Letter from Jacob A. Riis to Theodore Roosevelt
Subject(s): Boys--Societies and clubs, Business and politics, Housing--Law and legislation, Low, Seth, 1850-1916, McSweeney, Edward F. (Edward Francis), 1864-, New York (State)--New York, Odell, Benjamin B. (Benjamin Barker), 1854-1926, Political crimes and offenses, Tenement houses, United States. Bureau of Immigration
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Jacob A. Riis supports replacing Commissioner McSweeney due to charges of corruption within the Immigration office but he does not want Mr. Marsh to have an important position within the new administration. He criticizes Governor Odell for violating the New York Tenement House Act and “playing into the hands of the builders.” Riis concludes by lamenting that he “disgusted a lot of women” by opposing a bill to build Boys Clubs in all New York boroughs at taxpayers expense.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-03-24
Creator(s)
Riis, Jacob A. (Jacob August), 1849-1914
Recipient
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 1st Term (September 1901-February 1905)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
1
Production Method
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Letter from Jacob A. Riis to Theodore Roosevelt. [March 24, 1902]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o37341. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Riis, Jacob A. (Jacob August), 1849-1914. Letter from Jacob A. Riis to Theodore Roosevelt. [24 Mar. 1902]. Image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 8, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o37341.
APA:
Riis, Jacob A. (Jacob August), 1849-1914., [1902, March 24]. Letter from Jacob A. Riis to Theodore Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o37341.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 8, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
