Social Working Arrives!
Social Working Arrives!
Introduction:
"The dependence of classes on each other is reciprocal." This was Jane Addams's theory on how helping other people would not only benefit them but oneself as well. Jane Addams was a very inspirational woman who spent her life fighting for the well being of others. She changed the face of history through social working and Hull House. Through her compassion toward other people, she brought the miracle that today we call, social working, to America. For the first time in history other Americans were reaching out to the less fortunate in a way that could actually make a difference and make America and the world a better place to live in. A country without social working is a country in shambles. Jane Addams changed the law's outlook on how people in America are treated. Hull House's accomplishments forced Chicago's government to investigate conditions in which people live. America became a better place to be after Jane Addams left her mark on hisrtory.
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Early Life: Jane Addams was born in September 6, 1860 in Cedarville, Illinois. She grew up in upper class Illinois, her family was among the town's wealthiest. When Jane was only two she lost her birth mother in 1863. From the beginning of her life she was taking care of others. Even in her young age she took responsibility and watched over her younger brothers and sisters. She was always deeply influenced by her father and wanted to grow up to be just as good of a person as him. Jane was known as an honest and moral child, following the lessons of her father. |
Hull House |
The Years Before Hull House:
At age seventeen Jane was already strongly opinionated. She believed in higher education for women. She attended Rockford Seminary College and graduated in 1881, the year that her father died. She enrolled in medical school but had to cut her studies short due to her tuberculosis. Shortly after she left America to tour Europe. During her trip to Europe she slowly realized the worlds struggle with poverty. It was during this realization that she decided to take a stand for women's suffrage. When she returned to America Jane still felt helpless because she realized how little action she could take. In result, she decided to retreat to Europe in December of 1887 to find new direction and inspiration. Where she first visited the Toynbee Hall and felt inspired to take action. This time when she returned to America she had a plan of attack.
Immagrant learning new skills that
will help her in her new life in America at Hull
House In Chicago, Jane and one of her
good friends Ellen Starr, began to make their vision of Hull
House real. The first action they took was rallying support
for their new plan that they called "the scheme." The only
problem standing in their way was financial support.
Although Jane's inheritance covered most of the charges, the
project was too great to fund on her own. Jane joined the
fourth Presbyterian Church and began teaching Sunday school
classes. This is where she began her preaching. She spoke of
her plans for Hull House and tried to sway the opinions of
the upper class students. Then Ellen and Jane began speaking
with clergymen who promised money as well as support. They
also went on a tour across America, speaking with the larger
charity organizations. Most organizations were interested in
getting involved. With their newly found support, Jane went
to research the people of Chicago, in hope to open a
successful, independent "settlement house."
The location for Hull House was
found in spring of 1889 in a rundown section of Chicago. The
first service Hull House developed for the neighborhood was
a nursery school. The reasoning behind this was that many
local women came to visit Hull House in its early days with
young children, seeking help. As the year progressed twenty
volunteers moved in and began unpaid work at Hull House.
During Hull Houses first year being open 50,000 people came
looking for help. As time went on, Jane opened Hull House to
new services, such as social workers. These were the first
social workers in America. Jane Addam's ideas and hopes were
finally coming true. These social workers had many jobs.
They helped immigrants adjust to their new life in America,
provided care for elders, taught children through books and
lectures and fought for improvements in the city of Chicago.
Hull House provided many "firsts" for Chicago. Some of these
"firsts" were public baths, public playgrounds, a public
gymnasium, a public kitchen, a public swimming pool and free
art exhibits. For the first time in America, people started
taking care of each other and American people started to
open theirs eyes and see what they needed to do to make
their country a better place. That was support social
workers and put more effort into helping the less fortunate
ease into making their lives better. Spreading Hull House
ideas also had a great effect on the law. Hull House's
constant demand for better treatment of fellow citizens
caused the law to cave in and finally stand up for the
rights of the less fortunate. Many new investigations were
made in result of the new ideas of Hull House. In Illinois
some of these investigations led to the first factory laws
in the state and the first model tenement code. Many new
Labor Unions were also formed at Hull House. For the first
time in America people started to care about one another and
we have Jane Addams and Hull House to thank for
this. Children of Hull House New Investigations
Made as a Result of Hull House in
Chicago
Labor Unions Formed at
Hull House
Addams, Jane. Her Own Words. Morristown, New Jersey: Silver Burdett Co., 1986
This was another journal of Jane Addams' years at Hull House. It kept a record of all the events that they made possible and all the accomplishments they made throught the establishment to the time she could no longer work anymore.
Addams, Jane. Project Gutenberg Etext of 20 years at the Hull House. New York: The MacMillan Company, 1912
This was basically a journal that she had written in. She described past memories and important times during her life at the Hull House. There were many chapters in this and each one was different in telling the stories of her life.
Addams, Jane. Twenty Years At Hull-House. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1966
This is the autobiography of Jane Addam's life. It speaks of her accomplishments, battles, and constant dedication for the fight against suffrage. Because Jane wrote it and she witnessed all the events first hand, it is a primary source.
Addams, Jane. Why Women Should Vote, 1915
This is a writing that Jane Addams wrote about her opinions on why women should vote. Because Jane Addams wrote this about her opinions, it is a primary source.
"Biography Of Jane Addams" The Nobel Foundation 1999
URL: http://www.nobel.se/laureates/peace-1931-1-bio.html (22 November 1999)
This was a biography of Jane Addams put out by The Nobel Foundation. It covers her childhood, all the way up to the time that she won the Nobel Prize. It shows why she truly did deserve the honor of the Nobel Prize.
Davis, Allen F. American Heroine: The Life and Legend of Jane Addams. New York: Oxford University Press, 1973
Fiskwick, Marshall W. Illustrious Americans: Jane Addams. Morristown, New Jersey: Silver Burdett Co., 1986
"Jane Addams" The Champlin Encyclopedia 1948 Ed.
"The Jane Addams Papers 1860-1960: A Guide to the Microfilm Edition
UMI Research Collections" URL: http://www.Proquest.com/hp/Support/Research/Files/addams.html (22 November 1999)
This was found under a Proquest search. It is part of the UMI research collection. It contains the info on Jane Addams and the work she wrote known as the "Jane Addams Papers"
"Jane Addams." Encyclopedia Americana. 1993 Ed.
"Jane Addams"The National Women's Hall Of Fame 1998 URL: http://www.greatwomen.org/addams.htm
This webpage in part of the National Women's Hall of Fame, it speaks of Jane Addams's greatest accomplishments and her place in history as a women.
Kitterage, Mary. Jane Addams: Social Worker. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1988
Meigs, Cornelia. Jane Addams: Pioneer for Social Justice. Boston-Toronto: Little, Brown and Company, 1970
Oakley, Violet. Cathedral of Compassion: Dramatic Outline of the Life of Jane Addams, 1860-1935. Philadelphia: Press of Lyon and Armor Inc, 1955
Tims, Margaret. Jane Addams of Hull House 1860-1935: A Centenary Study. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd, 1961
Shepler, John E. A Positive Light., 1999 URL: http://www.execpc.com/~shepler/JaneAddams.html (2 January 2000)
Basically this was another biography on her. It showed told how she saw the children dying and wanted to do something about since she was a little girl. Its tells about all of her accomplishments and the role she played in saving peoples lives in a sense and helping women.
"Women In History - Jane Addams Biography" Lincoln Library of Essential Information (1924)URL: http://www.lkwdpl.org/wihohio/adda-jan.htm (22 November 1999)
A national woman's history association puts this out, it shows her the main points of her accomplishments and her life. The information was taken from the Lincoln Library of Essential Information.
Yakowitz, Donna. "Biography of Jane Addams" Turn of the Century History URL: http://www.ushistory.net/toc/addams.html (23 November 1999)
This is put out by the Turn of the Century foundation, it highlights Jane Addams accomplishments and Hull House. It focuses on the main events in Hull House and how Jane Addams corresponds with these events.