LGBT People Of History Part Sixteen Jane Addams

Born on September 6th 1860 in Cedarville, Illinois, into a large family was Jane Addams.

Jane Addams is considered to be a pioneer. She founded Hull House, in Chicago, and was also a public philosopher, sociologist, author, leader in the women suffrage movement as a well as a leader in world peace.

Addams attended Rockford Female Seminary in Illinois graduating with a collegiate certificate in 1881. She had big dreams of being a doctor and helping the poor, but sadly a short while later after her father died. Addams and her family moved to Philadelphia where she attended the Women’s Medical College in Philadelphia with her sister. Addams only completed her first year in the college as she had health problems - curvature of the spine. A spinal operation and a nervous breakdown would prevent her from completing her degree and reaching her one true dream of being a doctor.

In 1889 Addams and her friend co-founded Hull House in Chicago. At its height it was visited weekly by around two thousand people. The many facilities included a night school for adults, a kindergarten, clubs for older children, a public kitchen, an art gallery, a coffee house, a gymnasium, a girls' club, a bathhouse, a book bindery, a music school, a drama group and a library as well as labour-related divisions. Hull House afforded an opportunity for young social workers to acquire training. Eventually, Hull House became a thirteen-building settlement complex, which included a playground and a summer camp and was known as Bowen Country Club.

Jane Addams was a lesbian and throughout her life she became close to many women. One in particular - Mary Rozet Smith - was her lifelong partner, best friend and with whom she had a romantic friendship.

In 1931 Jane became the first woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. She donated her share of the prize money to the “Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.”

Sadly on May 25th 1935 Jane Addams died.

Callum & Ian

Thanks To Wikipedia.

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