Jane Addams

Principles & Purpose

Celebrate Women's History Month at the library! In this portrayal of Jane Addams, developed and performed by Annette Baldwin, we’ll meet one of America’s most respected and admired women.

In 1889, Jane Addams, with Ellen Gates Starr, founded Chicago’s Hull House settlement to tackle the social and economic inequities permeating an over-crowded Chicago Westside neighborhood. In this portrayal of Jane Addams, developed and performed by Annette Baldwin, we’ll meet one of America’s most respected and admired women as she shares the story of her personal struggle to find purpose. Learn about the inspiration behind Hull House and the progressive reforms initiated by Addams and the extraordinary women who joined her in the fight for industrial safety, labor reform, sanitation laws, juvenile justice, and child welfare, among many other reforms. Addams strength of character is unmistakable as she reveals her sentiments on war and the price paid for her views. More than a decade after WWI, Jane Addams was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Annette’s portrayal of Addams embraces the distinguished humanitarian’s warmth, wisdom and courage in her uncommon ability to affect social change in America.

Annette Baldwin has portrayed Jane Addams for over 30 years. Among her performances are those for the former Hull House Association; National Museum of American History, Smithsonian, Washington, D.C.; University of Oklahoma School of Social Work; Council on Social Work Education; Hull House and Toynbee Hall International Conference in Chicago. Baldwin, who has performed in 22 states & is a former Illinois Humanities Road Scholar, also portrays Coco Chanel, Dorothy Thompson, Elizabeth Van Lew & five woman suffrage leaders in “The Long Road to Victory.”

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