1910s East Side Eviction: Struggles of Tenement Life

This photograph documents a significant eviction on New Yorks East Side, taken between 1910 and 1920. During this time, many working-class families lived in cramped tenement housing, often facing eviction due to rising rents and economic pressures. The images details underscore a period of intense housing instability, as urban neighbors saw families uprooted from their homes in an effort to make way for new developments or to enforce rent claims.

The East Side served as a melting pot, housing a mix of immigrant populations who contributed to the city’s dynamic growth. Evictions like the one captured in this photo highlight the struggles these communities faced amid rapidly changing urban policies. The gelatin silver process used for this print not only provides clarity but also serves as a crucial tool in preserving a moment in the citys social history, reflecting the challenges of urban life in early 20th-century America.