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Jane Addams: Champion of Democracy
Most people know Jane Addams (1860-1935) as the force behind Hull House, one of the first settlement houses in the United States. She was also an ardent suffragist and civil rights activist, co-founding the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the American Civil Liberties Union. But it was her work as a pacifist that put her in the international spotlight. Although many people labeled her “unpatriotic” for her pacifist activities, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931 and, at the time of her death, Jane Addams was one of the most respected and admired women in the world. In this well-researched and inspiring account, acclaimed husband-and-wife team, Dennis Brindell Fradin and Judith Bloom Fradin, draw upon hundreds of historical documents and archival photographs to create a revealing portrait of the woman whose very way of life made her an American icon.
216 pages, Hardcover
First published December 11, 2006
1 person is currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Judith Bloom Fradin
44 books8 followersJudith Fradin has co-authored more than three dozen children’s and young adult books with her husband, renowned writer Dennis Fradin. Starting in the 1990s, Judy began helping Dennis research and write the From Sea to Shining Sea state book series for Children's Press. When those books were completed, the Fradins collaborated on Who was Sagagawea?
Their next joint venture, the Clarion young adult biography Ida B. Wells: Mother of the Civil Rights Movement, became the first of their three Society for Midland Authors Award winners. More award-winning Fradin biographies followed, including Five Thousand Miles to Freedom. The Fradins then co-authored the Witness to Disaster series for National Geographic Children's Books.
Judy Fradin loves visiting schools and libraries, sharing how an idea becomes a book as well as practical tips about writing non-fiction. She has spectacular slide shows for each of her Witness to Disaster books and for Five Thousand Miles to Freedom as well as her books about the Lewis and Clark expedition. Her Underground Railroad presentation features pictures she obtained for Bound for the North Star, Dennis's collection of true slave-escape accounts.
Their next joint venture, the Clarion young adult biography Ida B. Wells: Mother of the Civil Rights Movement, became the first of their three Society for Midland Authors Award winners. More award-winning Fradin biographies followed, including Five Thousand Miles to Freedom. The Fradins then co-authored the Witness to Disaster series for National Geographic Children's Books.
Judy Fradin loves visiting schools and libraries, sharing how an idea becomes a book as well as practical tips about writing non-fiction. She has spectacular slide shows for each of her Witness to Disaster books and for Five Thousand Miles to Freedom as well as her books about the Lewis and Clark expedition. Her Underground Railroad presentation features pictures she obtained for Bound for the North Star, Dennis's collection of true slave-escape accounts.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 25, 2019
08 December 2007 JANE ADDAMS: CHAMPION OF DEMOCRACY by Judith Bloom Fradin and Dennis Brindell Fradin, Clarion, 2006, ISBN: 0-618-50436-2
" 'Cause I know the biggest crime
is just to throw up your hands
Say this has nothing to do with me
I just want to live as comfortably as I can.
You got to look outside your eyes
You got to think outside your brain
You got to walk outside you life
to where the neighborhood changes" -- Ani Difranco, "Willing to Fight"
"Visitors often saw just one side of Chicago -- the lovely lakefront, the fabulous mansions of the wealthy merchants, the majestic skyscrapers, and the glittering night spots.
"There were entire neighborhoods where the residents lived packed together in filthy tenements and shacks. Many poor Chicagoans had no heat in the wintertime, no running water, and no neighborhood schools. Because the opportunity to bathe was rare for the poor, dirt sometimes accumulated on children until their skin resembled scales. In addition, the milk delivered to poor families was often spoiled.
"These unsanitary conditions claimed a large toll, particularly among the very young. In the city as a whole, half the children born in 1889 wouldn't live to celebrate their fifth birthdays. The death toll was even higher in poor neighborhoods, where families might have ten children in the hope that three or four would reach adulthood. Adults also suffered from outbreaks of disease, which included smallpox, cholera, scarlet fever, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, and dysentery. In 1885, for example, epidemics killed approximately one hundred thousand Chicagoans, or about one in every eight of the city's population."
Into this world of squalor and disease stepped the young woman who was determined to change things.
I like to think that I am doing my little bit to make the world a better place. I am always advocating loudly for peace and acceptance and equality, doing a lot of education-related volunteer work, drying my clothes in the sun, taking mass transit when practical, recycling and composting and planting trees. But then I read a book like JANE ADDAMS: CHAMPION OF DEMOCRACY and am again reminded of what it looks like to REALLY be serious about changing the world:
"By the early 1900s, Hull House had grown to thirteen buildings and was home to about forty staff residents, a quarter of them men. Among the residents were physicians, attorneys, journalists, businessmen, teachers, scientists, musicians, and artists. The Hull House settlement had become a vital part of the neighborhood. Of the 70,000 people who lived within six blocks of Hull House around the turn of the century, roughly 9,000 participated in the settlement's programs in any given week."
And to think that Jane Addams' work to create Hull House was but the platform from which she then worked -- in the forefront and with every expectation of achieving success -- for world peace, women's suffrage, racial equality, and an end to poverty and child labor.
"Jane Addams practiced what she preached. During her forty-six years as director of Hull House, she refused to accept even a penny in salary for herself. She also donated most of her personal funds to the settlement. She had a roof over her head, food, and some of her inheritance left, so why have a large bank account when the money could help the poor."
Some of the snapshots of her sharing behavior are truly delightful, being that she would barely have a gift open before immediately turning around and giving it away to somebody whose need, she felt, was greater than was her own.
Of course, Jane Addams did not accomplish her work single-handedly. Jane was an unstoppable organizer who -- over and over again -- lined up incredibly talented people and sought out significant financial and hands-on support from those well-off benefactors from Chicago and beyond who could readily afford to help support the amazing breadth of good works that she initiated.
Where did Jane Addams came from? How did she change the world? Why did she spend a decade being scorned for her views? How did she take on a crooked Chicago politician to literally clean up the city? And, most importantly, why would I would love for our children and our students to all know about this great woman? These are all questions to which Judith and Dennis Fradin provide answers in JANE ADDAMS: CHAMPION OF DEMOCRACY. A few years ago, I chatted with Dennis when he was up to his elbows in Jane's letters and other primary source material. The result of the Fradins' dedication to seeking out the truth about Jane Addams is a book that will help inspire a willingness in new generation to fight for change.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
" 'Cause I know the biggest crime
is just to throw up your hands
Say this has nothing to do with me
I just want to live as comfortably as I can.
You got to look outside your eyes
You got to think outside your brain
You got to walk outside you life
to where the neighborhood changes" -- Ani Difranco, "Willing to Fight"
"Visitors often saw just one side of Chicago -- the lovely lakefront, the fabulous mansions of the wealthy merchants, the majestic skyscrapers, and the glittering night spots.
"There were entire neighborhoods where the residents lived packed together in filthy tenements and shacks. Many poor Chicagoans had no heat in the wintertime, no running water, and no neighborhood schools. Because the opportunity to bathe was rare for the poor, dirt sometimes accumulated on children until their skin resembled scales. In addition, the milk delivered to poor families was often spoiled.
"These unsanitary conditions claimed a large toll, particularly among the very young. In the city as a whole, half the children born in 1889 wouldn't live to celebrate their fifth birthdays. The death toll was even higher in poor neighborhoods, where families might have ten children in the hope that three or four would reach adulthood. Adults also suffered from outbreaks of disease, which included smallpox, cholera, scarlet fever, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, and dysentery. In 1885, for example, epidemics killed approximately one hundred thousand Chicagoans, or about one in every eight of the city's population."
Into this world of squalor and disease stepped the young woman who was determined to change things.
I like to think that I am doing my little bit to make the world a better place. I am always advocating loudly for peace and acceptance and equality, doing a lot of education-related volunteer work, drying my clothes in the sun, taking mass transit when practical, recycling and composting and planting trees. But then I read a book like JANE ADDAMS: CHAMPION OF DEMOCRACY and am again reminded of what it looks like to REALLY be serious about changing the world:
"By the early 1900s, Hull House had grown to thirteen buildings and was home to about forty staff residents, a quarter of them men. Among the residents were physicians, attorneys, journalists, businessmen, teachers, scientists, musicians, and artists. The Hull House settlement had become a vital part of the neighborhood. Of the 70,000 people who lived within six blocks of Hull House around the turn of the century, roughly 9,000 participated in the settlement's programs in any given week."
And to think that Jane Addams' work to create Hull House was but the platform from which she then worked -- in the forefront and with every expectation of achieving success -- for world peace, women's suffrage, racial equality, and an end to poverty and child labor.
"Jane Addams practiced what she preached. During her forty-six years as director of Hull House, she refused to accept even a penny in salary for herself. She also donated most of her personal funds to the settlement. She had a roof over her head, food, and some of her inheritance left, so why have a large bank account when the money could help the poor."
Some of the snapshots of her sharing behavior are truly delightful, being that she would barely have a gift open before immediately turning around and giving it away to somebody whose need, she felt, was greater than was her own.
Of course, Jane Addams did not accomplish her work single-handedly. Jane was an unstoppable organizer who -- over and over again -- lined up incredibly talented people and sought out significant financial and hands-on support from those well-off benefactors from Chicago and beyond who could readily afford to help support the amazing breadth of good works that she initiated.
Where did Jane Addams came from? How did she change the world? Why did she spend a decade being scorned for her views? How did she take on a crooked Chicago politician to literally clean up the city? And, most importantly, why would I would love for our children and our students to all know about this great woman? These are all questions to which Judith and Dennis Fradin provide answers in JANE ADDAMS: CHAMPION OF DEMOCRACY. A few years ago, I chatted with Dennis when he was up to his elbows in Jane's letters and other primary source material. The result of the Fradins' dedication to seeking out the truth about Jane Addams is a book that will help inspire a willingness in new generation to fight for change.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
December 7, 2018
The life of Jane Addams is a story of self-denial, unselfishness, love, service, and charity. She gave her entire life to serving humanity, whether it be those directly around her, or those on a global scale whom she did not know personally. She aimed to reach as many people as she could.
Addams fought tirelessly for relieving suffering of the poor and downtrodden. She fought for women's suffrage, African American rights, and world peace.
As a staunch believer in pacifism, Jane Addams has been considered naive (p. 198). I prefer to think of her as an idealist. She really hoped for the best in humankind. She opposed wars and encouraged complete disarmament of nations. People have differing opinions about her. Ronald Beam said, "She had a desire for peace that came from goodheartedness and wishful thinking, but the reality is that you have evil men in this world who have agendas that won't be negotiated" (p. 198-199). An opposing opinion is presented by Chris Gordy. "Jane Addams didn't fail in her peace work. . . . I don't call the fact that she couldn't stop World War I a failure. Her purpose was to change people's notions about peace and to plant the seeds of world peace in people's minds" (p. 199).
Although never married and not a physical mother, Addams showed herself a true mother to humanity. She had a mothering heart and reached out in kindness and compassion to all. She is known for her establishment of Hull House, which became an organization in Chicago to help meet the needs of the porter community. This organization continues her work even today. She has left a legacy of love, never to be forgotten.
Addams fought tirelessly for relieving suffering of the poor and downtrodden. She fought for women's suffrage, African American rights, and world peace.
As a staunch believer in pacifism, Jane Addams has been considered naive (p. 198). I prefer to think of her as an idealist. She really hoped for the best in humankind. She opposed wars and encouraged complete disarmament of nations. People have differing opinions about her. Ronald Beam said, "She had a desire for peace that came from goodheartedness and wishful thinking, but the reality is that you have evil men in this world who have agendas that won't be negotiated" (p. 198-199). An opposing opinion is presented by Chris Gordy. "Jane Addams didn't fail in her peace work. . . . I don't call the fact that she couldn't stop World War I a failure. Her purpose was to change people's notions about peace and to plant the seeds of world peace in people's minds" (p. 199).
Although never married and not a physical mother, Addams showed herself a true mother to humanity. She had a mothering heart and reached out in kindness and compassion to all. She is known for her establishment of Hull House, which became an organization in Chicago to help meet the needs of the porter community. This organization continues her work even today. She has left a legacy of love, never to be forgotten.
January 25, 2025
This book opened my eyes to a pioneer for peace, women's rights and the underprivileged. Growing up and living in southern Wisconsin. I didn't know such a remarkable person lived so close. Her creation of Hull House in Chicago, inspires me to want to visit the museum.
April 17, 2010
Amazing what I learned and Annachiara wrote a wonderful report (in the 1st person - costume and all to present it!) Here is what she wrote:(what an amazing girl we have!)
Introduction
I am sure all of you know who George Washington was and Rosa Parks. But how about Jane Addams? Through the years I have been forgotten but I began many traditions in the United States that are still here today. I am here to tell you how important my life was, especially for kids.
Early Life
I, Laura Jane Addams, was born on September 6, 1860 in Cedarville, Illinois, and I was the 8th of nine children. When I was no more than three, my mother, Sarah Addams died and from that day on my older sister, Mary, took care of me until my father, John Addams, married my stepmother, Anna Haldeman. Anna had two sons of her own, Georgie, the youngest, was who I spent lots of time with and played with. I spent lots of time reading and my father, who had many many books, would give me a nickel for every book I read, once I reported on it to him.
Anecdote
My family were Quakers, a Christian faith that is against war, violence and poverty. Poverty is when someone is extremely poor and not able to take care of themselves or their family in a way that is healthy or safe. Whenever I saw poverty, even when I was small, it made me sad. Because of this I told my father that when I grew up I would build a big house for all the poor people to live in.
Education
The 1st school I ever went to was a small village school in my hometown of Cedarville. Although it was unusual for a girl to go to college, I was determined to go, but my father protested and insisted that I go to Rockford Female Seminary. I couldn’t argue anymore once he put his foot down because he thought a good education was wasted on women.
At the Seminary many of the teachers tried to convince me to become a missionary. A missionary is someone who travels to different countries to educate those in poverty and to teach about God. I didn’t want the teachers to control my life, anything I would do would be because I wanted to do it. In school I studied different languages, history, mathematics and different cultures, and I even studied Shakespeare. One year after I graduated from Rockford it became an official college and I was invited to come back to receive my college degree, which is what I wanted in the first place.
Important Facts
Soon after my graduation my father died suddenly and he left me an inheritance. An inheritance is money or a gift that you get from a person after they die. I used that money to go abroad to Europe and when I was in England I visited Toynbee Hall. At Toynbee Hall they help people in poverty to take care of themselves and to improve their lives. This inspired me to open Hull House. In Chicago, using more of the money and raised money from other people who could afford it, I opened Hull House; a place just like Toynbee Hall, where I helped every Chicagoan in need. At Hull House we offered classes such as cooking, art, math, music, languages, athletics, chemistry, reading an we also had ‘story-telling’ hours for all ages.
Reason Famous
Do I look dangerous to you? Well, there was a time I was famous for speaking out against World War I and at that time it was dangerous to do that because most people were for the war. I also went to Austria to help the people there who were the enemy.
But, I really became famous and well-known for opening Hull House and for being the 1st American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. I didn’t win it for my work with Hull House, I won the prize f
or starting the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom which did many things to help people in poverty and to help women have more rights.
Positive Impact
I bet you all love to play on the playground and that kindergarten was probably your favorite grade in school. Well, I began the 1st kindergarten in the United States at a time when most kids in the city had to work instead of going to school. And at Hull house we built the first public playground ever. I’m sure everywhere that there is a community service center in almost every town in America. If I didn’t open Hull House that tradition would never have begun. I even started the 1st day care center at Hull House so parents could go to work without worrying about their kids. I was the 1st Social Worker before there was even a name for it. A social worker is someone who works to help others have better lives at home and at work.
End of Life
On May 21st, 1935, at the age of 74, I died of incurable cancer. Within a few days every newspaper in the country had its own way of announcing my death and remembering the story of my life. In Chicago, where I lived most of my life, they called me ‘the greatest women of all time.”
Introduction
I am sure all of you know who George Washington was and Rosa Parks. But how about Jane Addams? Through the years I have been forgotten but I began many traditions in the United States that are still here today. I am here to tell you how important my life was, especially for kids.
Early Life
I, Laura Jane Addams, was born on September 6, 1860 in Cedarville, Illinois, and I was the 8th of nine children. When I was no more than three, my mother, Sarah Addams died and from that day on my older sister, Mary, took care of me until my father, John Addams, married my stepmother, Anna Haldeman. Anna had two sons of her own, Georgie, the youngest, was who I spent lots of time with and played with. I spent lots of time reading and my father, who had many many books, would give me a nickel for every book I read, once I reported on it to him.
Anecdote
My family were Quakers, a Christian faith that is against war, violence and poverty. Poverty is when someone is extremely poor and not able to take care of themselves or their family in a way that is healthy or safe. Whenever I saw poverty, even when I was small, it made me sad. Because of this I told my father that when I grew up I would build a big house for all the poor people to live in.
Education
The 1st school I ever went to was a small village school in my hometown of Cedarville. Although it was unusual for a girl to go to college, I was determined to go, but my father protested and insisted that I go to Rockford Female Seminary. I couldn’t argue anymore once he put his foot down because he thought a good education was wasted on women.
At the Seminary many of the teachers tried to convince me to become a missionary. A missionary is someone who travels to different countries to educate those in poverty and to teach about God. I didn’t want the teachers to control my life, anything I would do would be because I wanted to do it. In school I studied different languages, history, mathematics and different cultures, and I even studied Shakespeare. One year after I graduated from Rockford it became an official college and I was invited to come back to receive my college degree, which is what I wanted in the first place.
Important Facts
Soon after my graduation my father died suddenly and he left me an inheritance. An inheritance is money or a gift that you get from a person after they die. I used that money to go abroad to Europe and when I was in England I visited Toynbee Hall. At Toynbee Hall they help people in poverty to take care of themselves and to improve their lives. This inspired me to open Hull House. In Chicago, using more of the money and raised money from other people who could afford it, I opened Hull House; a place just like Toynbee Hall, where I helped every Chicagoan in need. At Hull House we offered classes such as cooking, art, math, music, languages, athletics, chemistry, reading an we also had ‘story-telling’ hours for all ages.
Reason Famous
Do I look dangerous to you? Well, there was a time I was famous for speaking out against World War I and at that time it was dangerous to do that because most people were for the war. I also went to Austria to help the people there who were the enemy.
But, I really became famous and well-known for opening Hull House and for being the 1st American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. I didn’t win it for my work with Hull House, I won the prize f
or starting the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom which did many things to help people in poverty and to help women have more rights.
Positive Impact
I bet you all love to play on the playground and that kindergarten was probably your favorite grade in school. Well, I began the 1st kindergarten in the United States at a time when most kids in the city had to work instead of going to school. And at Hull house we built the first public playground ever. I’m sure everywhere that there is a community service center in almost every town in America. If I didn’t open Hull House that tradition would never have begun. I even started the 1st day care center at Hull House so parents could go to work without worrying about their kids. I was the 1st Social Worker before there was even a name for it. A social worker is someone who works to help others have better lives at home and at work.
End of Life
On May 21st, 1935, at the age of 74, I died of incurable cancer. Within a few days every newspaper in the country had its own way of announcing my death and remembering the story of my life. In Chicago, where I lived most of my life, they called me ‘the greatest women of all time.”
November 3, 2015
Originally rated E by Denise Louch
This well-written, attractive book is comprehensive in its text, contains numerous photographs and excerpts from letters, and includes an afterword, source notes, bibliography and an index. Although our collections have several books on this well known social reformer and Nobel Peace Prize winner, this biography is a welcome addition to our collections because of the additional historical and social information and primary sources included in the text.
This well-written, attractive book is comprehensive in its text, contains numerous photographs and excerpts from letters, and includes an afterword, source notes, bibliography and an index. Although our collections have several books on this well known social reformer and Nobel Peace Prize winner, this biography is a welcome addition to our collections because of the additional historical and social information and primary sources included in the text.
January 3, 2018
This is a well written biographical tribute to one of the most philanthropic people to have ever walked this earth. Jane Addams work included establishing one of the first settlement houses in the United States, which give thousands of people not only help with meeting their basic needs but also a sense of humanity. Everyone should know about this real life hero of the people and champion for those whose voices otherwise would not be heard.
December 25, 2010
One of the best books I found when I had to do a research paper on her. Very informative but easy to read. It is packed full of great info and the pictures are lovely. I really felt like I got a sense of her and the time period and all the work that was done. I would recommend this book to young adult readers and adults alike!
March 2, 2013
The Fradins always do a good job with Biographies. Full of facts, yet entertaining, with quite a few pictures. I liked the comment about changing March to Peace so that we don't have a whole month dedicated to the god of war. Personal correspondence makes this book even better.
December 9, 2013
The author uses a neutral voice to describe the extrodinary life of activism of one of America’s leading advocates of the poor. It is a very inspiring book, an easy read, and I would highly recommend it. Tragically it is out of print.
May 12, 2009
Sometime back I toured Hull House in Chicago and have since wanted to reacquaint myself with Jane Addams. Prodigious in her efforts and expansive in her thinking, she remains a marvel.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews