IRISH-AMERICAN-L Archives

From: "Jean Rice" <>
Subject: [Irish-American] Florence KELLEY (b. Philadelphia 1859 ) -- At Hull House, Chicago/Activist Child Labor Laws & Juvenile Court
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 07:50:31 -0700

SNIPPET: Born in Philadelphia, PA, Florence KELLEY (1859-1943) studied at
Cornell University and then the University of Zurich. Influenced by
Fredrich ENGELS' Socialist writings, she returned to the U. S. and joined
Jane ADDAMS and other women reformers at the Hull House.

Hull House was a famous settlement house in Chicago founded by Jane ADDAMS
and Ellen STARR and was one of the first institutions of its kind in the
United States. The settlement house was opened in 1889 in the home of
Charles J. HULL. Its founders wanted to help immigrants who were settling
in Chicago in large numbers during the late 1800's. Ms. ADDAMS was head
resident of Hull House until her death in 1935.

When Florence KELLEY discovered children working on garments in nearby
tenements, she began working tirelessly to get child labor laws passed,
eventually moving to NY to become the director of the National Consumers
League. She was responsible for labels that certified clothing was not made
with child labor. Throughout her life, she continued working for better
labor conditions for women and children even though she suffered the death
of her own daughter. Florence KELLEY was also partly responsible for the
creation of juvenile courts. Her death in 1943, left behind a living legacy
for women and children today.

This thread:

• [Irish-American] Florence KELLEY (b. Philadelphia 1859 ) -- At Hull House, Chicago/Activist Child Labor Laws & Juvenile Court by "Jean Rice" <>