Jacob August Riis (1849-1914) - Danish-American journalist and slum and school reformer. Born in Ribe,
Denmark on May 3,
1849;
Died March 26,
1914. Came to America in
1870. Wrote for the New York
Evening Sun newspaper. His book
How the Other Half Lives (
ISBN 0140436790), pioneering photojournalism, and friendship with
Theodore Roosevelt (then New York Police Board of Commissioners head) led to positive changes for New York tenement dwellers. Jacob Riis National Park in the borough of
Queens, New York is named for him.