Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Addams, Jane

ADDAMS, JANE, an American philanthropist and social worker; born in Cedarville, Ill., Sept. 6, 1860. She was graduated at Rockford College in 1881, and after post-graduate studies in Europe and the United States, became an active social reformer. She inaugurated in 1889 the establishment known as Hull House, an adaptation of the “social settlement” plan to Chicago conditions. She has acted as street-cleaning inspector in Chicago, and has lectured on the improvement of the condition of the poor in great cities. In 1912 she took a prominent part in the formation of the Progressive party. Besides many contributions to current periodicals she has published a number of books.