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Jacob A. Riis 

Jacob A. Riis 

Danish-born Jacob Riis (1849-1914) was a journalist, social reformer, and social documentary photographer. He is best known for his 1890 book How the Other Half Lives, which brought public attention to New York's squalid housing, sweatshops, bars, and alleys. The Museum holds the complete collection that Riis used in his writing and lecturing career, including images he made, commissioned, or acquired. These depict men, women, and children of all nationalities at home, work, and leisure. This collection contains vintage prints, glass-plate negatives, and lantern slides, as well as a set of recently produced prints from all of Riis's original negatives. 


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Jacob A. Riis 
Waiting at table, vacation school.

Waiting at table, vacation school.

Typical Tenement Fire escape, serving as an extension of the "flat" -- Allen Street.

Typical Tenement Fire escape, serving as an extension of the "flat" -- Allen Street.

[Chinese Opium Joint.]

[Chinese Opium Joint.]

A Downtown "Morgue."

A Downtown "Morgue."

Street Arabs in sleeping quarters.

Street Arabs in sleeping quarters.

North Brother Island--"The coffin corner".

North Brother Island--"The coffin corner".

[Thompson Street, bird's eye view.]

[Thompson Street, bird's eye view.]

A Tammany-swept East Side Street before Col. Waring's Day.

A Tammany-swept East Side Street before Col. Waring's Day.

The Mott Street Boys, "Keep off the Grass".

The Mott Street Boys, "Keep off the Grass".

Prayer time in the nursery, Five Points House of Industry.

Prayer time in the nursery, Five Points House of Industry.

King's Daughters Tenement Chapter, Christmas tree in Gotham Court.

King's Daughters Tenement Chapter, Christmas tree in Gotham Court.

Manual Training Class, Public School.

Manual Training Class, Public School.

[Lower East Side Street Scene.]

[Lower East Side Street Scene.]

Organized Charity. Night Messenger Service.

Organized Charity. Night Messenger Service.

An All-Night Two-Cent Restaurant, in "The Bend".

An All-Night Two-Cent Restaurant, in "The Bend".

[Children tending to the garden.]

[Children tending to the garden.]

Court at No. 24 Baxter Street.

Court at No. 24 Baxter Street.

Public School 175 in the Bronx, Jerome Avenue north of 184th Street.

Public School 175 in the Bronx, Jerome Avenue north of 184th Street.

Two Greek children in Gotham Court debating if Santa Claus will get to their alley or not. He did.

Two Greek children in Gotham Court debating if Santa Claus will get to their alley or not. He did.

2 a.m. in the delivery room in the "Sun" office.

2 a.m. in the delivery room in the "Sun" office.

Morris High School in the Bronx from the Front, South west

Morris High School in the Bronx from the Front, South west

The Potter's Field Consecrated Ground.

The Potter's Field Consecrated Ground.

[Bringing foundling to police.]

[Bringing foundling to police.]

The Board of Election Inspectors in the Beach Street School.

The Board of Election Inspectors in the Beach Street School.

The only Bath-tub in the Block: it hangs in the Air Shaft.

The only Bath-tub in the Block: it hangs in the Air Shaft.

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