Page 10 - 60 American Heroes Every Kid Should Meet

Jane Addams

SEPTEMBER 6, 1860–MAY 21, 1935

The First Lady of Peace

HUMANITARIAN
AUTHOR
NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER

ou’ve probably heard of
YMother Teresa, the Roman
Catholic nun who devoted her
life to helping the world’s poor
people. But did you know that more
than one hundred years ago, an American-
born woman did the same? Her name was
Jane Addams, and she almost always knew
that she wanted to help people.
Jane Addams was a woman of action!
In Europe she learned of a program in
which educated young men moved into a
poor section of London and offered classes
and activities to people right there in the
neighborhood. She thought it was such a
great idea that she brought it home and
founded Hull House in Chicago.
In a huge mansion, surrounded by
the crowded homes of poor people, Jane Jane Addams posed for this photograph in 1914. She supported
Addams and her friends created a haven. reforms benefiting children such as the first state child labor
There, they taught their neighbors job law and the first juvenile court.
skills, cared for their children, started a
kindergarten, and formed a boys’ club (which EXPLORE!
called itself the Young Heroes Club). Food, Another cause that got Jane Addams moving
friendship, financial help—you could find them and called her to action was world peace. She
all at Hull House. was the founder and first president of the
Jane Addams saw it all very simply: Women’s International League for Peace and
neighbors helping neighbors. Freedom (WILPF). Just as she worked hard at
In 1979 Mother Teresa (an honorary US Hull House to help the poor, she worked hard to
citizen) won the Nobel Peace Prize. She followed promote world harmony.
in the footsteps of the first American woman Because Jane also wrote numerous books,
ever to be awarded that prize—Jane Addams. each year the Jane Addams Children’s Book

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