Jacob Riis Jacob Riis: Born in Denmark in 1849. Came to the US in 1870 as a carpenter, but a depression was kicking into full gear so he was forced to work a variety of odd jobs. In 1877 he was hired as a police reporter in the Lower East Side, so he witnessed first hand the often atrocious living conditions of the immigrant communities. 37,316 buildings housed 1,093,791 people. His reports helped lead to the establishment of a City Committee on Tenements in 1884, while the 1890 publication of his book, How the Other Half Lives, encouraged other reform-minded individuals (like Theodore Roosevelt, mayor of NYC and later Governor) to institute changes that Riis advocated (like creating playgrounds, getting rid of the police lodging-houses, getting rid of the rear tenements, and enforcing fire codes). One of the most powerful elements of Riis’ appeals were the photos and stories involving the plights of women and especially children (he taught himself photography, in order to add the power of images to his appeal for reforms). Riis often went out in the early morning hours, to catch people unaware if possible (although he used the latest innovations in flash photography, which was not often easy or quiet to set up) and show them at their most vulnerable (which is one reason why so many of his photos seem to be taken at night, and are of people sleeping).

Mulberry Bend. This area of NYC had originally been a collection pond, bordered by middle-class dwellings. The need for space led city planners to fill in the pond in the early 1800s, but the sinking land (and natural gas leakage) caused the middle-class residents to flee the area, and some other buildings constructed in the space. The block on either side of this “Bend” contained around 900 tenements, only 24 of which were rated by the City Commission as “decent.” In large part because of Riis’ work, especially the publication of How the Other Half Lives, the tenements in this area would be torn down in 1897 and the land turned into a park.

Bottle Alley, off Mulberry Bend.

Bottle Alley, from another angle.

Bottle Alley, from a third angle.

One of the rear tenements houses that Riis found abominable One of the rear tenements houses that Riis found abominable. (Perhaps one of the middle-class dwellings of the early 1800s, or the servants’ quarters for one of those dwellings.)

Another part of a “rear tenement house Another part of a “rear tenement house.” The residents often made use of balconies and fire escapes as part of their living area (and often paid rent as such).

An Italian rag-picker and her child An Italian rag-picker and her child. The what looks like stone floor, combined with the ladder, indicates that this is a cellar that is her residence.

This man had lived here, in this cellar, for 4 years when Riis took his picture.

A pauper’s apartment flat A pauper’s apartment flat. Notice the decrepit conditions of the walls, door, floor, etc. But, it does appear that they have more than one room.

Others could not afford an entire room (or, without a family, had no need for that kind of expense). So, they often slept in one of the by-the-night lodging houses. This one charged 5 cents a night for a “spot.”

This basement served as another by-the-night lodging house, charging 7 cents a night for a spot. (Of course, there is no refund for knocking yourself out on the giant pipes in the ceiling, as this appears to actually be a converted basement.)

Many police stations took in by-the-night lodgers as well, as a way to earn a little extra money. They were often housed in back rooms, and Riis often complained that there was little attempt to separate the sexes.

Many of those who stayed in the police stations slept on a wood plank on the ground.

A final image of a police-station lodger and her wood plank.

Work spaces were often cramped as well Work spaces were often cramped as well. This “sweatshop” was for those assembling pants (although it does not actually look like that in the photo). The workers were paid 45 cents a dozen completed. Because these were located in tenements – as opposed to an actual factory – the owners were able to ignore the labor laws involving hours, breaks, and ages.

Many families worked out of their home. This family made cigars.

This family assembled artificial flowers out of their home.

Another sweatshop. The “thread-puller” in the foreground swore his age was 16, when he was clearly not older than 12, according to Riis. These, and the photos that follow, showing the plight of the children of the tenements, are the images that tugged at the heartstrings of the upper and middle class and encouraged reforms.

A courtyard, with children at play A courtyard, with children at play. The children forced to play here, grew to become . . .

. . . the criminals who hid themselves here at Bandits’ Roost.

There were few safe areas for children to play There were few safe areas for children to play. Riis noted that the words, painted just to the right of the children, said “Please Keep off the Grass.”

Riis called the large numbers of seemingly-homeless children “Street Arabs.” Some of his most compelling images were of sleeping Street Arabs, like this one and the two that follow. This is a corner, outside a church building.

Huddling by a grate along Mulberry Street.