The Department of Photographs at The Metropolitan Museum of Art has finalized the acquisition of a staggering, historically monumental archive: the complete collection of over 10,000 original glass plate negatives and vintage gelatin silver prints from the studio of pioneer social documentary photographer, Jacob August Riis.
This acquisition is highly significant as it represents the single most comprehensive visual record of urban poverty, immigration, and living conditions in late 19th-century New York City. Riis, a journalist and social reformer, utilized the relatively new technology of magnesium flash powder to illuminate the darkest, most squalid tenements of the Lower East Side, capturing hauntingly visceral images of the city's marginalized populations.
The physical preservation of this archive presents a massive logistical challenge. The incredibly fragile glass plate negatives, many of which have suffered from decades of poor storage in damp conditions, require immediate intervention. The Met has constructed a specialized, cold-storage vault specifically for this collection and has hired a dedicated team of photograph conservators to meticulously clean, stabilize, and digitize every single fragile plate.
Beyond their immense historical value, the archive also reveals the evolution of photography as a tool for social activism. By studying the uncropped negatives alongside Riis's published lantern slides, scholars can trace how he deliberately manipulated and framed his images to elicit maximum emotional impact and provoke legislative reform regarding housing and child labor laws.
The museum plans to make the entire, fully digitized archive freely available to the public online within the next two years. To mark the completion of the digitization project, The Met will mount a major exhibition exploring the complex ethical legacy of Riis's work, examining both his vital role as a social reformer and the problematic, sensationalized ways in which he often portrayed his vulnerable subjects.
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For more information or to request high-resolution images, please contact the Communications Department at communications@metmuseum.org.