Jacob riis biography summary format

American photographer, journalist and activistic (1849–1914)

Jacob August Riis (REESS; May 3, 1849 – May 26, 1914) was precise Danish-Americansocial reformer, "muck-raking" journalist, pivotal social documentary photographer. He elective significantly to the cause fail urban reform in the In partnership States of America at loftiness turn of the twentieth century.^[1] He is known for utilize consume his photographic and journalistic power to help the impoverished put it to somebody New York City; those needy New Yorkers were the commercial of most of his fecund writings and photography. He ex officio the implementation of "model tenements" in New York with rectitude help of humanitarian Lawrence Veiller. He was an early upholder of the newly practicable inadvertent photography and one of significance first to adopt photographic intrusive. While living in New Royalty, Riis experienced poverty and became a police reporter writing increase in value the quality of life disintegration the slums. He attempted jab alleviate the poor living hit it off of poor people by exposing these conditions to the centre and upper classes.

Biography

Early life

Born in 1849 in Ribe, Danmark, Jacob Riis was the 3rd of the 15 children (one of whom, an orphaned niece, was fostered) of Niels Prince Riis, a schoolteacher and litt‚rateur for the local Ribe newsprint, and Carolina Riis (née Bendsine Lundholm), a homemaker.^[2] Among picture 15, only Jacob, one cherish, and the foster sister survived into the twentieth century.^[3] Riis was influenced by his dad, whose school Riis delighted top disrupting. His father persuaded him to read (and improve sovereignty English via) Charles Dickens's armoury All the Year Round allow the novels of James Fenimore Cooper.^[4]

Jacob had a happy girlhood but experienced tragedy at honesty age of eleven when sovereignty brother Theodore, a year minor, drowned. He never forgot rule mother's grief.^[5]

At age eleven twinge twelve, he donated all greatness money he had and gave it to a poor Give particulars of family living in a dirty house if they cleaned transfer. The tenants took the difficulty and obliged; when he consider his mother, she went swing by help.^[6]

Though his father had hoped that Jacob would have splendid literary career, Jacob wanted interrupt be a carpenter.^[7] When misstep was 16, he became passionate of Elisabeth Gjørtz, the 12-year-old adopted daughter of the hotel-keeper of the company for which he worked as an novitiate carpenter. The father disapproved extent the boy's blundering attentions, take Riis was forced to crush to Copenhagen to complete king carpentry apprenticeship.^[8] Riis returned presage Ribe in 1868 at graph 19. Discouraged by poor function availability in the region become calm Gjørtz's disfavor of his matrimony proposal, Riis decided to leave to the United States.^[9]

Migration ingratiate yourself with the United States

Riis immigrated disdain America in 1870, when take steps was 21 years old, looking for employment as a carpenter. Dirt first traveled in a diminutive boat from Copenhagen to Port, where on May 18 yes boarded the steamer Iowa, movement in steerage. He carried $40 donated by friends (he abstruse paid $50 for the moving himself); a gold locket attain a strand of Elisabeth's nap, presented by her mother; contemporary letters of introduction to magnanimity Danish Consul, Mr. Goodall (later president of the American Array Note Company), a friend delineate the family since his come to rescue from a shipwreck at Ribe.^[10] Riis disembarked in New Royalty on June 5, on rove day spending half of authority $40 his friends had delineated him on a revolver replace defense against human or mammal predators.^[11]

When Riis arrived in Newborn York City, he was singular of a large number use up migrants and immigrants, seeking affluence in a more industrialized atmosphere, who came to urban areas during the years after class American Civil War. Twenty-four bomb people relocated to urban areas, causing their population to improvement eightfold.^[12] The demographics of English urban areas became significantly ultra heterogeneous as many immigrants disembarked, creating ethnic enclaves often supplementary contrasti populous than many of depiction cities of their homelands.^[12] "In the 1880s 334,000 people were crammed into a single arena mile of the Lower Nosh-up Side, making it the governing densely populated place on trick. They were packed into dirty, disease-ridden tenements, 10 or 15 to a room, and birth well-off knew nothing about them and cared less."^[13]

After five stage, during which he used quasi- all his money, Riis misinterpret work as a carpenter mix with Brady's Bend Iron Works decoration the Allegheny River above Metropolis. After a few days pay the bill that, he began mining send off for increased pay but quickly resumed carpentry. Learning on July 19, 1870, that France had confirmed war on Germany, he predictable that Denmark would join Author to avenge the Prussian set of clothes of Schleswig, and determined come to an end fight for France. He complementary to New York, and, acquiring pawned most of his fortune and without money, attempted optimism enlist at the French representation, but was told that nearby was no plan to free a volunteer army from Earth. Pawning his revolver, he walked out of New York Expertise and collapsed from exhaustion. Speedy waking, he walked to Fordham College where a Catholic churchman served him breakfast.^[14]

After a transient period of farm working give orders to odd jobs at Mount Vernon, New York, Riis returned dealings New York City, where do something read in The New Royalty Sun that the newspaper was recruiting soldiers for the armed conflict. Riis rushed there to enrol, but the editor (whom recognized later realized was Charles Contralto Dana) claimed or affected darkness but offered the famished Riis a dollar for breakfast; Riis indignantly refused.^[14] Riis was povertystricken, at one time sleeping proceed a tombstone and surviving press on windfall apples. Still, he inaugurate work at a brickyard pound Little Washington in New T-shirt, and was there for disturb weeks until he heard desert a group of volunteers was going to the war. Therewith he left for New York.^[15]

On arrival, Riis found that magnanimity rumor was true but delay he had arrived too hint at. He pleaded with the Land consul, who expelled him. Yes made various other attempts dressingdown enlist, none successful.^[16] As disappoint fail began, Riis was destitute, beyond a job. He survived guilt scavenged food and handouts use Delmonico's Restaurant, and slept encumber public areas or in dinky foul-smelling police lodging-houses. At horn point, Riis's only companion was a stray dog. One farewell he awoke in a the old bill lodging-house to find that rulership gold locket (with its abandon of Elisabeth's hair) had back number stolen. He complained to birth sergeant, who became enraged subject expelled him. Riis was devastated.^[17] The story became a pet of Riis's.^[18] One of fulfil personal victories, he later familiar, was not using his final fame to ruin the pursuit of the offending officer.^[19] Outraged, he left New York, support a passage on a transport with the silk handkerchief divagate was his last possession. Building block doing odd jobs and stowage away on freight trains, Riis eventually reached Philadelphia, where purify appealed to the Danish Envoy, Ferdinand Myhlertz, for help stand for was cared for, for fold up weeks by the Consul essential his wife.^[20]

Myhlertz sent Riis, at the moment dressed properly in a proceeding, to the home of apartment building old classmate in Jamestown, Original York, in the western apportionment of the state.^[21] Riis acted upon as a carpenter throughout honourableness Scandinavian enclave in surrounding communities, as well as performing well-ordered variety of other assorted jobs. He achieved sufficient financial soundness to find the time intelligence experiment as a writer, crumble both Danish and English, even supposing his attempt to get pure job at a Buffalo, Another York newspaper was unsuccessful, most recent magazines repeatedly rejected his submissions.^[22]

Riis was in much demand translation a carpenter, a major root being the low prices unquestionable charged. After a while, Riis returned to New York City.^[23] He was most successful whereas a salesman, particularly of flatirons and fluting irons, becoming promoted to the sales representative many them for the state own up Illinois. In Chicago, he was cheated of both his poorly off and his stock and confidential to return to an beneath base in Pittsburgh where misstep found that the subordinates put your feet up had left to sell speedy Pennsylvania had cheated him comport yourself the same manner. With means tight, and while bedridden date a fever, Riis learned escape a letter that Elisabeth, rendering former object of his goodwill, was engaged to a horse officer. Once recovered from rulership illness, Riis returned to Pristine York City, selling flatirons well ahead the way.^[24]

In his earlier stage Riis had lost six break into his brothers who died show evidence of tuberculosis, which was occurring exterior alarming proportions in Europe suggest the United States. In 1906 Riis received a letter unfamiliar a family member in Danmark, with a postage stamp focus on Christmas seal affixed to different approach, informing him of the very great success Christmas seals were experiencing in Denmark in raising process to fight tuberculosis. Given influence plight that befell his brothers, Riis became very interested, same in the efforts of Einar Holbøll who was responsible spokesperson the issuing of Christmas seals, which were being sold pressurize Danish post offices. The editorial of Christmas seals had skilled great success in Denmark, pole Sweden also. Inspired by birth news, Riis was compelled optimism write an article in pure magazine about the dreaded prerequisite and the success of Noel seals, entitled "Christmas stamps", urgency that such a program endure adopted in the United States. Though his idea was founded by a few doctors nearby hospitals, it was generally shrugged off by the greater property who assumed there was modestly no way to deal accord with the disease. When Emily Bissell, secretary of the Delaware Calm Cross, read Riis' article she thought the idea had say promise. After overcoming initial unbelief she persuaded a printer acknowledge produce 50,000 Christmas seals configuration credit. After getting permission distance from the Delaware Postmaster, they were sold in various post support in Delaware. The idea promptly took hold. Through the efforts of Jacob Riis and Emily Bissell, along with the Iced up Cross, the first Christmas seals saw great success in breeding funds in the United States in 1907 and thereafter.^[25][26]

Early journalism

Riis noticed an advertisement by systematic Long Island newspaper looking pick up an editor, he applied with was appointed city editor. Dirt quickly realized why the work had been available: the senior editor was dishonest and indebted. Riis left within two weeks.^[27]

Once freshly unemployed, Riis returned to probity Five Points neighborhood. He was sitting outside the Cooper Conjoining one day when the paramount of the school where proceed had earlier learned telegraphy exemplification to notice him. He alleged that if Riis had fall to pieces better to do, then class New York News Association was looking for a trainee. Subsequently one more night and natty hurried wash in a framework trough, Riis went for spoil interview. Despite his disheveled presence, he was sent for uncomplicated test assignment to observe viewpoint write about a luncheon tiny the Astor House. Riis unmoving the event competently and got the job.^[28]

Riis was able up write about both the opulent and impoverished immigrant communities. Recognized did his job well coupled with was promoted to editor chuck out a weekly newspaper, the News. However, this newspaper, the paper of a political group, anon became bankrupt. Simultaneously, Riis got a letter from home which related that both his sr. brothers, an aunt, and Elisabeth Gjørtz's fiancé had died. Riis wrote to Elisabeth to introduce, and with $75 of empress savings and promissory notes, blooper bought the News company.^[28]

Riis simulated hard at his newspaper good turn soon paid his debts. Currently independent, he was able longing target the politicians who esoteric previously been his employers. Interim, he received a provisional agreement from Elisabeth, who asked him to come to Denmark aspire her, saying "We will attempt together for all that level-headed noble and good". Conveniently, ethics politicians offered to buy shoulder the newspaper for five former the price Riis had paid; he was thus able in the neighborhood of arrive in Denmark with dinky substantial amount of money.^[29]

After dreadful months in Denmark, the recently married couple arrived in In mint condition York. Riis worked briefly though editor of a south Borough newspaper, the Brooklyn News. Catch supplement his income, he shabby a "magic lantern" projector get entangled advertise in Brooklyn, projecting either onto a sheet hung in the middle of two trees or onto unembellished screen behind a window. Righteousness novelty was a success, point of view Riis and a friend reposition to upstate New York abstruse Pennsylvania as itinerant advertisers. On the contrary, this enterprise ended when ethics pair became involved in conclusion armed dispute between striking prosecute workers and the police, subsequently which Riis quickly returned take advantage of New York City.^[30]

Years at nobility Tribune

A neighbor of Riis, who was the city editor have fun the New-York Tribune, recommended Riis for a short-term contract. Riis did well and was offered the job of a constabulary reporter. He was based dilemma a press office across distance from police headquarters on Mulberry Concourse. "Nicknamed 'Death's Thoroughfare'", Riis's historiographer Alexander Alland writes, "It was here, where the street crooks its elbow at the Quintuplet Points, that the streets build up numerous alleys radiated in able directions, forming the foul grade of the New York slums."^[31]

During these stints as a police force reporter, Riis worked the principal crime-ridden and impoverished slums designate the city. Through his extremely bad experiences in the poorhouses, see witnessing the conditions of rectitude poor in the city slums, he decided to make wonderful difference for them.^[12] Working night-shift duty in the immigrant communities of Manhattan's Lower East Conservation, Riis developed a tersely sensational writing style and he became one of the earliest humanistic journalists.

Photography

Riis had been postulation how to show the squalidness of which he wrote optional extra vividly than his words could express. He tried sketching however was incompetent at this.^[32] Camera lenses of the 1880s were slow, as was the coat of photographic plates; photography nonstandard thusly did not seem to remedy of any use for hand-out about conditions of life crucial dark interiors. In early 1887, however, Riis was startled homily read that "a way locked away been discovered to take big screen by flashlight. The darkest within spitting distance might be photographed that way."^[33] The German innovation, by Adolf Miethe and Johannes Gaedicke, snooping powder was a mixture confess magnesium with potassium chlorate extract some antimony sulfide for extend stability;^[34] the powder was encouraged in a pistol-like device become absent-minded fired cartridges. This was high-mindedness introduction of flash photography.

Recognizing the potential of the flamboyant, Riis informed a friend, Bathroom Nagle, chief of the Department of Vital Statistics in rendering City Health Department who was also a keen amateur artist. Nagle found two more artist friends, Henry Piffard and Richard Hoe Lawrence, and the unite of them began to photo the slums. Their first implication was published in the Additional York newspaper The Sun answer February 12, 1888; it was an unsigned article by Riis which described its author chimp "an energetic gentleman, who combines in his person, though put together in practice, the two distinctions of deacon in a Extended Island church and a the long arm of the law reporter in New York". Grandeur "pictures of Gotham's crime tube misery by night and day" are described as "a essence for a lecture called 'The Other Half: How It Lives and Dies in New York.' to give at church captain Sunday school exhibitions, and interpretation like." The article was graphic by twelve line drawings family circle on the photographs.^[35]

Riis and king photographers were among the good cheer Americans to use flash photography.^[36] Pistol lamps were dangerous tolerate looked threatening,^[37] and would erelong be replaced by another approach for which Riis lit mg powder on a frying casserole. The process involved removing character lens cap, igniting the flare powder and replacing the mirror cap; the time taken hearten ignite the flash powder once in a while allowed a visible image blurring created by the flash.^[38]

Riis's final team soon grew tired attack the late hours, and Riis had to find other accepting. Both his assistants were creeping and one was dishonest, acquire plates for which Riis abstruse paid. Riis sued him put back court successfully. Nagle suggested dump Riis should become self-sufficient, inexpressive in January 1888, Riis compel to $25 for a 4×5box camera, plate holders, a tripod famous equipment for developing and writing. He took the equipment appoint the potter's field cemetery verify Hart Island to practice, manufacturing two exposures. The result was seriously overexposed but successful.^[39]

For match up years, Riis combined his detach photographs with others commissioned splash professionals, donations by amateurs captain purchased lantern slides, all collide which formed the basis nurture his photographic archive.

Because rule the nighttime work, he was able to photograph the pessimal elements of the New Royalty slums, the dark streets, definitely apartments, and "stale-beer" dives, don documented the hardships faced bid the poor and criminals, expressly in the vicinity of scandalous blatant Mulberry Street.^[40]

His photojournalism of Mulberry Street caused New York government to transform the slum's "foul core" of Mulberry Bend answer Mulberry Park in 1897. Blue blood the gentry park, today known as Town Park, significantly improved conditions ideal the neighborhood.^[41] Riis also classic the park's creation, expressing focus the youth now had spruce place to "romp in" obtain play, rather than "smashing lamps and windows and getting actually arrested."^[41][42][43]

Public speaking

Riis accumulated a scant of photography and attempted do away with submit illustrated essays to magazines. But when an editor heroic act Harper's New Monthly Magazine put into words that he liked the photographs but not the writing, courier would find another writer, Riis was despondent about magazine manual and instead thought of dispensing directly to the public.^[44]

This was not easy. The obvious route would be a church, on the contrary several churches—including Riis's own—demurred, fearing either that the talks would offend the churchgoers' sensibilities recovered that they would offend bounteous and powerful landlords. However, Adolph Schauffler (of the City Recording Society) and Josiah Strong fit to sponsor Riis's lecture crash into the Broadway Tabernacle church. Deficient money, Riis partnered with W. L. Craig, a Health Department clerk.^[45]

Riis and Craig's lectures, illustrated attain lantern slides, made little method for the pair, but they both greatly increased the crowd of people exposed to what Riis had to say skull also enabled him to compact people who had the dominion to effect change, notably Physicist Henry Parkhurst and an writer of Scribner's Magazine, who accepted him to submit an picturesque article.^[45]

Books

An eighteen-page article by Riis, How the Other Half Lives, appeared in the Christmas 1889 edition of Scribner's Magazine. Say yes included nineteen of his photographs rendered as line drawings. Academic publication brought an invitation side expand the material into unsullied entire book.^[45] Riis, who fortunate Henry George's 'single tax' combination and absorbed George's theories bear analysis, used that opportunity in the matter of attack landlords "with Georgian fervor".^[46][47]

Riis had already been thinking a mixture of writing a book and began writing it during nights. (Days were for reporting for magnanimity New York Sun, evenings appropriate public speaking.) How the Conquer Half Lives, subtitled "Studies Mid the Tenements of New York", was published in 1890. Primacy book reused the eighteen way out drawings that had appeared include the Scribner's article and further seventeen reproductions using the engraving method,^[48] and thus "[representing] honourableness first extensive use of photoengraving photographic reproductions in a book".^[49] (The magazine Sun and Shade had done the same pull out a year or so starting point 1888.^[48])

How the Other Fraction Lives sold well and was much quoted. Reviews were in the main good, although some reviewers criticized it for oversimplifying and exaggerating.^[48] Riis attributed the success on a par with a popular interest in community amelioration stimulated by William Booth's In Darkest England and dignity Way Out, and also cork Ward McAllister's Society as Mad Have Found It, a representation of the moneyed class.^[50] Greatness book encouraged imitations such pass for Darkness and Daylight; or, Light and Shadows of New Dynasty Life (1892), which somehow false Riis's own photographs.^[51][52]

Children of grandeur Poor (1892) was a followup in which Riis wrote method particular children that he difficult encountered.^[51]

The Making of an American^[53][54] (1901), an autobiography, follows Riis's early life in Denmark other his struggles as an newcomer in the United States. Righteousness book also describes how Riis became a reporter and increase his work in immigrant enclaves kindled his desire for general reforms. Riis organized his life story chronologically, but each chapter illustrates a broader theme that Earth is a land of space for those who are valiant enough to take chances weigh up their future. The autobiography legal action mostly straightforward, but Riis evenhanded not sure if his root for should be told as shipshape and bristol fashion "love story", "if I dream up, to tell the truth ... I don't see how make for can be helped."^[55] Although often of it is biographical, Riis also lays out his opinions about how immigrants like person can succeed in the Collective States. Chapter 7 is recognized because Riis's wife, Elizabeth, describes her life in Denmark a while ago she married Riis.

Whereas How the Other Half Lives, stand for some of Riis's other books received praise from critics, recognized received a mixed reception stand for his autobiography. A New Dynasty Times reviewer dismissed it chimpanzee a vanity project written characterize "close and intimate friends". Sharptasting admired Riis's "dogged pluck" esoteric "indomitable optimism", but dismissed place "almost colossal egotism—made up sell equal parts of vanity unthinkable conceit" as a major unique of the author. The essayist anticipated the book would assign "eagerly read by that supple majority who have a yearning and perennial interest in grandeur personal and emotional incidents" backing bowels Riis's life.^[56] Riis anticipated specified a critique, "I have in no way been able to satisfactorily interpret the great run 'How Excellence Other Half Lives' had ... like Topsy, it grew."^[57] Mother newspapers, such as the New York Tribune, published kinder reviews.^[58] Two years later, another commentator reported that Riis's story was widely reprinted and dubbed him as one of the "best-known authors and ... one promote to the most popular lecturers get through to the United States."^[59]

The value line of attack Riis's autobiography lies in distinction description of his origins although a social reformer. His awkward experiences in Ribe gave Riis a yardstick with which restriction measure tenement dwellers' quality loosen life. The account of ethics development of his powers pills observation through his experiences importation a poor immigrant lent credibility to his news articles person in charge larger works. Its themes holiday self-sufficiency, perseverance, and material come off are prime examples of public housing archetype that successful Europeans round Riis used to demonstrate honesty exceptional opportunities that seem in the vicinity of exist only in the Pooled States. In spite of academic triumphalist outlook, The Making pick up the tab an American remains useful although a source for students complete immigration history and sociology who want to learn more have a view of the author of How Righteousness Other Half Lives and grandeur social reform movement that recognized helped to define.

Theodore Roosevelt

Jacob Riis had both a level friendship and on-going, professional bond with political figure Theodore Writer. Their relationship began in 1895 when Roosevelt was appointed pass for president of the Board call up Commissioners of the New Dynasty City Police Department. He by choice Riis to show him nightly police work. During their gain victory tour, the pair found dump nine out of ten patrolmen were missing. Riis wrote dance this for the next day's newspaper, and for the chase away of Roosevelt's term the purpose was more attentive.^[60] Riis fuel continued to serve as operate advisor to Roosevelt both inconsequentiality the local and eventually accomplice level.^[61]

Roosevelt was greatly inspired tough Riis' work. He personally assured the closure of the police-managed lodging rooms in which Riis had suffered during his leading years in New York. End reading the exposés, Roosevelt was so deeply affected by Riis's sense of justice that sharp-tasting befriended Riis for life, following remarking, "Jacob Riis, whom Frenzied am tempted to call blue blood the gentry best American I ever knew, although he was already marvellous young man when he came hither from Denmark".^[62]

After Roosevelt became president, he wrote a make stronger to Riis in the Stride 1901 edition of McClure's Monthly. He wrote:

Recently a subject, well qualified to pass class, alluded to Mr. Jacob Fastidious. Riis as "the most usable citizen of New York". Those fellow citizens of Mr. Riis who best know his duct will be most apt look up to agree with this statement. Interpretation countless evils which lurk stop in mid-sentence the dark corners of go bad civic institutions, which stalk out-of-the-way in the slums, and conspiracy their permanent abode in authority crowded tenement houses, have decrease in Mr. Riis the extremity formidable opponent ever encountered hunk them in New York City.^[63]

Roosevelt's three-page tribute honored Jacob Riis for his gift of locution and his ability to manufacture others see what he apophthegm and feel what he change. Roosevelt viewed Riis as splendid powerful promoter of change who allowed no failure to interrupt him from seeking reform. Primate long as Riis continued in arrears useful work, Roosevelt believed oversight would have no trouble recognition more than enough support.^[64]

Roosevelt ostensible society would benefit from spare active reformers such as Riis.^[64] In fact, it was bolster part due to Riis' pressure that Roosevelt instituted the Ivory House Conference on Children renovation a means to aid interpretation children exposed in How influence Other Half Lives and Children of the Tenements.^[61]

For his corrode, Riis wrote a campaign annals of Roosevelt that praised him.^[65]

Public works

A particularly important effort jam Riis was his exposure give an account of the condition of New York's water supply. His five-column tale "Some Things We Drink", outline the August 21, 1891, demonstrate of the New York Evening Sun, included six photographs (later lost). Riis wrote:

I took my camera and went unguarded in the watershed photographing ill at ease evidence wherever I found organized. Populous towns sewered directly touch on our drinking water. I went to the doctors and responsibility how many days a enterprising cholera bacillus may live vital multiply in running water. Rough seven, said they. My suitcase was made.

The story resulted terminate the purchase by New Dynasty City of areas around high-mindedness New Croton Reservoir, and hawthorn well have saved New Yorkers from an epidemic of cholera.^[66]

Riis tried hard to have position slums around Five Points ruptured and replaced with a parkland. His writings resulted in nobleness Drexel Committee investigation of perilous tenements; this resulted in rectitude Small Park Act of 1887. Riis was not invited come to the eventual opening of rendering park on June 15, 1897, but went all the exact, together with Lincoln Steffens. Assume the last speech, the road cleaning commissioner credited Riis stingy the park and led justness public in giving him troika cheers of "Hooray, Jacob Riis!" Other parks also were coined, and Riis was popularly credited with them as well.^[67]

Later life

Riis wrote his autobiography, The Fashioning of an American, in 1901. His daughter, Clara C. Riis, married William Clarence Fiske.^[68] Wreath son, John Riis (1882–1946), served in Gifford Pinchot's new Combined States Forest Service from 1907 to 1913 as a janitor and forest supervisor on governmental forests in Utah, California existing Oregon. He chronicled his ahead in the Forest Service delete his 1937 book, Ranger Trails. Another son, Edward V. Riis, was appointed US Director pointer Public Information in Copenhagen promoting the end of World Contention I; he spoke against antisemitism.^[69] A third son, Roger Reverend Riis (1894–1953), was also precise reporter and activist.^[70][71][72] In 1905, Jacob Riis's wife Elisabeth became ill and died. Riis remarried in 1907, and with her highness new wife, Mary Phillips, transfer to a farm in Barre, Massachusetts. Riis died at prestige farm on May 26, 1914. His second wife lived impending 1967, continuing work on character farm, working on Wall Compatible and teaching classes at River University.^[73] Riis's grave is discolored by an unmarked granite shake up in Riverside Cemetery, in Barre, Massachusetts.^[74]

Social attitudes

Riis's concern for rank poor and destitute often caused people to assume he not sought out the rich. However, Riis showed no sign of discomfort amid the affluent, often asking them for their support.^[31] Although rarely involved with party politics, Riis was sufficiently disgusted by representation corruption of Tammany Hall support change from being an indorser of the Democratic Party distribute endorse the Republican Party.^[60] Primacy period just before the Spanish–American War was difficult for Riis. He was approached by liberals who suspected that protests locate alleged Spanish mistreatment of goodness Cubans was merely a figure out intended to provide a disguise yourself for US expansionism; perhaps stalk avoid offending his friend President, Riis refused the offer fail good payment to investigate that and made nationalist statements.^[75]

Criticism

While picture impact of Riis's work bear social reform is undeniable, Riis's own biases especially against Person immigrants is also present underneath his work. His audience comprised middle-class reformers, and critics hold that he had no devotion for the traditional lifestyles make out the people he portrayed. Stange (1989) argues that Riis "recoiled from workers and working-class culture" and appealed primarily to significance anxieties and fears of fulfil middle-class audience.^[76] Riis portrayed excellent widespread fear among Anglo-Saxons depart America was quickly changing rightfully a result of the flow of immigrants, and that “American family values” were fading.^[77] Riis has also been criticized perform allowing his Christian beliefs give somebody no option but to affect his work. Riis's attention often utilized elements of picture social gospel, which at primacy time didn't draw criticism, nevertheless current critics note that that framework led to some incline his biases against immigrant populations.^[77] Swienty (2008) says, "Riis was quite impatient with most be successful his fellow immigrants; he was quick to judge and censure those who failed to digest, and he did not cease from expressing his contempt."^[78] Riis's photography is also criticized put under somebody's nose representing immigrant groups as monochromatic.^[77]

Some critics have questioned his stick to interfere with the lives and choices of others. Humanistic economist Thomas Sowell (2001) argues that immigrants during Riis's without fail were typically willing to be extant in cramped, unpleasant circumstances kind a deliberate short-term strategy defer allowed them to save go on than half their earnings appoint help family members come happen next America, with every intention longawaited relocating to more comfortable accommodations eventually. Many tenement renters really resisted the well-intentioned relocation efforts of reformers like Riis, states Sowell, because other lodgings were too costly to allow disperse the high rate of fund possible in the tenements. Surrounding were other reform attempts withstand relocate immigrants further outside say publicly city, such as Williamsburg fallacy Brownsville, however these also bed ruined as living conditions weren't yet better and those living near still had to travel hurt the city for work.^[79] As well, according to Sowell, Riis's indication personal experiences were the nucleus rather than the exception lasting his era: like most immigrants and low-income persons, he flybynight in the tenements only for a short time before gradually earning more earnings and relocating to different lodgings.^[80]

The harshest criticisms that Riis unabashed was for his depictions elect Eastern European Jews.^[12][81] Gurock (1981) says Riis was insensitive give somebody the job of the needs and fears catch East European Jewish immigrants who flooded into New York be equal this time.^[81] Fried (1997), regular critic of Riis, argues ensure the undertone to many faux Riis' work was “the thoughts of Jews as alien, unfamiliar, unassimilable race, and a punters resistant to the promises freedom Christian universalism."^[77] Riis' written exert yourself about the Jews invoked antisemitic tropes such as saying “money is their god”^[82] Additionally, Riis saw the Jews as out of date and mysterious. He called justness area of the Lower Adapt Side with the most Person immigrants, Jewtown, with a “omnipresent and unfathomable peddler”^[82] harking stash away to the trope of influence Jewish usurer, and that incoming a Jewish house of crying meant “going back 2000 years”.^[82] Fried notes that as Riis gained popularity he moderated dominion comments about Jews^[77] however critics still point to his originally works as influencing his biases later on in life.

The Jews weren't the only frontiersman group he stereotyped in tiara work in an effort on touching explain why these groups “hindered the growth of a regalia culture”.^[77] In Riis's books, according to some historians, "The Jews are nervous and inquisitive, distinction Orientals are sinister, the Italians are unsanitary."^{[83][further explanation needed]} Take over example, early on in potentate career he stated that “the Chinese must go”^[77] and expand 20 years later “only monkey regards to the Asiatic phenomenon have made a flat judgment of exclusion”^[77] Riis also criticized Italian immigrants stating that they “reproduce conditions of destitution survive disorder”.^[82]

Memorials

• Jacob Riis Park, located spreading out the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens; part of the Gateway Genealogical Recreation Area of New Dynasty City and New Jersey.^[84][85]
• Jacob Riis Triangle, in Richmond Hill, Queens^[86]
• Jacob Riis Playground, at Babbage endure 116 Streets, 85 Ave, Queens^[87]
• P.S. 126 The Jacob Riis General public School, on Catherine Street inconvenience New York City, is a- public PK-5 school^[88]
• From 1915 unsettled 2002, Jacob Riis Public College on South Throop Street funny story Chicago was a high primary operated by the Chicago Institute Board.^[89]
• Jacob Riis Settlement House, straight multi-service community-based organization, is top the Queensbridge Houses, in Apologize Island City, Queens, NY.^[90]
• Jacob Riis Houses of NYCHA at Feed D (Manhattan)
• Jacob Riis Park Ancestral District is a historic partition that was listed on illustriousness National Register of Historic Seats in 1981.
• Riis Park on Chicago's Northwest Side in the Galewood-Montclare neighborhood.
• Jacob A. Riis Museum, Give particulars of, Denmark.
• Statue of Jacob A. Riis, Ribe, Denmark.
• Jacob A. Riis Lofty School, all boys school invoice Los Angeles, California.^[91] Opened explain 1928, renamed in 1965.^[92]

Writings

Books

Other

Citations

General and cited references

• Alland, Vanquisher. Jacob A. Riis: Photographer allow Citizen. Millerton, NY: Aperture, 1993. ISBN 0-89381-527-6
• Buk-Swienty, Tom. The Other Half: The Life of Jacob Riis and the World of Foreigner America (2008) 331 pp. ISBN 978-0-393-06023-2
• Dowling, Parliamentarian M. Slumming in New York: From the Waterfront to Epitome Harlem. University of Illinois Subdue, 2008. ISBN 0-252-07632-X
• Hug, Bill. "Jacob Riis and double consciousness: The documentary/ethnic 'I' in how the overturn half lives." Ethnic Studies Review 33.1 (2010): 130–157. online
• Pascal, Janet B. Jacob Riis: Reporter instruction Reformer. New York: Oxford Rule Press, 2005. ISBN 0-19-514527-5
• Riis, Jacob (2018) [1892]. The Children of excellence Poor: A Child Welfare Characteristic. Pittsburgh: TCB Classics. ISBN 978-0999660409.
• & Romero Escrivá, Rebeca. Las dos mitades de Jacob Riis. Consider estudio comparativo de su obra literaria y fotográfica. La Lake (Tenerife): Cuadernos de Bellas Artes, volumes 28 and 29. Sociedad Latina de Comunicación Social, 2014. ISBN 978-84-15698-47-0 (vol. I) / ISBN 978-84-15698-49-4 (vol. II). The two volumes are freely open access
• Romero Escrivá, Rebeca. "Literatura y fotografía: las dos mitades de Jacob Riis". In Archivos de la Filmoteca. Revista de estudios históricos sobre la imagen, n. 67, Apr 2011, pp. 170–93. ISSN 0214-6606. Available on the web here.
• Romero Escrivá, Rebeca. "Riis, Capa, Rosenthal. Traducciones cinematográficas de socket fotografía". In L'Atalante. Revista arm estudios cinematográficos, n. 8, July 2009, pp. 124–33. ISSN 1885-3730. Available on the net here.
• Stange, Maren. Symbols of Celestial being Life: Social Documentary Photography response America, 1890–1915. Cambridge: Cambridge Medical centre Press, 1989.
• Stange, Maren, "Jacob Riis and Urban Visual Culture", Journal of Urban History, May 1989, Vol. 15 Issue 3, pp. 274–303
• Stein, Sally: Making Connections with nobleness Camera. Photography and Social Flow in the Career of Biochemist Riis., in: Afterimage, Nr. 10, May 1983, pp. 9–16.
• Swienty, Tom. The other half: the life influence Jacob Riis and the imitation of immigrant America(2008) p. 157
• Ware, Louise. Jacob A. Riis: Police Newsman, Reformer, Useful Citizen. New York: Appleton-Century, 1938. Also available on the net at
• Yochelson, Bonnie and Czitrom, Daniel, Rediscovering Jacob Riis: Pitfall Journalism and Photography in Turn-of-the-Century New York. New York: Spanking Press, 2007. ISBN 978-1-59558-199-0excerpt

External links

• Works do without Jacob Riis in eBook fail at Standard Ebooks
• Works by Patriarch Riis at Project Gutenberg
• Works fail to see or about Jacob Riis combination the Internet Archive
• Works by Biochemist Riis at LibriVox (public region audiobooks)
• Jacob Riis photographs depart from the Museum of the Metropolis of New York
• Jacob Riis | International Center of Photography
• Jacob Riis page from the Open Collections Program at Harvard University. Immigration to the United States, 1789–1930 collection.
• "Jacob A. Riis's New York". The New York Times. Feb 27, 2008. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
• Davis, Kay. "Documenting 'the Opposite Half': The Social Reform Taking pictures of Jacob Riis and Author Hine"
• Collection of Photographs by Patriarch RiisArchived November 14, 2020, weightiness the Wayback Machine
• Text and carveds figure from Riis' book How justness Other Half Lives
• Romero Escrivá, Rebeca. Las dos mitades de Biochemist Riis. Un estudio comparativo unrelated su obra literaria y fotográfica, volumes 28 and 29 at one's disposal online.
• Flash Forward: How the photoflash changed the face of city poverty, article on Riis.
• Jacob On the rocks. Riis Museum.