Jane Addams
Biography
Jane Addams (1860–1935) was an American social worker, reformer, author, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Born in Cedarville, Illinois, she co-founded Hull House in Chicago (1889), one of the first settlement houses in North America, providing services and advocacy for the urban poor. Addams became a national leader in progressive reform, advocating for labor rights, women’s suffrage, immigrant welfare, and international peace. Her books, including Twenty Years at Hull House (1910) and Democracy and Social Ethics (1902), articulated her philosophy of social democracy and pragmatic reform. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931.
Common themes in Jane Addams's work
Social reform
A recurring theme throughout Jane Addams's writing.
Hull House
A recurring theme throughout Jane Addams's writing.
Nobel Peace Prize
A recurring theme throughout Jane Addams's writing.
Settlement movement
A recurring theme throughout Jane Addams's writing.
Books
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Why Jane Addams is still read today
Addams’s ideas about community organizing, immigrant integration, and social democracy remain influential. As the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, her legacy spans social work, feminism, and peace activism.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Jane Addams?
Jane Addams (1860–1935) was an American social reformer, co-founder of Hull House, and the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize (1931).
What are her major works?
Twenty Years at Hull House and Democracy and Social Ethics. Both are available free on TextStack.
What was Hull House?
A settlement house in Chicago’s immigrant neighborhood that provided education, childcare, and social services while advocating for reform.
Where can I read Addams free?
TextStack offers Addams’s works to read free online.
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