Researching a camera build of my own, above are some very early cameras. They all share the same box-like construction with a simple lens and a plate onto which the image is focused.
Via (from top to bottom): ClassicCameras blog, Metfilter, kodaksefkeblog, Flickr user gunthert, and BigShotCamera
Hi Jeff, Do you have an example of the brand of box camera photographer Jacob Riis would have used?
Not sure, but a quick search showed Riis used a new invention, flash powder, to capture his images. My guess his camera might have looked something like these: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash-lamp