Jane Addams Autograph

Profession:
(1860-1935) pioneer settlement worker, founder of Hull House in Chicago, public philosopher, author, and leader in woman suffrage and world peace - in 1931 she became the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Year of Birth: 1860

Jane Addams was born on September 6, 1860, in Cedarville, Illinois. She was the eighth of nine children born to Sarah and John Addams. Jane's father was a successful businessman and a state senator, while her mother was a homemaker and philanthropist. Jane's upbringing in a well-to-do family exposed her to issues of poverty and social injustice, sparking her interest in social reform.

After graduating from Rockford Female Seminary in 1881, Jane Addams traveled to Europe, where she was deeply influenced by the settlement house movement. Upon her return to the United States, she co-founded Hull House in Chicago in 1889. Hull House served as a community center and social service agency for immigrants and the working class, providing education, healthcare, and other resources to those in need.

Over the years, Jane Addams became a prominent leader in the progressive movement, advocating for women's suffrage, labor rights, and peace. She was a founding member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). In 1931, she became the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize for her work as a social reformer and pacifist.

Jane Addams continued to be a tireless advocate for social justice until her death on May 21, 1935. Her legacy lives on through the numerous organizations she helped establish and the countless lives she touched with her commitment to equality and compassion. Addams' impact on the fields of social work and activism is still felt today, inspiring new generations of change makers to fight for a more just and equitable society.