The History of Hull House In the late 19th century, social services for the needy were scarce, and the charitable organizations that existed kept tight control of their money and took the approach of providing services from outside the areas they were serving. One source described them as “heartless and overly concerned with efficiency and the rooting out of fraud.” (Schneiderhan, 2011) Wealthy women born in the 1860s and 1870s were able to earn college degrees, but often didn’t have careers to go into. Jane Addams was one of these “New Women”, earning her degree from Rockford Seminary. She had been raised by a wealthy businessman with strong Quaker values and decided to make charity work her career, launching a philanthropic movement in …show more content…
She came to believe in their philosophy, that charity workers could better serve the poor if they lived in the neighborhood, thinking of those around them as neighbors rather than clients. She wrote, “When neighbor helps neighbor, there is an emotional kindness, different from the guarded care with which relief is given by a charity worker. There is both a difference in method and also by an absolute clashing of two ethical standards.” (Ostman, 2006) In 1889, with numerous like-minded and strong-willed women concerned about social justice, Hull House was established in an area where the poor of Chicago lived. They began by offering kindergarten and day-care. Over time, they added an art gallery, music school, public playground, public baths, little theater, coffeehouse, college extension courses and a public swimming pool. Tradesmen taught skills; college graduates and the wealthy led artistic and music programs. Social clubs helped immigrants learn to …show more content…
Hull House was renowned for lively discussions of religion, politics and the arts. Residents and supporters actively worked to change laws related to child labor, unemployment compensation, women's suffrage and the protection of immigrants and minorities. It is noteworthy that her denunciation of US involvement in WWI (1914-1918) and a desire to allow open forums of all political positions caused Hull House to be labeled a “hotbed of anarchism” at the time. The US War Dept. identified Addams as a “destructive and dangerous” force, although, after the war, Hull House regained favor (Dieser, 2004). These activities would have certainly been limited if Hull House had been government