+
Jacob A. Riis
Photojournalism Pioneer
+Born in Ribe, Denmark… 1849
He immigrated to New York in 1870, aged 21
Got a job as a police reporter, and saw a lot of social problems among the poor
Realized that photography was a more powerful agent of social change
The following slides are of some of his “flashlight” exposes of the living conditions of the very poor
+5-cents lodging
+What the boys learn on their playground
+The Bandit’s Roost
+Riis’ work helped eliminate the notorious Mulberry Bend Slum
+Which was turned into a park
+His Influence
One of the first photographers to have his work published in newspapers
He worked for the New York Tribune in 1877, and the New York Evening Sun in 1890
He also published his landmark book How the Other Half Lives, in 1890, which is an important social reform text
In 1901, he published his own autobiography called The Making of an American
He founded the Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement House in 1901 in Manhattan
+Quote
“Every man’s experience ought to be worth something to the community from which he drew it, no matter what that experience may be, so long as it was gleaned along the line of some decent, honest work.” Preface to How the Other Half
Lives.
+This photograph reflects his overall style… Dens of Death
+Works Cited
Emery, Michael. "Riis, Jacob August." World Book Student. World Book, 2010. Web. 10 Sept. 2010.
"History." Jacob A Riis Neighborhood Settlement House (2010): n. pag. Web. 13 Sep 2010. <http://www.riissettlement.org/index2.htm>.
"Jacob Riis." Masters of Photography (2010): n. pag. Web. 13 Sep 2010. <http://www.masters-of-photography.com/R/riis/riis.html>.
Riis, Jacob. How the Other Half Lives. Cambridge: Belknap Press, 1970. Print.