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 &ldquo;social settlement&rdquo; 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.