Jane Addams and the Foundation of Social Work

Jane Addams and the Foundation of Social WorkJane Addams and the Foundation of Social WorkJane Addams and the Foundation of Social Work

Explore Jane Addams' impact on social work and education.

Jane Addams and the Foundation of Social Work

Jane Addams and the Foundation of Social WorkJane Addams and the Foundation of Social WorkJane Addams and the Foundation of Social Work

Explore Jane Addams' impact on social work and education.

About This Site

My Project

Welcome to my multi-genre look at Jane Addams and how she helped create the profession of social work. She believed that nobody deserves to be ignored just because they are struggling. She built community support systems when none existed and taught the world that social justice is real work. Her ideas shaped what social workers still do today. Each page on this site shows a different creative view of her mission to help families, children, and communities rise together.

Mini - Timeline of Addams Milestones

1889 - Hull House opens

Social Welfare History Project Hull HouseJane Addams' Hull-House was America's first and most influential social settlement house, founded in Chicago in 1889 with Ellen Gates Starr to provide social, educational, and cultural services (like daycare, art, and job training) to poor, immigrant working-class residents, becoming a hub for community activism and social reform

1907 - Child Labor Reform Expands

In 1907, Jane Addams became a founding member of the National Child Labor Committee (NCLC), a pivotal step in child labor reform, leveraging her Hull-House platform to advocate for federal laws, better enforcement, and education as an alternative to factory work

1915 - International Peace Leadership

Jane Addams' international peace leadership centered on pacifism, anti-imperialism, and creating global institutions for peace, notably co-founding the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), which aimed to prevent war and promote justice through international cooperation, earning her the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931.

1931 - Nobel Peace Prize Awarded

Jane Addams was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931, sharing the honor with Nicholas Murray Butler for her extensive work as a social reformer, peace activist, and founder of Hull House, becoming the first American woman to receive the prize. 

Newsletter: Hull - House Now Open!

A New Look For Many

Before today, many families faced poverty alone. There were no government services or trained workers to help. Jane Addams believes community support can change lives. This settlement house is the first of many to come and sets a foundation for social work in the United States.

Open Eyes and Open Ears

Hull House created the model of living and working inside the neighborhoods that need help the most. Listening, supporting, organizing and fighting for fair laws are now the core values of social workers everywhere.

What's Next

 

Hull House will soon launch health clinics, youth groups and advocacy efforts to protect workers, children and new families. Today is only the beginning. The house is a symbol of what social work is meant to be. Real support. Real change. Real community.

A Letter To A Friend: Jane Addams Writes A Letter During WW1

This letter shows Jane Addams speaking honestly about her fear of how war hurts families everywhere. She believes that peace is part of the true work of social workers because their goal is to protect lives and reduce suffering. Instead of staying silent, she continues to stand up for her values even when people disagree with her. This page highlights how her peace activism was not separate from social work, it was an extension of her mission to keep communities safe, supported and united.

A House of Hope: A Jane Addams Poem

Social work grew from this belief that people deserve support, respect, and opportunities to rise. Jane Addams turned compassion into action. This poem reflects the foundation she built.

Jane Addams Wins the World - Renowned Nobel Peace Prize!

Jane Addams and the Foundation of Social Work

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