On the 161st anniversary of her birth (b. September 6, 1860), we’re celebrating this woman you should know… Jane Addams, the social reformer, pacifist and feminist, whose life and work embody the community-building role that women have played throughout all of history. In 1889, she co-founded one of the first social settlements in the United States, the Hull House in Chicago, Illinois, which was designed to be a haven for new immigrants of diverse communities and enrich their lives by empowering women, helping the less fortunate, fighting for immigrant rights, and offering education in art, music, literature, the English language, American government, technical skills, and more. In 1910, she became the first woman president of the National Conference of Charities and Corrections. She founded the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom in 1919, and worked tirelessly against war. She was the first American woman (and second woman) to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931. At the end of her life, Jane Addams was also honored by the American government for her efforts for peace. She died May 21, 1935.
Photo: Public Domain
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