Planning for New Eyes on Alice Austen: Redefining the Museum's Interpretation

FAIN: GE-230775-15

Alice Austen House Museum (Staten Island, NY 10305-2002)
Janice Monger (Project Director: January 2015 to October 2016)

Planning for the reinterpretation of the Staten Island home of early twentieth-century photographer Alice Austen (1866–1952), an expanded website, and related educational programming.

The Alice Austen House seeks to create a more inclusive and expansive interpretation of Alice Austen's compelling personal story that is grounded more solidly in scholarly analysis and that will frame her story within several relevant contexts: New York City history and urban development; immigration history; women's and feminist issues; LGBT and gender studies; and photographic and art history. Five scholars have been selected to provide expertise from this variety of perspectives. The museum's goals are threefold: 1) For scholars to inform the interpretation for the museum's permanent installation; 2) To communicate the broader significance of the photographs, life story, and historic home of Alice Austen and her contributions to New York City and United States history; and 3) To update, and bring to the forefront, the story of the relationship between Alice Austen and her life-long companion, Gertrude Tate, to align with current approaches to LGBT interpretation.