in New York City

Contrasting Images of New York City in 1894 Through Jacob Riis’s Lens

Jacob Riis, a Danish immigrant turned American journalist, photographer, and social reformer, shed light on the grim reality of New York City’s impoverished neighborhoods in the late 19th century. His groundbreaking book, How the Other Half Lives, published in 1890, shocked the nation with its stark portrayal of poverty, disease, and crime.

A City Divided

In 1894, New York City was a city of stark contrasts. On one hand, it was a bustling metropolis, a beacon of progress and opportunity. Skyscrapers were reaching for the heavens, and new technologies were transforming industries. But beneath this glittering facade, a darker reality lurked.

The city’s tenements, overcrowded and dilapidated, were breeding grounds for disease and despair. Families were crammed into tiny, poorly ventilated rooms, sharing communal bathrooms and kitchens. The air was thick with the stench of garbage and sewage, and the streets were often dark and dangerous.

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A Photographer’s Eye

Riis, armed with a camera and a passion for social justice, captured the harsh realities of tenement life. His photographs, often taken with flash powder, illuminated the squalor and misery that lay hidden in the shadows. These images, stark and unflinching, exposed the deplorable conditions in which countless New Yorkers lived.

One of Riis’s most famous photographs, “Bandit’s Roost,” depicts a dimly lit room filled with shadowy figures. This image, taken in a notorious tenement building, became a symbol of urban poverty and crime. It shocked viewers and spurred calls for reform.

The Power of the Printed Word

Through his writing and photography, Riis gave a voice to the voiceless. He described the hardships faced by immigrants, the working poor, and the homeless. He exposed the corrupt political machines that exploited these vulnerable populations.

In *How the Other Half Lives*, Riis detailed the lives of the city’s marginalized. He described the dangerous working conditions in factories and sweatshops, the overcrowded schools, and the lack of adequate healthcare. He also highlighted the challenges faced by women and children, who were often forced to work long hours for meager wages.

#11 “Shooting Craps: The Game of the Street,” Bootblacks and Newsboys, 1894.

"Shooting Craps: The Game of the Street," Bootblacks and Newsboys, 1894.

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#12 “Shooting Craps: The Game of the Street,” Bootblacks and Newsboys, 1894.

"Shooting Craps: The Game of the Street," Bootblacks and Newsboys, 1894.

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#13 Bunks in a Seven-Cent Lodging House, Pell Street, 1894.

Bunks in a Seven-Cent Lodging House, Pell Street, 1894.

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#14 Organized Charity: In the Oyster Camps, Child Labor, 1894.

Organized Charity: In the Oyster Camps, Child Labor, 1894.

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#18 An all-night two-cent restaurant in “The Bend,” 1894.

An all-night two-cent restaurant in "The Bend," 1894.

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#20 Poverty Gap children playing at Coney Island, 1894.

Poverty Gap children playing at Coney Island, 1894.

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#21 Sewing and starving in an Elizabeth Street attic, 1894.

Sewing and starving in an Elizabeth Street attic, 1894.

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#22 Pietro learning to write an English letter, 1894.

Pietro learning to write an English letter, 1894.

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#23 The “Soup House Gang” history class at the Duane Street Newsboys’ Lodging House, 1894.

The "Soup House Gang" history class at the Duane Street Newsboys' Lodging House, 1894.

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#25 The Children’s Aid Society farm at Kensico: The old farmhouse, 1894.

The Children's Aid Society farm at Kensico: The old farmhouse, 1894.

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#26 The Children’s Aid Society’s new house, 1894.

The Children's Aid Society's new house, 1894.

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#28 Children of the Children’s Aid Society storing the silo for winter, 1894.

Children of the Children's Aid Society storing the silo for winter, 1894.

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#29 View from the window of the new house at the Children’s Aid Society farm, 1894.

View from the window of the new house at the Children's Aid Society farm, 1894.

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#30 “Adolph” with his oxen at the Children’s Aid Society farm, 1894.

"Adolph" with his oxen at the Children's Aid Society farm, 1894.

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#33 Mountain Eagle and his Iroquois family at 6 Beach Street, 1894.

Mountain Eagle and his Iroquois family at 6 Beach Street, 1894.

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#34 The same street before Colonel Waring’s street cleaning reforms, 1894.

The same street before Colonel Waring's street cleaning reforms, 1894.

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#38 St. John’s Park in Hudson Street, formerly a graveyard, 1894.

St. John's Park in Hudson Street, formerly a graveyard, 1894.

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#39 Girls learning to swim as part of their public school course, 1894.

Girls learning to swim as part of their public school course, 1894.

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#40 Children participating in basket-weaving in vacation school, 1894.

Children participating in basket-weaving in vacation school, 1894.

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#41 Kindergarten on the recreation pier at the foot of E. 24th Street, 1894.

Kindergarten on the recreation pier at the foot of E. 24th Street, 1894.

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#43 Children playing in a vacation playground near Old Frog Hollow, 1894.

Children playing in a vacation playground near Old Frog Hollow, 1894.

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#44 Truck farming on the site of Stryker’s Lane, 1894.

Truck farming on the site of Stryker's Lane, 1894.

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#45 In the Roof Garden of the Hebrew Educational Alliance, 1894.

In the Roof Garden of the Hebrew Educational Alliance, 1894.

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Written by Frederick Victor

I've been a history writer for a while. I love to explore historical sites because they connect us to our past. They make us feel like we are part of something much bigger.

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