New York Newsboy, A story of newspaper boys in the late 1800's and early 1900's

Jacob Riis was one of the most famous journalists at the turn of the century. He came to America as an immigrant and documented the immigrant experience in New York City. He was friends with Theodore Roosevelt, and wrote his biography.

In this article he documents the life of the newsboy, starting with the early days when they were orphans and street children starting out as young as age four or five.

From there he covers the changes where newsboys were older, and treated better. Where many of them made enough money to support their families, or put themselves through medical or law school.

Fascinating reading if you want to understand the New York City street life in the 1890's through 1910's...