Jane Addams, an advocate for immigration, gave a speech on October 28, 1907 at Carnegie Music Hall in which she expressed the many talents that immigrants offer to America despite the constraints they face.  Jane Addams’ concerns for immigrants were depicted in her autobiography, 20 Years at Hull-House, where she asserts that immigrants and their traditions should be respected, and immigrants should be assisted in assimilating into American culture.^1  In her inclusive speech, which can be found here, she expresses that societal advancements are often gained from those who immigrate to the United States from other countries.  She also asserts that by accepting and understanding the differences between native-born Americans and new immigrants to America that there “will be a material advancement in culture and appreciation of the finer crafts.”^2  Jane Addams’ messages of inclusivity also express that immigrants have the utmost potential, especially in material achievement of the crafts.  She expresses despair that immigrants are forced into types of work that are below their capabilities being that they were skilled tradesmen in their native lands.  Jane Addams describes the diverse trades immigrants are skilled in, ranging from metal workers to furniture makers and other creative forms. She advocates for them entering fields and types of work where they will best thrive so they reach their utmost potential as Americans.^3  Despite my topic being centered around economic disparities between classes across periods of American history, immigration relates to the economy. Immigrants increase the supply of labor in the nation.  There are misconceptions that immigration is a disservice to the American economy, but as Jane Addams supports, immigrants add value to America and its workforce.  Additionally, the Hull House in Chicago was the prototype for fixing the causes and symptoms of poverty, which only helped the economy.^4  Assisting those new to the country (immigrants) and central to the country (women and children) were root purposes of the Progressive Era.

Jane Addams gave this speech in 1907.  The date is significant to the context because during this time, immigration restrictions were placed on Japanese individuals who were trying to migrate to the United States.^5  The U.S. was regulating immigration and approving migrants at their discretion while it was looked down upon to accept more immigrants into the country.  This was a catalyst for the sentiments set against immigrants in general, which eventually resulted in forced assimilation in some cases since America wanted immigrants for forego their own cultures and become purely and distinctly American.  Jane Addams argues that immigrants add value to the nation and should be valued for their skills, not ostracized within American society.  The speech also places special focus on Chicago and the hardworking immigrants residing within the city. It does reflect Jane Addams living in a hull-house in Chicago; she asserts that Chicago is full of immigrants with amazing potential in material achievements, and she supports her assertion with their work done at Hull House.^6  In 1906, Chicago’s population grew with 64,000 immigrants.^7  The Hull House being in Chicago created a “haven of refuge” for immigrants as they sought better futures and better conditions than the ones they left.^8

This speech took place at Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; it was the opening lecture of the University Extension Society.^9  This setting impacts its content because it was a venue for musical excellence, and Jane Addams giving a speech in a venue such as the music hall would only add to her purpose and audience of wealthy intellects who were in the positions of offering aid to the nation.  Many strides were taken during the Progressive Era to help immigrants, women, and children, and Jane Addams’ persistence furthered the initiatives for better conditions and more promising futures for all inhabitants of the United States.

Bibliography

(^2, ^6, and ^9) Addams, Jane. “The Possibilities of the American Immigrant, October 28, 1907 (Excerpt).” Pittsburgh Daily Post, Jane Addams Digital Edition, October 28, 1907.

(^4 and Image 2) Friedman, Yael. “Carnegie’s Gift: The Progressive Era Roots of Today’s Branch Library.” Urban Omnibus, October 1, 2014.

(^3) “Give Aliens Chance.” The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), October 29, 1907. Page 8.

(^1) History.com Editors. “Jane Addams.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, April 16, 2010.

(Image 1) Michals, Debra. “Jane Addams.” National Women’s History Museum, 2017.

(^7 and ^8) “Ten Nights in a Bar-Room.” Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois), January 20, 1907. Page 55.

(^5) “The New Immigration Law.” The Hawaiian Gazette (Honolulu, Hawaii),  March 1, 1907. Page 6.

Jane Addams (1860-1935) was a peace activist who was the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931. Her involvement was “instrumental in successfully lobbying for the establishment of a juvenile court system, better urban sanitation and factory laws, protective labor legislation for women, and more playgrounds and kindergartens throughout Chicago.” (5) It was during the first World War, that Addams began promoting international peace. Since her time, she has become known as the “most loved woman in America” while also “the most dangerous woman in America” because of how powerful her peace efforts were.

Though mental health has a history of being a taboo topic, it is still extremely interesting to be able to see how it was discussed in earlier times. When going through the “Jane Addams Digital Edition” it allowed me to find numerous primary sources that clearly depicted what mental health was thought of and also how those that suffered from a mental health disorder were viewed.

However, though many viewed mental health as a disease and ‘bad karma’, Addams, who was a social reform activist, supported the work that was being done in terms of bringing awareness. She wrote a letter in November 1911 to Clifford W Beers, who was the secretary for the National Committee for Mental Hygiene, praising him and members of the committee for taking upon such an important task. First Addams addressed how this committee’s focus was to help those with mental health disorders, describing their mission as “the prevention of insanity and the amelioration of the condition fo the insane.” (1) Though calling someone with a general mental health disorder as insane is quite unacceptable nowadays, it was the norm in the early twentieth century. Addams continued, however, “I can imagine nothing more valuable to any community than the carrying out of your well-considered plans.” (2)

To further demonstrate the general opinions of mental health in this time period, there was another letter, this time being written to Addams in 1917, by Carolyn Sturgis. In this letter, Sturgis writes how those that are affected by mental health ought to be arrested, otherwise, they cannot be helped. Sturgis writes in the letter to Addams, “just as you yourself will stand by what you think [is] right, so do I.” (3) Sturgis continues, “Of course the tendency of our enlightening age is to treat such people more and more by “passive restraint” but it is not possible to treat them until they have been arrested.” (4) This letter was truly eye-opening to see how mental health was viewed as something that in a way, possessed people, because the emotion demonstrated in letters and other historical documents of earlier time periods, do not necessarily demonstrate hatred, but rather fear.

Overall, mental health has never been an easy topic to discuss and it was not any easier in earlier centuries. However, social reform activists, like Jane Addams herself, helped further drive the movement forward into a more positive light. In the times I have researched mental health for other projects I have worked on, I had never come upon Addams’ involvement in the field, however, it was refreshing to see her true passion of helping others.

References:

1. Addams, Jane, “Jane Addams to Clifford W. Beers, November 9, 1911,” Jane Addams Digital Edition, accessed March 4, 2020, https://digital.janeaddams.ramapo.edu/admin/items/show/3524.
2. Ibid.
3. Sturgis, Carolyn, “Carolyn Sturgis to Jane Addams, June/July 1917,” Jane Addams Digital Edition, accessed March 4, 2020, https://digital.janeaddams.ramapo.edu/admin/items/show/13160.
4. Ibid.
5. Michals, Debra. “Jane Addams.” National Women’s History Museum. https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/jane-addams.

Frederick H. Deknatel, born September 26, 1864 in Paris, France and died April 15, 1949, lived most of his life as the president of a small hardware manufacturing firm. After the death of his wife, he moved to Hull House and became the head of the Boys’ Club, and later auditor and trustee. Deknatel most likely met Jane Addams after moving into Hull House and he worked as a secretary for Addams during his stay. He helped plan her events and correspond with those who wanted her to give speeches.

This relationship explains why Deknatel came to the defense of Addams when people began attacking Addams for supporting lynching of African Americans. Deknatel wrote a letter to the Editor of the New York Tribune, explaining how Addams felt about them writing about how Addams is in favor of lynching and coming to her defense against that being true. The letter states, “Sir: Miss Addams’s attention has been called to an article in your paper in which, among other misrepresentations, she is quoted as being in favor of the lynching of negroes. It is difficult to understand how sentiments so completely at variance with her opinions could be ascribed to her, in view of the fact that she has not only often spoken and written against lynching, but is a non-resistant in principle, and does not believe in the death penalty or the use of force in any form.” Deknatel wrote the letter January 6, 1902 in Chicago, and when looking at history reports lynching was a big thing in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. African Americans were being lynched for anything as long as a white person deemed it reason enough. The ABA article, A History of Tolerance for Violence Has Laid the Groundwork for Injustice Today states, “Between 1868 and 1871, a wave of terror swept across the South, resulting in the deaths of thousands of African Americans—some killed merely for failing to obey a white person.” Lynchings were also a way white people to establish dominance over minorities as the article also states, “Lynching soon emerged as a primary tool to enforce racial hierarchy and oppression while terrorizing black people into accepting abusive mistreatment and subordination.” And with both Deknatel and Addams being white people, for there to be an article in the world stating how Addams supported lynchings is not good for her brand and what she wants to help accomplish. It turns her followers against her and makes her look like a fraud, when in reality is fighting to help make society better. Wikipedia states, “Jane Addams (September 6, 1860 – May 28, 1935) was an American settlement activist, reformer, social worker,[1][2] sociologist,[3] public administrator[4][5] and author. She was a notable figure in the history of social work and women’s suffrage in the United States and an advocate for world peace.”

So the letter was written to defend Jane Addams and protect her brand and image in the community. The letter was also written by a friend and associate. 

“Jane Addams.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Feb. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Addams.

“A History of Tolerance for Violence Has Laid the Groundwork for Injustice Today.” American Bar Association, www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/publications/human_rights_magazine_home/black-to-the-future/tolerance-for-violence/.

“Frederick H. Deknatel to the Editor of the New York Tribune, January 6, 1902.” Jane Addams Digital Edition, digital.janeaddams.ramapo.edu/items/show/15812.

“Deknatel, Frederick H. (1864-1949).” Jane Addams Digital Edition, digital.janeaddams.ramapo.edu/items/show/253.