Reaction Letters

At the Jane Addams Papers Project, the historical significance of events and actions in Addams’ life goes beyond the speeches and articles she wrote. On a daily basis, student workers at the Project enter letters between Addams and her family, other activists, and average Americans. These letters provide a unique look at Addams’ work and how people saw her. Because Addams worked for so many causes, people reacted to them differently. For some she was a saint, for others a villian. In this guide, we provide access to reaction letters that show how people experienced the historical events that happened in their lives.

On Immigration:

Helen Culver to Jane Addams, May 7, 1908 - Culver praises Addams' Charities and the Commons article and her recent speech. The speech was on immigrants and how they should be treated fairly in American society.
Franklin MacVeagh to Jane Addams, May 7, 1908 - MacVeagh writes Addams about his intention to read her Charities and the Commons article on the Averbuch incident. Shows how people were on the side of Addams after the police killed Averbuch.
Marion Tilden Burritt to Jane Addams, August 11, 1908 - Burritt writes Addams for advice about drawing a connection between immigrant women and the suffrage movement and compliments her on Newer Ideals of Peace. This shows how even people that wanted suffrage for women, did not think that it should Harrison J. Pinkett to Jane Addams, May 12, 1908 - Pinkett praises Addams' defense of immigrants in her article in Charities and Commons and relates the persecution of immigrants to that of African-Americans.
William Hard to Jane Addams, January 15, 1905 - Hard praises Addams' recent article on immigration. Shows how people's minds were being changed about immigration views.
Julius Rosenwald to Jane Addams, October 23, 1912 - Rosenwald asks Addams for the Progressive leaders to offer statements on literacy tests for immigrants. It seems that the Progressive party had different opinions on how immigrants should be treated.
Kate F. O'Connor to Jane Addams, March 2, 1908 - O'Connor writes in praise of Addams for taking a stand against the persecutions of Italians as anarchists.

On Labor:

Anonymous to Jane Addams, March 6, 1911 An unknown correspondent writes Addams in solidarity against an effort to exclude child actors from the Illinois Child Labor Law.
Harriet Dean Flower Smith Farwell to Jane Addams, April 10, 1908 Smith tells Addams that despite the attacks in the press, many people support her work at Hull-House. Talks about how alothough people claim to follow Christ, they fail in acting like him.
Winifrad Salisbury to Jane Addams, January 5, 1910. Salisbury praises Addams' new book and shares some of her own experiences working in a candy factory.(this one is good because it’s a first hand account of bad working conditions).

On Government/Voting:

Anna Howard Shaw to Jane Addams, August 16, 1912 - about whether or not national board members being allowed to support candidates in elections
Elmer E. Hubbard to Jane Addams, August 15, 1912 - man suggests that a husband should be able to cast two votes, one on behalf of his wife
Anonymous (“A Believer in Women Suffrage”) to Jane Addams, August 11, 1912 - very upset that Roosevelt has been nominated, right after the convention where Addams nominated him
Anonymous (“One of Them”) to Jane Addams, August 9, 1912 - The anonymous African-American correspondent chastises Addams for sacrificing African American rights for woman suffrage.
Sara E. Smith to Jane Addams, [August 1912] - Smith believes that Addams would be socialist if she were not religiously bias against it - this letter was written shortly after Addams seconded Roosevelt’s nomination. Addams received a great deal of backlash for this.
Frances W. Graham to Jane Addams, August 14, 1912 - Graham believes that Addams would be better suited for the Prohibition Party, which has had a suffrage plank since 1872. Sent shortly after Roosevelt’s nomination.
Blanche Boies to Jane Addams, August 22, 1912 - Boies complains about the name “bull moose” because Democrats and Republicans have been mocking her for the political party’s name.
Mary H. Taylor to Jane Addams, August 13, 1912 - Taylor writes Addams with gossip about Theodore Roosevelt's mental state. Gossips about his drinking. - Also, this is transcribed but the transcription hasn’t been published yet

On Addams' Influence:

Henry H. Midwood to Jane Addams, March 6, 1906 A college student writes to Addams asking how he can better improve the country philanthropically.
Margaret Delano to Jane Addams, March 8, 1906 Deland asks Addams for proof on the validity of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle - A Story of Packingtown so that she can decide how to think on the issue.

On Soldiers

The Revolt Against War, July 9, 1915 -- Addams, in discussing the horrors of war, claims that soldiers need to be given stimulants before they "go over the top."
Stanislas d'Halewyn to Jane Addams, July 10, 1915 - the Vice Consul for France objects to Addams's contentions.
Francis Stetson Rogers to Jane Addams, August 16, 1915 - Reacts to Addams' speech.
Liquor and Bayonet Charges, October 14, 1915 - Addams defends herself.