JACOB RIIS
Signed autograph letter to lecture tour organizer James B. Pond
Autograph Letter signed: "Jacob Riis", 1 page, 6x9¼. New York City, 1901 March 30. On personal letterhead to James B. Pond. In full: "My dear Major. I shall be very glad to know that you were revenged by the report I quoted. I thought it extraordinary. It came to me by the Western field. I understood, and was explicit to the effect that you had sent me word, or given notice, that Mr. Riis would not be able to lecture this (last) winter; further that this was an obstacle to the issuing of contracts. I authorized my agents to publish your letter of regret that I was not to be of your staff, in response to the statement. I do not know whether they did or not. I heard no word of it. Faithfully yours". Born in Denmark, Jacob Riis (1849-1914) emigrated to the US in 1870, living in poverty for several years until landing a job as a police reporter with the New York Tribune. Covering the worst slums of New York City, Riis decided to devote his career to publicizing the bleak living conditions of the City's poor. His 18-page article, "How the Other Half Lives," was published in 1889. Riis became a skilled photographer, using the new flash bulb technology to reveal scenes which could not have been photographed before. Riis met police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt, who would become his lifelong friend. TR later called Riis "the best American I ever knew." James B. Pond (1838-1903) was an organizer of lecture tours, arranging the first visits to the US of Winston Churchill and Henry M. Stanley, among others. Ink date/processing stamp at upper left affecting "James B. Pond". Normal mailing folds. Toned and lightly soiled at edges. Otherwise, fine condition.