Jane Addams Day is a holiday observed annually on the 10th of December to commemorate the date in 1931 when Jane Addams was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work rekindling the spirit of peace not only in the U.S. but for all of mankind.

Jane Addams co-founded Hull House—one of the first settlement houses in North America—and would also become a co-founder of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in 1920. She is known for her lifelong work with the poor, as a radical pragmatist, and as a progressive philosopher. She is also recognized for her social work, activism, and leadership in the women’s suffrage movement in the United States.

The History Of Jane Addams Day

Jane Addams was born on September 6, 1860, in Cedarville, Illinois. She would become a feminist, social worker, and activist for peace throughout her life. She became committed to improving the conditions for the poor in the city of Chicago, and in 1889 she co-founded Hull House—a settlement house that encouraged educated women to strive towards social reform in working-class neighborhoods.

She was also a key figure in the women’s suffrage movement and was involved in the creation of the NAACP and the ACLU. Many people also credit her with being the founder of social work in the U.S. Jane Addams Day was created in 2007 to recognize all of her achievements, but particularly her winning the Nobel Peace Prize on December 10, 1931.

Observing Jane Addams Day

Although a person could observe this holiday simply by learning more about Jane Addams or posting on the Internet about her using the hashtag #JaneAddamsDay on their social media posts, we think that Jane Addams would want everyone to observe this holiday by working for change in society. Volunteer, raise money, or donate time to a particular cause that you find important in the spheres of women’s equality, social justice, or economic empowerment.