Jane Addams (1860-1935)

Jane Addams won worldwide recognition in the first third of the 20th Century as pioneer social worker, feminist and internationalist. Born in Cedarville, Illinois, USA she started studying medicine, but gave it up due to poor health. In the late 1880s she visited Toynbee Hall in London’s East End and was inspired to go back to Chicago and open a similar house in 1889, called Hull-House, to help families, take care of children, nurse the sick and listen to troubled people. By its second year, Hull-House was host to more than 2 000 people every week. The House developed by also opening an art gallery, a public kitchen, music and drama schools, a library and an employment bureau.

As her reputation grew, Jane Addams was drawn into larger fields of civic responsibility as the Chicago Board of Education and later as President of the National Conference on Charities and Corrections (later the National Conference of Social Work). She was the first woman to receive an honorary degree by Yale University. Publishing about women’s rights and peace, she became President of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, which still is an active international NGO. Addams urged the USA to join the League of Nations and the World Court.

Jane Addams was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931. At the award ceremony the Norwegian Nobel Committee paid tribute to Jane Addams by stating:
"She held fast to the ideal of peace even during the difficult hours when other considerations and interests obscured it from her compatriots and drove them into conflict."

ifsw news 2-3/2002