Jane Addams Hull House Association

09/06/2026

Happy Birthday Jane Addams!!!

The first American woman awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Jane Addams was born on September 6, 1860 in Cedarville, Illinois.

After graduating from Rockford College in 1881, Addams traveled to Europe where she was inspired by London's Toynbee Hall, the first "settlement house", where college-educated people "settled" in an impoverished area and volunteered services to help their neighbors, such as childcare, healthcare, and education.

Addams was determined to open a settlement house in Chicago and rented the former residence of Charles J. Hull in the city's poorest neighborhood. When Hull House opened in 1889 it offered classes on Shakespeare, classical music concerts, and discussions of fine art. Over time, Hull House incorporated a day care center, a museum of labor, and a theater, and offered practical classes on sewing and mending, mathematics and electricity, in addition to their curriculum in the humanities.

Outside of the settlement house, Addams was motivated to improve the physical conditions of her neighborhood, starting with the putrid garbage that bred rats in the alleys and streets where her clients' children played. When the city ignored her reports on the garbage conditions in her ward, she tried to get a job as the garbage collector. The city did not give her that job, but in 1895, appointed her the inspector of garbage. As inspector, Addams would make sure that the garbage bins were fully emptied and that the trash was properly burned.

Addams continued her work for social reform until her death in 1935, just four years after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.

📸: Jane Addams with children, 1930 (Underwood & Underwood)

01/27/2026

14 years ago today Jane Addams Hull House Association served our last client and closed our doors.

Famed social services organization founded by Nobel Peace Prize winner Jane Addams closes doors abruptly after running out of cash

01/23/2026

Cook County Courthouse Warming Centers Open Amid Extreme Wind Chills (Thurs. January 22- Mon. January 26). The National Weather Service has advised that wind chills will make it feel as cold as -35°F over the next several days.

Cook County is opening warming centers in the north, west and south suburbs to help residents combat extreme weather conditions. The warming centers will be open 24 hours beginning at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, January 22 and will run continuously until 4:30 p.m. Monday, January 26.

Residents who do not have adequate access to heat are advised to seek respite at a warming center at the following locations:
Skokie Courthouse: 5600 Old Orchard Rd., Skokie, IL 60077
Maywood Courthouse: 1500 Maybrook Dr., Maywood, IL 60153
Markham Courthouse: 16501 S. Kedzie Ave., Markham, IL 60428

The County’s warming centers will provide water and snacks as well as access to restrooms. Residents can bring pets in cages or carriers. If you do not have a cage or carrier, there will be a limited number available at each courthouse location.

Residents should also keep the following tips in mind through the cold winter months:

-Never use your oven for heat.
-Never bring charcoal or gas grills indoors (they are a carbon monoxide hazard).
-Make sure all portable heaters are unplugged when not in use.
-Use electric space heaters with extreme caution – avoid placing them near curtains or other flammable materials and turn them off before going to bed.
-Keep heat at adequate levels or leave faucets open with a slight drip to prevent pipes from freezing.
-Keep moving. Your body generates its own heat when you engage in physical activities.

The list of warming centers can also be found on the Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security website: https://cookcountyemergencymanagement.org

Residents who need to seek shelter at a warming center should contact the center first to verify availability and hours of operation.

12/10/2025

Happy Jane Addams Day!!!

On this day in 1931 Jane Addams became the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Honor the life and work of American social worker and suffragist, Jane Addams.

12/03/2025

Sad to see them close. They have been an amazing organization.

The longtime anti-poverty organization, founded in 1967 as the National Clearinghouse for Legal Services, has struggled in recent years to raise funds.