Figure 1.--Here is one of Riis' slum photographs. We see abandoned children sleeping on the street. The location is Mulberry Street.

Jacob Riis (Denmark/United States, 1849- )

Jacob Riis was born in Ribe, Denmark during 1849. His parents had 15 children. He was the third oldest. I know nothing about his childhood and education, but know he became a carpenter in Copenhagen. He emmigrated to America after the Civil War in 1870. After coming to America, Riis had trouble finding work and for a while was homeless. Apparently the Police provided lodging houses for the indigent. I had never heard of this before. Riis worked as a menial labor, but eventually became a journalist. This is of course quite impressive, because journalism requiring effective English-language skills is a difficult profession for foreigners to enter. He began working for a New York bureau (1873). He began working for the South Brooklyn News (1874). Then he became a police reporter for the New York Tribune (1877), one of the most influntial newspapers in America. As a result of his experiences, Riis became a crusader for the ppor. Riis argued against the prevailing attitude in America. He saw the poor as "victims" rather than the indolent who were responsible for their plight. Riis became one of the first photo journalists when he was hired by the New York Evening Sun. Riis began using flash powder which allowed him to photograph interiors as well as exteriors, providing images of slum live never before available. His images of children are especially poignent. He was one of the first muckraking journalist.

Parents


Childhood

Jacob Riis was born in Ribe, Denmark during 1849. His parents had 15 children. He was the third oldest. I know nothing about his childhood.

Education


Work

Riis became a carpenter in Copenhagen.

Emmigration

Riis emmigrated to America after the Civil War in 1870. After coming to America, Riis had trouble finding work and for a while was homeless. Apparently the Police provided lodging houses for the indigent. I had never heard of this before.

Crusading Journalist

Riis worked as a menial labor, but eventually became a journalist. This is of course quite impressive, because journalism requiring effective English-language skills is a difficult profession for foreigners to enter. He began working for a New York bureau (1873). He began working for the South Brooklyn News (1874). Then he became a police reporter for the New York Tribune (1877), one of the most influntial newspapers in America. As a result of his experiences, Riis became a crusader for the ppor. Riis argued against the prevailing attitude in America. He saw the poor as "victims" rather than the indolent who were responsible for their plight.

Photography

Riis became one of the first photo journalists when he was hired by the New York Evening Sun. Riis began using flash powder which allowed him to photograph interiors as well as exteriors, providing images of slum life never before available. This shocked many of his subjects who dis not know about flash powder or who he was. Pandimonium often ensued, especially in crowded tentaments. His images of children are especially poignent. Riis not only used his photographs to illustrate his articles, but for three decades to illustrate lectures he gave throughout the country. His audiences were ofen shocked at the conditions of slum life shown in the slides.

Muckracking

Riis was one of the first muckraking journalist. The early 20th century was the heigth of the progressive crusading era. Jourmalists like Riis and newspapers and magazines began to crusade against social inequities. Several publications became especially associated with crusading journalists, such as the American Magazine, McClure's Magazine, and Scribner's. Conservatives objected to many of these publications and especially investigations inspired. They charged that the magazine and others were "muckrakers". The term was used variously with pride or to question the professinalism of the journalists involved. Muck means variously mud or barnyard dung. The term meant that the investigative journalists working to uncover corruption or abuses were digging up mud. The Term was popularized by President Roosevelt (1906). The mucrakers focused on a range of social issues. One of the most common was child labor.

How the Other Half Lives

Riis is perhaps best known for his book, How the Other Half Lives. Riis published a photo essay of city life in Scribner's Magazine (December 1889). At the time photo lithography was still relatively new and expensive, but was beginning to be used in advertisements. The article arounsed considerable interest. Riis followed the Scribner's article with a much more extensive work, the book How the Other Half Lives> (1890). The book was a landmark publication. One of the individuals who read it was crusading New York City Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt (1895-97). He ordered the police lodging houses closed.





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Created: 9:41 PM 8/24/2005
Last updated: 1:34 AM 4/10/2015