The Alice Austen House: Gem of Staten Island's North Shore

On our first journey through Staten Island history, we followed the route of the Staten Island Railway while indulging in absolutely stunning photos from The New York Public Library Digital Collection. Now, in honor of National Photography Month, I’d like take you on a trip down the coast of Staten Island to a little place called the Alice Austen House.

Nestled on a small hill on the corner of what is now Hylan Boulevard and Edgewater Street on Staten Island, and overlooking the Narrows separating the island from Brooklyn, the Alice Austen house was home to famed female photographer Alice Austen (1866-1952). The house, also known as Clear Comfort, was originally built in 1690 and was purchased by Austen’s grandfather in 1844. The stock market crash in 1929 left Austen with very little money, and she was forced to move out in 1945, after which the house fell into a state of disrepair. Threatened with demolition in the 1970’s, the house was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1993. 

Austen’s Photography

Alice Austen was a pioneering photographer who viewed her surroundings through the lens of a dry-plate camera that used glass plates and chemicals to capture images. The subjects of her photographs were often those closest to her—her family and friends, including her companion Gertrude Tate, with whom she lived for nearly fifty years.  As her photography skills developed, she took her equipment—in some cases fifty pounds worth—onto the ferry and over to Manhattan where she shot amazing photos of everyday life in the city.

Despite Austen’s obvious and impressive skill with a camera, she only sold her photos on one occasion (photos of the quarantine islands off of Staten Island’s north shore).  Austen came from a family of means so perhaps the thought of profiting from her photographs never occurred to her. Alas, one can only speculate.

The New York Public Library is privileged to have many of Austen’s photographs in our digital collection. These photographs, over 70 in total, serve as incredible windows into the past. Not only do they include terrific shots of her home, friends, and family, but they also include images of daily life in New York. Take a look at just some of Austen’s photographs below:

The St. George Library Center’s Staten Island History Collection also houses a number of sources related to Alice Austen:

• Alice's world; the life and photography of an American original: Alice Austen, 1866-1952
• Alice Austen House: museum & garden Staten Island New York
• Gateway to America: the Alice Austen house and esplanade
• Fine day: an exhibition featuring photographs by Alice Austen, Frank Eugene, Gertrude Käsebier and others : May 12-November 13, 1988

The Alice Austen House Today

Today, the Alice Austen House is a National Historic Landmark and serves as a museum and exhibition space.  Visitors can enjoy the beautiful grounds, including the stunning view, before they enter the house itself.  The house and collections inside have been maintained by The Friends of Alice Austen since the 1960’s and they continue to oversee its restoration today. It is important to note that the restoration of the house to its original splendor, both the interior and exterior, was made possible through the use of Austen’s own photographs.

Once inside, visitors are greeted by a decor reminiscent of a time gone by. Though not all original, curators have gone to painstaking lengths to acquire pieces in line with the period. Visitors can also view Austen's darkroom, located on the second floor. Austen's photographs are located throughout the house.  In addition to displaying Austen's photographs, the house serves as an exhibition space. Information on exhibitions, including the current juried exhibit of contemporary photography by local artists, can be found on the Alice Austen House website. 

The website also includes access to many of Austen’s photographs, including some taken from her trips into Manhattan and the quarantine islands (Swinburne and Hoffman). Visitors are welcome to use “The Study”, a resource room that houses a collection of books, scholarly articles, a selection of Austen's photographs as well as an amazing set of contemporary art and photography magazines. These magazines, some of which are not easily accessible, include:

• Aperture 
• ArtForum
• Art News
• Art in America
• PDN
• Photograph
• Cabinet
• Esopus

The Alice Austen House also offers a wide array of educational programs geared towards people of all ages. These include school programs, Teen Studio, Summer Camps, and the Pinhole Camera Education Program. More information can be found on the Education page of the Alice Austen House website.  In addition to their education programs, the house also offers a number of exciting events, such as the Fleet Week Watch Party, Annual Pug Fun Day, and the Alice Austen 150th Birthday Gala.  A full list of events can found on the their Events page.

The Views

I would be remiss if I did not show you the absolutley stunning view from the grounds: