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“Bandit’s Roost”This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission. Please readour disclosurefor more info.
In 1870, 21-year-oldJacob Riisimmigrated from his home in Denmark to bustling New York City.
Unfortunately, when he arrived in the city, he immediately faced a myriad of obstacles.
So, he made a life-changing decision: he would teach himself photography.
Portrait of Jacob A. Riis
OnceHow the Other Half Livesgained recognition, Riis had many admirers, including Theodore Roosevelt.
Though not yet president, Roosevelt was highly influential.
While out together, they found that nine out of ten officers didn’t turn up for duty.
“Police Station Lodger, A Plank for a Bed”
Riis was also instrumental in exposing issues with public drinking water.
Populous towns sewered directly into our drinking water.
About seven, said they.
“Twelve-Year-Old Boy Pulling Threads in a Sweat Shop”
My case was made.
His writings also caused investigations into unsafe tenement conditions.
As a pioneer of investigativephotojournalism, Riis would show others that through photography they can make a change.
Hester Street
American photographer and sociologistLewis Hineis a good example of someone who followed in Riis' footsteps.
In their own way, each photographer carries on Jacob Riis' legacy.
Hester Street
Riis often photographed the decrepit conditions of the tenements.
Dens of Death, New York
An Old Rear Tenement in Roosevelt Street
Bottle Alley, Mulberry Road
Bottle Alley, Mulberry Bend
Bunks in a Seven-Cent Lodging House, Pell Street
Room in a Tenement
Blind Beggar
Five Cents Lodging, Bayard Street
Bohemian Cigarmakers at Work in their Tenement
Fighting Tuberculosis on the Roof
The Short Tail Gang Under a Pier
Family Making Artificial Flowers
In Sleeping Quarters – Rivington Street Dump
Home of an Italian Ragpicker
Minding Baby, Cherry Hill
Didn’t Live Nowhere
Drilling the Gang on Mulberry Street
Children’s Playground in Poverty Cap, New York
In the Sun Office, 3 AM
Girl and a Baby on a Doorstep
Pupils in the Essex Market Schools in a Poor Quarter of New York
The Baby’s Playground
Street Arabs in their Sleeping Quarters
Girl from the West 52 Street Industrial School
Boys from the Italian Quarter
