Step back in time to 1690. Picture a small Dutch farmhouse on Staten Island. This humble dwelling would eventually become the Alice Austen House a place steeped in history and brimming with fascinating stories. This Victorian Gothic cottage with its gingerbread trim and full-length porch would become the lifelong home of Alice Austen a pioneering photographer who defied social conventions.
Alice Austen was born into a well-to-do family but her father left early on. She and her mother moved to “Clear Comfort” her grandparents’ home on Staten Island. An only child surrounded by adults Alice was encouraged to pursue uncommon interests for Victorian girls. Before she was twelve her uncles gifted her a dry-plate camera. They helped set up a darkroom in the house. Here the talented Austen learned chemical processing. It ignited a lifelong passion.
Alice Austen’s life was unconventional. She played tennis seriously. She was the first woman on Staten Island to own a car even carrying her own toolkit. Bicycling another new technology offered women greater freedom. In 1896 Austen who was an avid cyclist took instructional photographs of bicycling techniques. These were used to create illustrations for Maria E Ward’s groundbreaking book Bicycling for Ladies.
In the 1890s she was commissioned by the US Public Health Service. She photographed facilities on New York City’s quarantine islands. Immigrants waited there for health inspections. After the assignment Austen continued visiting and photographing these sites for a decade fascinated by them.
In 1899 she met Gertrude Tate a Brooklyn teacher who became her partner for 53 years. Tate moved into Clear Comfort in 1917. After the 1929 stock market crash Austen and Tate opened a tearoom in the house to make ends meet. Sadly they eventually had to leave their beloved home. Austen stored thousands of glass-plate negatives at the Staten Island Historical Society. A number were published in a book and in Life magazine in 1951. This brought Austen some public acclaim and much needed money before her death in 1952. Tragically she and Tate were separated even in death. Tate’s family refused to allow her to be buried with Austen.
The Alice Austen House faced demolition in the 1960s. Citizens preservationists photographer Berenice Abbott and architect Philip Johnson worked tirelessly to save it. Restored as a museum in 1984 it’s now owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. It’s operated by the nonprofit Friends of Alice Austen House.
Today visitors to the Alice Austen House can explore a remarkable Victorian home. They can admire its dramatic water and skyline views. They can also see exhibits showcasing Austen’s life and work. The museum celebrates Austen’s photography and her unconventional life. It’s a testament to a remarkable woman and a place that almost wasn’t saved. The Alice Austen House stands as a symbol of preservation and a celebration of a life lived fully and authentically.