Jacob Riis
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Jacob August Riis (May 3, 1849 - May 26, 1914) was a Danish American social reformer, muckraking journalist and social documentary photographer, best-known for his book How the Other Half Lives.
He is known for using his photographic and journalistic talents to help the impoverished in New York City; those impoverished New Yorkers were the subject of most of his prolific writings and photography. He supported the implementation of "model tenements" in New York with the help of humanitarian Lawrence Veiller. In addition, as one of the most prominent proponents of the newly practicable "open flash," he is considered a pioneer in photography. While living in New York, Riis faced poverty and became a police reporter covering the quality of life in the slums. He attempted to alleviate the poor living conditions many lower class citizens were subjected to.
Veneration
Riis is honored together with Walter Rauschenbusch and Washington Gladden with a feast day on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church (USA) on July 2.