Jane Addams

Jane Adams is best known for her pioneering work as an organizer in setting up the settlement house movement in the United States. For her efforts, she was awarded the 1931 Nobel Peace Prize.

She was born in Cedarville, Illinois, the eighth of nine children. Addams attended the Rockford, Illinois Female Seminary where her older sisters had been students, becoming a student leader and she was popular with the faculty. The head of the school hoped to make her a Christian missionary but was unable to persuade her.

In 1888 when she was in Spain, Addams met with friends and discussed the settlement house which was established in London's East End in 1884. When Addams returned to Chicago, she established Hull House which was a prototype for all settlement houses throughout the United States. Hull House was an abandoned mansion in Chicago's 19th ward, a community of 5,000 Greek, Italian, Russian, and German immigrants. Hull House was established in 1889 to provide services, advice on health care, English classes, and various cultural activities.

Addams traveled a great deal to express her views with support from women's organizations, university faculties and the Urban League. She helped to pave the way for Francis Perkins' appointment to the Children 's Bureau, following Grace Abbott's retirement in 1934.

Jane Addams remained at Hull House the rest of her life. She published a report on the first 20 years of Hull House, followed a report on the second 20 years. The first publication demonstrated her pioneering role as a community organizer.

Addams was the president of the National Conference and she won distinction as the first of her sex to be granted an honorary degree by Yale University. In 1911, the members of the newly created National Federation of Settlements chose her as their first president and she remained in office until her death in 1935.

Publications concerning Jane Addams are numerous and may be found in a variety of places. The principal biographical sources are Addams' 20 years at Hull House and the second 20 years. The books are included in Through the Long Road of a Women's Memory . The papers may be found in the various publications such as the Dictionary of the American Biography, and Notable American Women.