Difference between revisions of "Hull House" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
Line 21: Line 21:
 
   | governing_body = College of Architecture and the Arts at the University of Illinois at Chicago
 
   | governing_body = College of Architecture and the Arts at the University of Illinois at Chicago
 
}}
 
}}
'''Hull House''', co-founded in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], in 1889 by [[Jane Addams]] and [[Ellen Gates Starr]] who were soon joined by other volunteers called "residents," was one of the first [[settlement house]]s in the U.S. and eventually grew into one of the largest, with facilities in 13 buildings. Under Addams’ leadership, the Hull House’s social, educational and artistic programs had earned it a reputation as the best-known settlement house in the United States as well as the standard bearer for the movement that included almost 500 settlements nationally by 1920.<ref name="EOCHH">Johnson, Mary Ann, ''Hull House'', p. 402, Eds. Grossman, James R., Keating, Ann Durkin, and Reiff, Janice L., 2004 ''The Encyclopedia of Chicago''. The University of Chicago Press, ISBN 0-226-31015-9</ref>
+
'''Hull House''', established in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]] in 1889, was one of the first [[settlement house]]s in the United States. Co-founded by volunteers Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr, the settlement house eventually became one of America’s largest all-volunteer establishments with thirteen buildings to house facilities. Under Addams’ leadership, the Hull House’s renowned social, educational and artistic programs earned the program a reputation as the best-known settlement house in the United States, sparking a subsequent movement nationwide that founded nearly 500 similar settlements by 1920.<ref name="EOCHH">Johnson, Mary Ann, ''Hull House'', p. 402, Eds. Grossman, James R., Keating, Ann Durkin, and Reiff, Janice L., 2004 ''The Encyclopedia of Chicago''. The University of Chicago Press, ISBN 0-226-31015-9</ref>
  
 
==Mission==
 
==Mission==
 
[[Image:Hullhouse.jpg|thumb|left|Hull House community workshop poster, 1938]]
 
[[Image:Hullhouse.jpg|thumb|left|Hull House community workshop poster, 1938]]
At its beginning, its main purposes were to provide social and educational opportunities for [[working class]] people in the neighborhood, many of whom were recent immigrants. There were classes in literature, history, art, domestic activities such as sewing, and many other subjects, concerts free to everyone, free lectures on current issues, and clubs both for children and adults.
 
 
The first two decades of the Hull House attracted women who rose to become prominent and influential reformers at all levels. The settlement also gradually was drawn into advocating for legislative reforms at the municipal, state and federal levels, addressing issues such as [[child labor]], [[suffrage]], and [[immigration policy]]. At the neighborhood level they established the city’s first public playground and bathhouse, pursued educational and political reform, investigated housing, working and sanitation issues.  At the municipal level, their pursuit of legal reforms lead to the first [[juvenile court]] in the United States, and their work influenced urban planning and influence the transition to a branch library system.  At the state level their residence influenced legislation on [[child labor]] laws, [[occupational safety]] and health provisions, [[compulsory education]], [[immigrant]] rights, and pension laws.  These works, gave them experience which translated to success at the federal level working with the settlement house network to champion national child labor laws, women’s [[suffrage]], a Children’s Bureau, [[unemployment compensation]], [[workers' compensation]] and other elements of the Progressive agenda during the first two decades of the twentieth century.<ref name="EOCHH"> </ref>
 
 
Later, the settlement branched out and offered services to ameliorate some of the effects of poverty. There was a public dispensary to provide nutritious food for the sick, a daycare center, and public baths. Among the courses they offered was a bookbinding course, which was a timely given the contemporary employment opportunities in the printing trade.<ref name="EOCBA">Gehl, Paul F., ''Book Arts'', p. 87, Eds. Grossman, James R., Keating, Ann Durkin, and Reiff, Janice L., 2004 ''The Encyclopedia of Chicago''. The University of Chicago Press, ISBN 0-226-31015-9</ref> The Hull House well known for its success in aiding in assimilation, especially for their role in helping to Americanize immigrant youth.<ref name="EOCCyc">Gems, Gerald R., ''Clubs: Youth Clubs'', p. 181, Eds. Grossman, James R., Keating, Ann Durkin, and Reiff, Janice L., 2004 ''The Encyclopedia of Chicago''. The University of Chicago Press, ISBN 0-226-31015-9</ref>  The Hull House became the center of the movement to promote hand workmanship as a moral regenerative force.<ref name="EOCAaCM">Darling, Sharon S., ''Arts and Crafts Movement'', p. 49, Eds. Grossman, James R., Keating, Ann Durkin, and Reiff, Janice L., 2004 ''The Encyclopedia of Chicago''. The University of Chicago Press, ISBN 0-226-31015-9</ref>  Although open (or free speech) forums flourished in Chicago, the Hull House promoted the more conservative supervised lectures and debates.<ref name="EOCFS">Rosemont, Franklin, ''Free Speach'', p. 316, Eds. Grossman, James R., Keating, Ann Durkin, and Reiff, Janice L., 2004 ''The Encyclopedia of Chicago''. The University of Chicago Press, ISBN 0-226-31015-9</ref> [[Paul Kellogg]] once called the group the "Great Ladies of Halsted Street.<ref> http://www.ssa.uchicago.edu/aboutssa/history/tour1d.shtml accessdate=2007-01-07</ref>
 
 
 
The objective of Hull House, as stated in its charter, was: "To provide a center for a higher civic and social life; to institute and maintain educational and philanthropic enterprises, and to investigate and improve the conditions in the industrial districts of Chicago."
 
The objective of Hull House, as stated in its charter, was: "To provide a center for a higher civic and social life; to institute and maintain educational and philanthropic enterprises, and to investigate and improve the conditions in the industrial districts of Chicago."
  
==The Building==
+
As founded by Addams and Starr, Hull House’s main purpose was to provide social and educational opportunities for [[working class]] people within the urban Chicago neighborhood, many of whom were recent immigrants. Hull House offered classes in literature, history, art, domestic activities, and entertainment including concerts, lectures, and clubs for both children and adults. Among the educational courses offered was an intensive bookbinding program, a timely offering given the various employment opportunities in the printing trade at the time.
  
Hull House was located in and took its name from the mansion built by [[Charles J. Hull]] in 1856. At one time located in a fashionable part of town, by 1889 when Addams was looking for a location for her experiment, that part of town had descended into squalor, in part due to the rapid and over-whelming influx of immigrants into the Near West Side neighborhood. Hull, a real estate magnate, granted his former home to his niece Helen Culver, who in turn granted it to Addams on a 25-year rent-free lease. By 1907, Addams had acquired thirteen buildings surrounding Hull's mansion.  The facility remained at that location until it was purchased in 1963 by the [[University of Illinois, Chicago|University of Illinois-Circle Campus]], which kept the original dining hall built in 1905, designed by Pond & Pond.<ref>http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Landmarks/H/HullHouse.html accessdate=2007-01-03</ref>
+
===Political Influence===
 +
During the two decades following its establishment, Hull House attracted various female figures who would rise to become prominent and influential reformers at all levels. During this time, the Hull House settlement and its inhabitants gained an acute political awareness, gradually advocating for legislative reforms at the municipal, state and federal levels. Priorities included [[child labor]] laws, women’s [[suffrage]], and [[immigration policies]]. At the neighborhood level, volunteers established Chicago’s first public playground and bathhouse, pursued educational and political reforms, and investigated housing, working and sanitation issues. At the municipal level, Hull House’s steadfast pursuit of various legal reforms lead to the establishment of the first [[juvenile court]] within the United States. Members also influenced areas of urban planning and directed the nationwide transition toward branch library systems. At the state level, Hull House associates influenced legislation on [[child labor]] laws, [[occupational safety]] and health provisions, [[compulsory education]], [[immigrant]] rights, and pension laws. Seeking success at the federal level, Hull House began working with the settlement house network to champion a highly progressive agenda including national child labor laws, women’s [[suffrage]], a Children’s Bureau, [[unemployment compensation]], and [[workers' compensation]].<ref name="EOCHH"> </ref>
  
===The Haunting of Hull House===
+
===Community Influence===
 +
Throughout later decades, the settlement house also set out to ameliorate various effects of poverty, establishing a public dispensary to provide nutritious food for the sick, a daycare center, and public baths for Chicago’s underprivileged population..<ref name="EOCBA">Gehl, Paul F., ''Book Arts'', p. 87, Eds. Grossman, James R., Keating, Ann Durkin, and Reiff, Janice L., 2004 ''The Encyclopedia of Chicago''. The University of Chicago Press, ISBN 0-226-31015-9</ref>
  
Over the years, Hull House has attracted numerous stories of ghosts and hauntings, making it a stop on many of the ghost in Chicago tours. Charles Hull's wife died in her bedroom, which was used by Addams after the establishment of Hull House. Addams believed the house was haunted, as related in her book ''Twenty Years at Hull House''.<ref>J. Addams, ''Twenty Years at Hull House'', (New York: MacMillan & Co., 1910), ch.5.</ref>
+
The Hull House was also well known for its success in aiding urban assimilation programs, in particular for their role in helping to Americanize immigrant youth.<ref name="EOCCyc">Gems, Gerald R., ''Clubs: Youth Clubs'', p. 181, Eds. Grossman, James R., Keating, Ann Durkin, and Reiff, Janice L., 2004 ''The Encyclopedia of Chicago''. The University of Chicago Press, ISBN 0-226-31015-9</ref> The settlement also became the center of the movement to promote hand workmanship as a moral regenerative force.<ref name="EOCAaCM">Darling, Sharon S., ''Arts and Crafts Movement'', p. 49, Eds. Grossman, James R., Keating, Ann Durkin, and Reiff, Janice L., 2004 ''The Encyclopedia of Chicago''. The University of Chicago Press, ISBN 0-226-31015-9</ref>  Journalist [[Paul Kellogg]] once called the group the "Great Ladies of Halsted Street” in reference to their philanthropic success. <ref> http://www.ssa.uchicago.edu/aboutssa/history/tour1d.shtml accessdate=2007-01-07</ref>
  
In the 1920s, another ghost story tied itself to Hull House.  According to this legend, after a man claimed that he would rather have the [[Devil]] in his house than a picture of [[Virgin Mary|Mary]], his child was born with pointed ears, horns, scale-covered skin and a tail. The mother was said to have taken the baby to Hull House, where Addams attempted to have it baptized and wound up locking it in the attic.<ref>http://www.prairieghosts.com/hull.html accessdate=2007-01-03</ref>
+
==The Building==
 +
The Hull House took its name from the original mansion built on Chicago’s Halsted Street by real estate developer [[Charles J. Hull]] in 1856.  At one time located in a prestigious part of Chicago, by 1889 Halsted Street had descended into squalor in part due to the rapid and over-whelming influx of immigrants into the Near West Side neighborhood. In its dilapidation, Hull granted his former home to his niece Helen Culver, who in turn granted it to Addams on a 25-year rent-free lease.  By 1907, Addams had acquired thirteen buildings surrounding Hull's mansion, marking Hull House the largest settlement house within America at the time. The facility remained at that location until 1963 upon where it was purchased by the [[University of Illinois, Chicago|University of Illinois-Circle Campus]], which kept the original 1905 dining hall designed by Pond & Pond.<ref>http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Landmarks/H/HullHouse.html accessdate=2007-01-03</ref>
  
 
==Today==
 
==Today==
Addams ran the Hull House as head resident until her death in 1935.  Hull House continued to serve the community around the Halsted location until it was displaced by the urban campus of the [[University of Illinois]].  Today, the social service center role is performed throughout the city at various locations under the ''Jane Addams Hull House Association'' umbrella organization. This association has, since 1962, perpetuated the name and many of the aspirations of the original institution.<ref name="EOCHH"> </ref>  The original Hull House itself is a museum, part of the College of Architecture and the Arts at the [[University of Illinois at Chicago]], and is open to the public.
+
Co-founder Jane Addams ran the Hull House as head resident until her death in 1935.  After her death Hull House continued to serve the community around the Halsted location until it was displaced by the urban campus of the [[University of Illinois]].  Today, the philanthropic efforts of the original Hull House settlement are performed throughout the city at various locations under the ''Jane Addams Hull House Association''. This association has, since 1962, perpetuated the name and many of the aspirations of the original institution.<ref name="EOCHH"> </ref>  Today, the original Hull House has been converted into a museum and stands as a part of the University of Illinois’ College of Architecture and the Arts and is open to the public.
  
 
==Selected notable residents==
 
==Selected notable residents==
Line 71: Line 68:
 
*[http://www.uic.edu/jaddams/hull/urbanexp/ Urban Experience In Chicago: Hull-House and Its Neighborhoods, 1889-1963]
 
*[http://www.uic.edu/jaddams/hull/urbanexp/ Urban Experience In Chicago: Hull-House and Its Neighborhoods, 1889-1963]
 
*[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,739282,00.html Hull House Jubilee Article]
 
*[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,739282,00.html Hull House Jubilee Article]
 
 
{{Credit1|Hull_House|103339516|}}
 
{{Credit1|Hull_House|103339516|}}

Revision as of 22:43, 21 February 2007


Hull House
(National Register of Historic Places)
Hull House as it looks today.
Hull House as it looks today.
Location: 800 S. Halsted, Chicago, Illinois
Coordinates: coord}}{{#coordinates:41|52|15.1|N|87|368|49|W| name=

}}

Built/Founded: 1889
Added to NRHP: October 15, 1966
Governing body: College of Architecture and the Arts at the University of Illinois at Chicago

Hull House, established in Chicago, Illinois in 1889, was one of the first settlement houses in the United States. Co-founded by volunteers Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr, the settlement house eventually became one of America’s largest all-volunteer establishments with thirteen buildings to house facilities. Under Addams’ leadership, the Hull House’s renowned social, educational and artistic programs earned the program a reputation as the best-known settlement house in the United States, sparking a subsequent movement nationwide that founded nearly 500 similar settlements by 1920.[1]

Mission

Hull House community workshop poster, 1938

The objective of Hull House, as stated in its charter, was: "To provide a center for a higher civic and social life; to institute and maintain educational and philanthropic enterprises, and to investigate and improve the conditions in the industrial districts of Chicago."

As founded by Addams and Starr, Hull House’s main purpose was to provide social and educational opportunities for working class people within the urban Chicago neighborhood, many of whom were recent immigrants. Hull House offered classes in literature, history, art, domestic activities, and entertainment including concerts, lectures, and clubs for both children and adults. Among the educational courses offered was an intensive bookbinding program, a timely offering given the various employment opportunities in the printing trade at the time.

Political Influence

During the two decades following its establishment, Hull House attracted various female figures who would rise to become prominent and influential reformers at all levels. During this time, the Hull House settlement and its inhabitants gained an acute political awareness, gradually advocating for legislative reforms at the municipal, state and federal levels. Priorities included child labor laws, women’s suffrage, and immigration policies. At the neighborhood level, volunteers established Chicago’s first public playground and bathhouse, pursued educational and political reforms, and investigated housing, working and sanitation issues. At the municipal level, Hull House’s steadfast pursuit of various legal reforms lead to the establishment of the first juvenile court within the United States. Members also influenced areas of urban planning and directed the nationwide transition toward branch library systems. At the state level, Hull House associates influenced legislation on child labor laws, occupational safety and health provisions, compulsory education, immigrant rights, and pension laws. Seeking success at the federal level, Hull House began working with the settlement house network to champion a highly progressive agenda including national child labor laws, women’s suffrage, a Children’s Bureau, unemployment compensation, and workers' compensation.[1]

Community Influence

Throughout later decades, the settlement house also set out to ameliorate various effects of poverty, establishing a public dispensary to provide nutritious food for the sick, a daycare center, and public baths for Chicago’s underprivileged population..[2]

The Hull House was also well known for its success in aiding urban assimilation programs, in particular for their role in helping to Americanize immigrant youth.[3] The settlement also became the center of the movement to promote hand workmanship as a moral regenerative force.[4] Journalist Paul Kellogg once called the group the "Great Ladies of Halsted Street” in reference to their philanthropic success. [5]

The Building

The Hull House took its name from the original mansion built on Chicago’s Halsted Street by real estate developer Charles J. Hull in 1856. At one time located in a prestigious part of Chicago, by 1889 Halsted Street had descended into squalor in part due to the rapid and over-whelming influx of immigrants into the Near West Side neighborhood. In its dilapidation, Hull granted his former home to his niece Helen Culver, who in turn granted it to Addams on a 25-year rent-free lease. By 1907, Addams had acquired thirteen buildings surrounding Hull's mansion, marking Hull House the largest settlement house within America at the time. The facility remained at that location until 1963 upon where it was purchased by the University of Illinois-Circle Campus, which kept the original 1905 dining hall designed by Pond & Pond.[6]

Today

Co-founder Jane Addams ran the Hull House as head resident until her death in 1935. After her death Hull House continued to serve the community around the Halsted location until it was displaced by the urban campus of the University of Illinois. Today, the philanthropic efforts of the original Hull House settlement are performed throughout the city at various locations under the Jane Addams Hull House Association. This association has, since 1962, perpetuated the name and many of the aspirations of the original institution.[1] Today, the original Hull House has been converted into a museum and stands as a part of the University of Illinois’ College of Architecture and the Arts and is open to the public.

Selected notable residents

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Johnson, Mary Ann, Hull House, p. 402, Eds. Grossman, James R., Keating, Ann Durkin, and Reiff, Janice L., 2004 The Encyclopedia of Chicago. The University of Chicago Press, ISBN 0-226-31015-9
  2. Gehl, Paul F., Book Arts, p. 87, Eds. Grossman, James R., Keating, Ann Durkin, and Reiff, Janice L., 2004 The Encyclopedia of Chicago. The University of Chicago Press, ISBN 0-226-31015-9
  3. Gems, Gerald R., Clubs: Youth Clubs, p. 181, Eds. Grossman, James R., Keating, Ann Durkin, and Reiff, Janice L., 2004 The Encyclopedia of Chicago. The University of Chicago Press, ISBN 0-226-31015-9
  4. Darling, Sharon S., Arts and Crafts Movement, p. 49, Eds. Grossman, James R., Keating, Ann Durkin, and Reiff, Janice L., 2004 The Encyclopedia of Chicago. The University of Chicago Press, ISBN 0-226-31015-9
  5. http://www.ssa.uchicago.edu/aboutssa/history/tour1d.shtml accessdate=2007-01-07
  6. http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Landmarks/H/HullHouse.html accessdate=2007-01-03

External links

Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.