Twenty Years at Hull House

Twenty Years at Hull House is the memoir of Jane Addams, a pioneering social reformer and the founder of Hull House, a settlement house in Chicago dedicated to serving immigrants and the poor. The book is both an autobiography and a social history, documenting Addams’ experiences in progressive reform movements during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.Addams recounts her upbringing, her inspiration for social work, and the founding and development of Hull House. She describes the challenges of helping impoverished immigrant communities while advocating for labor rights, women’s rights, and public health reforms.The book remains a foundational text in social work, sociology, and progressive political thought. Addams’ ideas about community engagement, immigrant rights, and women’s empowerment continue to inspire activists today.