35 Interesting Facts about Jane Addams

Dan April 24, 2023

Jane Addams (1860-1935) was a renowned social reformer, philanthropist, and women’s rights activist who co-founded Hull House in Chicago, one of the first settlement houses in the United States. Hull House was established to provide education, healthcare, and social services to the impoverished immigrant communities of Chicago, and it became a model for other settlement houses across the country. Addams believed that women had a unique role to play in social reform, and she championed women’s suffrage and women’s education throughout her life.

Addams was born in Cedarville, Illinois, in 1860, and she grew up in a wealthy and politically connected family. She attended college at Rockford Female Seminary, where she studied philosophy, literature, and classics. After college, she traveled to Europe, where she was inspired by the settlement house movement in England. When she returned to the United States, she co-founded Hull House with her friend Ellen Gates Starr in 1889.

Addams was a tireless advocate for social justice throughout her life. She wrote extensively on issues such as immigration, labor reform, and women’s suffrage, and she worked to build bridges between different ethnic and religious communities. She was a leading figure in the Progressive Era, a period of social and political reform in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931 for her work in promoting international peace and understanding.

Addams died in 1935 at the age of 74, but her legacy lived on. She was a trailblazer for women’s rights and social justice, and her work laid the foundation for many of the social programs and policies that exist today. She remains an inspiration to many who continue to work for a more just and equitable society.

To know more about Jane Addams, let’s take a look at these 35 interesting facts about Jane Addams.

1. Jane Addams was born on September 6, 1860, in Cedarville, Illinois.
2. She was the eighth of nine children born to John H. Addams and Sarah Weber Addams.
3. Her father was a wealthy businessman and politician, while her mother was a homemaker and philanthropist.
4. Addams was named after her mother’s favorite sister, who died as a child.
5. She was educated at Rockford Female Seminary, a prestigious school for women in Illinois.
6. Addams graduated in 1881 as valedictorian of her class.
7. After graduation, she traveled to Europe with her stepmother and sister.
8. During her travels, she was inspired by the Toynbee Hall settlement house in London.
9. Addams was the first woman to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Chicago.
10. She later studied at the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania.
11. Addams was also a talented musician and played the piano and violin.
12. In 1889, she co-founded Hull House with her friend Ellen Gates Starr.
13. Hull House was a settlement house in Chicago that provided social services to the poor.
14. Addams was the first woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931.
15. She was also the first American woman to be honored with the prize.
16. Addams was a pacifist and opposed American involvement in World War I.
17. She was a supporter of women’s suffrage and worked closely with suffragist leaders such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
18. Addams was a prolific writer and wrote numerous books and articles on social reform.
19. She was a founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
20. Addams was a strong advocate for the rights of immigrants and supported legislation to protect them from exploitation.
21. She was a member of the Progressive Party and supported progressive reforms such as child labor laws and minimum wage laws.
22. Addams was a feminist and believed that women had a unique role to play in social reform.
23. She was also a critic of capitalism and believed that the economic system was responsible for many social problems.
24. Addams was a close friend of Theodore Roosevelt and supported his political campaigns.
25. She was a frequent traveler and visited many countries throughout her life.
26. Addams was a member of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.
27. She was a mentor to many women activists and inspired a generation of social reformers.
28. Addams suffered from a spinal deformity that caused her pain throughout her life.
29. She was also diagnosed with cancer in her later years.
30. Despite her health problems, Addams continued to work tirelessly for social justice until her death.
31. She died on May 21, 1935, at the age of 74.
32. Addams was buried in Cedarville Cemetery in Illinois.
33. Many schools and buildings have been named after her, including Jane Addams High School in the Bronx, New York.
34. Addams is remembered as a pioneering social reformer and feminist who fought tirelessly for the rights of the poor, immigrants, and women.
35. Her legacy continues to inspire social activists around the world to this day.

Jane Addams was a remarkable woman whose contributions to social reform, women’s rights, and international peace are still felt today. Her pioneering work in establishing Hull House and other settlement houses provided vital support to immigrant communities and laid the foundation for many social programs that exist today. Addams’ tireless advocacy for social justice and her commitment to the principles of peace and equality have made her an inspiration to generations of activists and social reformers. She remains a symbol of the power of individual action to effect positive change in the world.