When Jane Addams (1860-1935) saw the poverty facing many immigrant families, she vowed to help. In 1889, Jane established Hull House in an impoverished neighborhood of Chicago. The settlement home provided the poor and working class, with much needed social services, such as child care and improved sanitation. Jane strongly opposed child labor, helping to pass child labor laws in Illinois. The mayor selected Jane as Chicago’s first female sanitary inspector and her successful policies reduced the death rate in her ward dramatically. She served as president of the Women’s International League of Peace and Freedom for ten years. In 1931 Jane became the first American woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
