The "First Lady" of Photography

One of the things I love best about visiting Blogland are all the beautiful photos.  I am amazed at the talent that is out there.  I took my first photography class last Saturday, at the Alice Austen House, a museum on Staten Island, New York. 

Alice Austen was a photographer who documented life in New York City, photographed the immigrants as they arrived from different parts of the world, and took photos while the immigrants were in the quarantine station.  She did this at great personal risk to herself, as she was subject to diseases like tuberculosis.  Alice was never recognized as a fine art photographer until the last ten years.  Nor was she paid.  She took over 8,000 images, which seems like a small amount when you think that dedicated amateur photographers, and certainly professional ones, can take 1000 photos at one shoot!  But negatives back in those early days were 8 inches by 10 inches, and she carried around 50 pounds of equipment.  Her Uncle Oswald, a sea captain, brought back her first camera when she was 11 years old in 1877.

Alice Austen, age 3

Here are some of the photos of house.  It was built in 1690 as a one-room farm house.  Renovations took place throughout the 1700's.  It was purchased by Alice's grandfather  in 1844.  It was was called "Clear Comfort" by the family.

The front porch

Staircase to 2nd floor at rear of house

The interior is exactly the way it was when Alice and her family lived here.  In 1929, as a result of the stock market crash, Alice lost the property and was forced to live in a poorhouse.  When her photos were discovered, and their value realized, she was able to live in a decent retirement home.  She died at age 86.  She was the first woman on Staten Island to own a car.

Alice as a young adult

Photos in the entry hall

Piano in the parlor

Alice's camera in the parlor

the dining room

The rug in the dining room is over 100 years old, and the room is closed to the public.  I peeked in through the doorway.

I had to snap this door, look how low the door knob is!  Folks were much teenier then.

Here are some shots around the property. 

It was a hazy, actually quite foggy day.  That is the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, the Brooklyn end of the span.

Believe it or not, off across the bay, is the island of Manhattan, barely visible through the thick fog.

These roses smelled incredible.  In 1975, the City of New York purchased the home  and restored it to its 19th century appearance.  The NYC Parks Dept. maintains the ground, as well as volunteers. 

If you would like to learn more, or take a virtual tour of the Alice Austen House, click here.  In 1973,  it was declared a National Historic Landmark.  In 2004, the National Trust for Historic Preservation inducted the Austen House into the Historic Artists' Homes and Studios.  Other members include Georgia O'Keeffe and Jackson Pollock.

This is probably one of the longest posts I have done so far.   I did enjoy walking around and snapping away.  And I wanted to share it with you, some of the finest photographers I know! 

I will be joining Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper.

xo,