Laura Jane Addams: A Social Activist

Laura Jane Addams was born September 6, 1860, in Cedarville, Illinois. She was known prominently for her work as a social reformer, pacifist and feminist during the late 19th and early 2th centuries. The woman was born the eighth of nine childre to an affluent state senator and business man, this led them to live a life of privilege. The children 's father had many important friends including President Abraham Lincoln. In the 1880 's, Laura Addams struggled to find her place in the world. She battled with health problems at an early age, graduated from the Rockford Female Semiary in Illinois in 1881, and then traveled and briefly attended medical school. Soon however, Laura Addams began one trip with her friend Ellen Gates Starr, and the

1963, the construction of the University of Illinois ' Chicago campus forced Hull House to move, and, unfortunately, most of the organization 's original buildings were demolished as a result. However, the residence was transformed into a monument honoring Addams that still remains standing today. In addition to Laura Addam 's work at the Hull House, she began serving on Chicago 's Board of Education in 1905, later charing its School Managment Committee. Five years later she became the first female president of the National Conference of Charities and Corrections (this was later renamed the National Conference of Social Work). Laura went on to establish the National Federation of Settlements the following year, holding the organization 's top post for more than two decades after. However, outside of her work as a social reformer, the young woman was a very deeply committed pacifist and peace activist. She was a frequent lecturer on many subjects, mostly involving peace, she compiled her talks on endinng war in the world in a book published in 1907, Newer Ideals of Peace. But after World War I starter, Laura became chair of the Women 's Peace Party. Along with women like Emily Greene Balch and Alice Hamilton, she attended the International Congress of Women at The Hague in the Netherlands in the year 1915. These three women worked on a report together, Women at The Hague: The International Congress of Wome and Its Results, which was published the very