Ellen Gates Starr

Co-founder of Hull House, pioneering social reformer advocating for labor rights and education

Ellen Gates Starr (1859–1940) was an American social reformer and activist, best known as the co-founder of Hull House, one of the first settlement houses in the United States. Alongside Jane Addams, Starr established Hull House in Chicago in 1889 to address the needs of immigrant communities through education, arts, and social services. Her work fundamentally transformed urban social welfare systems and inspired a national movement.

Starr’s commitment to labor rights was groundbreaking. She organized strikes, advocated for safer working conditions, and supported unionization efforts, notably during the Pullman Strike of 1894. Her activism extended to cultural enrichment, as she believed art and literature were essential for uplifting marginalized communities. She founded the Chicago Arts and Crafts Society to promote handcrafted goods as a counter to industrialized mass production.

Starr’s later years focused on religious and ethical education, reflecting her belief in moral upliftment as a tool for social change. Despite facing criticism for her radical views, her legacy endures in modern social work and labor advocacy.