Vittum, Harriet Elizabeth (1872-1953)

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Jane Addams to Harriet Elizabeth Vittum, April 20, 1910

Harriet Elizabeth Vittum to Jane Addams, November 24, 1916

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Birth Date

1872-02-14

Death Date

1953-12-16

Birthplace

Canton, IL

Biographical Text

Harriet E. Vittum was considered a "second Jane Addams" due to her large role in social reform. She had an interest in medicine, and she opened the first hospital in Canton within her home, known as Altruistic Hospital. In 1893, Vittum moved to Chicago and worked at the Illinois Building of the Columbian Exposition, and later at the Illinois Children's Aid Society. In 1904 she started to work at the Northwestern University Settlement, and she later became its Head Resident. She was very involved in child care and health care at the settlement, educating residents on the health of children. Vittum also worked for the Progressive Party and in 1914 she ran unsuccessfully for alderman of the 17th Ward. She also ran for the Cook County Board of Commissioners with Mary McDowell of the University of Chicago Settlement. In 1916 she served as chief of the women's bureau for Republican presidential candidate Charles Evan Hughes, and in 1920 she was involved in the national women's division of General Leonard Wood's campaign for the Republican nomination for the presidency. She was also president of the Chicago Kindergarten Institute, head of the Federal Housing Authority of the Women's Division of the Chicago Association of Better Housing Commission, and president of the Roll Call of American Women.

Vittum died in 1953.