Podcast Title: All Of It
Host: Alison Stewart
Episode: Exploring the Life of Trailblazing Staten Island Photographer Alice Austen
Release Date: June 10, 2025
Duration: Approximately 25 minutes

Introduction

In this compelling episode of All Of It, host Alison Stewart delves into the fascinating life and work of Alice Austen, a pioneering Staten Island photographer who challenged the gender norms of the Gilded Age. Joining her is Bonnie Yokelson, the author of the newly released book, Too Good to Get the Life and Photographs of Miss Alice Austen. Yokelson provides deep insights into Alice's life, her photographic legacy, and the societal context that influenced her groundbreaking work.

Alice Austen’s Early Life and Background

Alice Austen was born in 1866 into a wealthy Staten Island family. Her grandfather, John Haggerty Austin, was an auctioneer who played a significant role in founding Grace Church, signaling the family's prominence in New York society. Alice's upbringing was marked by affluence, allowing her to pursue photography as a passion rather than a profession.

Bonnie Yokelson [02:27]: "Alice grew up basically independently without having to work and being able to live a lavish lifestyle, which meant she loved fashion, she had lots of expensive hobbies like photography."

Alice and her mother lived in a Victorian cottage that symbolized their social status. Despite the family's wealth, Alice faced personal challenges, including her father's abandonment. Initially believed to have returned to England, it was later discovered that he remained in Brooklyn, adding layers of mystery to Alice's early life.

Bonnie Yokelson [04:31]: "He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery along with his parents. So that's kind of, you know, it's a mystery solved. To only create more mysteries."

Alice’s Photography and Style

Alice began her photographic journey around 1884, influenced by her uncle, Oswald, an amateur photographer who introduced her to the craft. Her early works, such as the Street Types of New York series, showcased her talent in capturing the lives of working-class individuals, distinguishing her from contemporaries like Alfred Stieglitz and Jacob Riis.

Bonnie Yokelson [10:13]: "The first known pictures are from 1884... portraits of her by Oswald, of Oswald and Aunt Min, and Alice and her dog Pug, named Punch, out in the lawn in their house in Staten Island."

Alice's approach to photography was unique. While many of her peers were part of the pictorial movement, striving to make photographs resemble other art forms, Alice maintained an old-fashioned yet highly accomplished amateur style. Her dedication to the technical and artistic aspects of photography earned her recognition as an artist, despite not labeling herself as such.

Bonnie Yokelson [23:01]: "She was a very serious and accomplished amateur and never called herself an artist. But other people complimented her work and said, 'Your work is. You are an artist.'"

Exploration of Gender and Sexuality in Alice’s Work

Alice Austen's photography is renowned for its subtle subversion of gender norms. She captured images of women dressed as men and scenes that implied physical intimacy between women, challenging the societal expectations of her time.

Bonnie Yokelson [14:36]: "Growing up as a Victorian woman, she grew up in a world where passionate relationships between girls were accepted and not judged because it was assumed that all women, heterosexual or homosexual, had no sexual desire at all."

Alice's most iconic photograph, featuring four women embracing, symbolizes both love and community. This image, known as the Darned Club, was a deliberate exclusion of men, fostering a space for women's solidarity.

Bonnie Yokelson [20:06]: "This is one of her most famous pictures... including Alice. So this is the kind of world that she grew up in."

However, Alice's work also reflects the prejudices of her time. She was influenced by and entertained the commercial culture that included racist elements, such as minstrel shows, which were prevalent in her social circles.

Bonnie Yokelson [12:37]: "She loved commercial culture of her day, which included racist cartoons. She loved minstrel shows, which was part of her world."

Despite these limitations, Alice's photographs of women dressing as men or portraying intimate relationships were acts of resistance, reflecting her complex navigation of gender and societal norms.

Alice’s Personal Life and Legacy

Alice Austen's personal life was marked by her long-term partnership with Gertrude Tate, spanning over fifty years. Their relationship endured societal scrutiny, especially during a time when such unions were often stigmatized or hidden.

Bonnie Yokelson [19:01]: "She and Gertrude were this happy couple... they were lesbian couple who had to navigate this world of censure."

Alice's legacy remained largely obscured until the later years of her life when financial hardships forced her and Gertrude into eviction. It was during this period that Alice's extensive body of work was rediscovered, revealing her significant contributions to photography and LGBTQ+ history. Today, their former Staten Island home serves as a museum, preserving Alice's photographs and life story.

Discussion on the Book Too Good to Get the Life and Photographs of Miss Alice Austen

Bonnie Yokelson discusses her book, which meticulously catalogs Alice Austen's 7,500 prints and negatives. The digitization and meticulous cataloging of Alice's work enabled Yokelson to trace the chronological progression of Alice's life and artistry.

Bonnie Yokelson [10:13]: "The archive was digitized and cataloged and available to me on a laptop and searchable in a database. So I was able to actually line up all the pictures in order."

One of the book's strengths is its exploration of Alice's dual identity as both a socialite and a trailblazing photographer. The scrapbooks Alice maintained served as visual diaries, providing context and depth to her photographic subjects.

Yokelson also addresses the complexities of interpreting Alice's photographs, especially those that challenge gender norms and depict intimate relationships between women. She explains how societal changes during Alice's lifetime influenced both her work and personal life.

Bonnie Yokelson [14:52]: "With a lot of research and help from experts, I came to understand that growing up as a Victorian woman... tricky distinction, but she was a very serious and accomplished amateur."

Conclusion

This episode of All Of It offers a profound exploration of Alice Austen's life, highlighting her role as a photographer who subtly challenged the gender and social norms of the Gilded Age. Through Bonnie Yokelson's expert insights and comprehensive research, listeners gain an appreciation for Alice's artistic legacy and her enduring impact on both photography and LGBTQ+ history.

For those interested in delving deeper, Bonnie Yokelson will be speaking at Saving Grace NYC on June 26th, and her book, Too Good to Get the Life and Photographs of Miss Alice Austen, is available for purchase. Additionally, Alice Austen's photographs are on display at the Alice Austen Museum in Staten Island, offering a tangible connection to her remarkable life and work.

Notable Quotes:

• Bonnie Yokelson [02:27]: "Alice grew up basically independently without having to work and being able to live a lavish lifestyle, which meant she loved fashion, she had lots of expensive hobbies like photography."

• Bonnie Yokelson [04:31]: "He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery along with his parents. So that's kind of, you know, it's a mystery solved. To only create more mysteries."

• Bonnie Yokelson [10:13]: "The first known pictures are from 1884... portraits of her by Oswald, of Oswald and Aunt Min, and Alice and her dog Pug, named Punch, out in the lawn in their house in Staten Island."

• Bonnie Yokelson [14:36]: "Growing up as a Victorian woman, she grew up in a world where passionate relationships between girls were accepted and not judged because it was assumed that all women, heterosexual or homosexual, had no sexual desire at all."

• Bonnie Yokelson [23:01]: "She was a very serious and accomplished amateur and never called herself an artist. But other people complimented her work and said, 'Your work is. You are an artist.'"

For more insights into culture and its myriad influences, tune into All Of It weekdays from 12:00 - 2:00 PM on WNYC.