Hull House

Hull House is the name of a groundbreaking establishment of the settlement movement in Chicago. The Hull House was founded in 1889 in the Near West Side neighborhood of Jane Addams, who had shortly before the Toynbee Hall met on a visit to London and was inspired by it.

When Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr opened the Hull House in the Halsted Street in 1889, its goals were moderate. They wanted to offer a place as a meeting place for less well-off people in the neighborhood of immigrants to bring this art and literature closer. The house, however quickly evolved about their ideas out, and they began to wish their neighbors to offer lessons in English, so that they could be integrated quickly. Soon, cooking and sewing classes, even working classes were added, as well as American history, government and laws.

It was now a settlement, a " settlement ". Men and women could live for a low rent here now. In return, they took over services in the public kitchen or the bathrooms, supervision on the playground or in the toddler or kindergarten group. Influential They were supported by William James and John Dewey, of his social studies and proven business here on the children "learning by doing".

Hull- House was not only a cultural center with music and theater performances, but also a safe haven for immigrants in Chicagoes the near West Side. Here they found society and the support that they in the "New World " needed for life in a modern city.

The Hull House was not only seen as the center of the neighborhood assistance and adult education for the predominantly Italian-speaking part of the city population, but also as a social science research institute. It is now affiliated with the University of Illinois.

On January 19, 2012 reported the Chicago newspaper "Sun time" that the Hull House must be closed after 120 years due to financial difficulties. The " Jane Addams Hull House Association " had 60,000 people assistance of various kinds offered per year. We regret this especially in today's difficult economic situation.