Riis, Jacob August, born in Ribe, Denmark, May 3, 1849, son of Niels Edward Riis. Came to New York, and after some interesting adventures joined the staff of the New York "Sun" as a police reporter. Kept his eyes open to his surroundings and was first to call public attention in vivid and impressive style to the needs and struggles of the poor of America's metropolis. His book, "How the Other Half Lives," was received with interest and awakened philanthropy to a sense of its duty to less fortunate humanity in the great cities.
Entry from Everybody's Cyclopedia,
1912.