Encyclopedia, Difference between revisions of "Edith Abbott" - New World
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[[image:edith_abbott.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Edith Abbott]] | [[image:edith_abbott.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Edith Abbott]] | ||
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| − | + | '''Edith Abbott (September 26, 1876 - July 28, 1957)''' | |
| − | + | At first a school teacher, Edith Abbott of Grand Island, Nebraska (older sister to [[Grace Abbott]]) would become an esteemed social worker, author, legislative advisor and the first American female to serve as dean of an United States graduate school. | |
| − | + | == Life == | |
| − | Abbott | + | In 1893 Abbott graduated from Brownell Hall, a girls’ boarding school located in Omaha, Nebraska. Because her family could not afford to send her to college, Abbott began teaching high school in her hometown of Grand Island. After taking correspondence courses and attending summer sessions, Abbott earned a collegiate degree from the University of Nebraska in 1901. Two years later, Abbott enrolled at the University of Chicago where she would earn a Ph.D. in [[economics]] in 1905. |
| − | + | == Work == | |
| − | + | Receiving a Carnegie Fellowship in 1906, Abbott continued her studies abroad at University College London as well as the London School of Economics. There she studied with social reformers such as Sidney and Beatrice Webb, before returning a year later to the United States to teach economics at [[Wellesley College]] in Massachusetts. | |
| − | Abbott | + | One year later, aiming to work more directly with the issue of poverty, Abbott relocated to Chicago to join her sister, Grace, at the [[Jane Addams Hull House]]. While there, the sisters advocated for women’s suffrage, improvements in housing for the poor and legislation to safeguard immigrants, women and children. |
| − | During | + | During this time Abbott also worked as an assistant to [[Sophonisba Breckinridge]], then director of social research at the Chicago School of Civics and Philanthropy. Abbott’s contributions included studies on delinquency and truancy, women in industry and problems in the penal system. |
| − | Abbott | + | In 1920, Abbott and Breckinridge helped to arrange the transfer of the School of Civics and Philanthropy to the University of Chicago, where it was renamed the School of Social Service Administration. This school would prove the first university-based graduate school of social work. Abbott served as dean from 1924 until 1942, emphasizing the value of a formal education and the importance of field experience within social work. |
| + | |||
| + | == Legacy == | ||
| + | |||
| + | In 1926, Abbott helped to establish a Bureau of Public Welfare within Cook County, Illinois while co-founding the [[Social Service Review]] with Breckinridge one year later. Abbott would later teach and edit this review, an examination of social welfare policies, until 1953. Arguably Abbott’s most recognizable contribution to the history of the United States came in 1935 as she helped to draft the still-standing [[Social Security Act]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In later years, Abbott was acknowledged as a confidant and special consultant to [[Harry Hopkins]], a chief adviser to President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] throughout such historic events as the [[Great Depression]] and [[World War II]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Throughout her career, Abbott wrote more than 100 books and articles on a variety of topics, earning her the nickname "the passionate statistician." In her writings, Abbott stressed the responsibility of the state to address social inequalities, the need for public welfare administration, and the desire for an equitable reform of the social welfare system. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In 1957 Abbott would eventually succumb to pneumonia, spending her last years in Grand Island with her brother Arthur. She left the bulk of her estate to the Grand Island Public Library and established a trust for a collection of non-fiction books in memory of her mother, Elizabeth. | ||
==Publications== | ==Publications== | ||
| + | |||
*''Women in industry; a study in American economic history''. New York; London: D. Appleton and Co., 1910. | *''Women in industry; a study in American economic history''. New York; London: D. Appleton and Co., 1910. | ||
Revision as of 21:26, 26 May 2006
Edith Abbott (September 26, 1876 - July 28, 1957)
At first a school teacher, Edith Abbott of Grand Island, Nebraska (older sister to Grace Abbott) would become an esteemed social worker, author, legislative advisor and the first American female to serve as dean of an United States graduate school.
Life
In 1893 Abbott graduated from Brownell Hall, a girls’ boarding school located in Omaha, Nebraska. Because her family could not afford to send her to college, Abbott began teaching high school in her hometown of Grand Island. After taking correspondence courses and attending summer sessions, Abbott earned a collegiate degree from the University of Nebraska in 1901. Two years later, Abbott enrolled at the University of Chicago where she would earn a Ph.D. in economics in 1905.
Work
Receiving a Carnegie Fellowship in 1906, Abbott continued her studies abroad at University College London as well as the London School of Economics. There she studied with social reformers such as Sidney and Beatrice Webb, before returning a year later to the United States to teach economics at Wellesley College in Massachusetts.
One year later, aiming to work more directly with the issue of poverty, Abbott relocated to Chicago to join her sister, Grace, at the Jane Addams Hull House. While there, the sisters advocated for women’s suffrage, improvements in housing for the poor and legislation to safeguard immigrants, women and children.
During this time Abbott also worked as an assistant to Sophonisba Breckinridge, then director of social research at the Chicago School of Civics and Philanthropy. Abbott’s contributions included studies on delinquency and truancy, women in industry and problems in the penal system.
In 1920, Abbott and Breckinridge helped to arrange the transfer of the School of Civics and Philanthropy to the University of Chicago, where it was renamed the School of Social Service Administration. This school would prove the first university-based graduate school of social work. Abbott served as dean from 1924 until 1942, emphasizing the value of a formal education and the importance of field experience within social work.
Legacy
In 1926, Abbott helped to establish a Bureau of Public Welfare within Cook County, Illinois while co-founding the Social Service Review with Breckinridge one year later. Abbott would later teach and edit this review, an examination of social welfare policies, until 1953. Arguably Abbott’s most recognizable contribution to the history of the United States came in 1935 as she helped to draft the still-standing Social Security Act.
In later years, Abbott was acknowledged as a confidant and special consultant to Harry Hopkins, a chief adviser to President Franklin D. Roosevelt throughout such historic events as the Great Depression and World War II.
Throughout her career, Abbott wrote more than 100 books and articles on a variety of topics, earning her the nickname "the passionate statistician." In her writings, Abbott stressed the responsibility of the state to address social inequalities, the need for public welfare administration, and the desire for an equitable reform of the social welfare system.
In 1957 Abbott would eventually succumb to pneumonia, spending her last years in Grand Island with her brother Arthur. She left the bulk of her estate to the Grand Island Public Library and established a trust for a collection of non-fiction books in memory of her mother, Elizabeth.
Publications
- Women in industry; a study in American economic history. New York; London: D. Appleton and Co., 1910.
External links
- Harvard University Library Open Collections Program. Women Working, 1870-1930, Edith Abbott (1876-1957). A full-text searchable online database with complete access to publications written by Edith Abbott.
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