Living Dangerously: The Social Change Work of Jane Addams and the Hull-House Settlement

Thursday, June 21, 2018

Jane Addams – once called the “most dangerous woman in America” - was a feminist, international peace activist, a Nobel Prize winner, Chicago icon and among the most famous women in early 20^th century America. An advocate for women, laborers, immigrants and the poor, she co-founded the Hull-House social settlement and helped to catalyze a movement. She also lived in a same-sex relationship with her domestic partner for over 40 years. In recognition of Pride Month, Jane Addams Hull-House Museum director and chief curator, Jennifer Scott discusses Jane Addams’ important contributions to social change, the development of Hull-House, and the museum’s innovative approaches for activating this legacy.

Jennifer Scott is an anthropologist, curator and public historian, whose work, for over 25 years, explores connections between museums, arts and social justice. As Jane Addams Hull-House Museum director and chief curator, she leads the vision, curation and community engagement efforts of the nationally significant historic site. Hull-House addresses issues of peace, incarceration, immigration, citizenship, race, gender, sexuality, and social activism through a number of ground-breaking exhibitions and programs. Jennifer is on the Board of the Association of Midwest Museums. She also serves as faculty in the graduate program of Museum and Exhibition Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago and at The New School and Parsons School of Art and Design in New York.

Image: Portrait of Jane Addams, 1893, Alice Kellogg Tyler. Coursey of Jane Addams Hull-House Museum.