President Theodore Roosevelt called Jacob Riis "the best American I ever knew." The pioneering photojournalist, an immigrant from Denmark, drew attention to the poverty and evils of slum life in the late 1800s. Riis won national acclaim when his photos illustrated his bestselling book How the Other Half Lives. The book focused on the difficult time immigrants faced as thousands of newcomers flooded into the United States each year. Riis called for reform and hoped to prod government officials to help the poor people who were forced to live under horrible conditions. The impact of Riis' photos came from capturing the poor and homeless as they lived and worked, with the subjects' eyes often staring directly into the camera. The great photographer Ansel Adams called them "magnificent achievements in the field of humanistic photography." But the reforms that came from Riis' work have not eliminated urban poverty and homelessness, and important work remains to be done.
"Not only can a picture be worth a thousand words but it can also impact people and history alike. This series looks at famous photographs from the perspective of historians and photographers, revealing the influence each had on a time period. . . .The strength of these books is their usefulness to a variety of curriculums: art, history, and media literacy in particular. Each book includes the famous photographs as well as the story behind each of the individuals who knew how to capture the essence of a time period and how to make a positive difference in the lives of those in need."
School Library Connection
"Burgan writes persuasively about Riis as a reporter, a reformer, and a photographer whose work has lasting power as well as historical significance. Burgan's informative text, detailed captions, and illustrated sidebars give readers the background knowledge needed to understand the historical context and appreciate Riis' work. With a spacious format and simple design, this volume from the Captured History series offers a showcase for the many photos. An intriguing book relevant to classroom units on immigration and social history."
