularities as to whether we had husbands, as to how old we were and such little things, we began to think it time to sit on him. He didn’t seem to understand, and pityingly remarked to our fellow travelers – “they don’t understand.” After he and most everyone else had left, we got acquainted with a nice, strong young peasant woman, and when she left us, she was so sympathetic and friendly that she shook hands with us both very cordially. Theme music … [Narrator] That was Daisy Elliott, writing from Europe, while on an outing we’ll be hearing more about in this episode of My Dear Alice, a podcast series about 19th century photographer Alice Austen. Chapter 8: During the busy year of 1896, after Alice Austen finished making two series of photographs specifically for publication – one as a collection ...
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    38 min