Clare Kramper, History 250: The Historian Craft, Spring 2023

There is a tendency to prioritize the impact of individuals on their environment. Yet, it is equally important to acknowledge and investigate the transformative influence that a place can have on an individual. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has shaped all the students that have graduated since the doors opened in 1869. Grace Abbott, an influential figure in Nebraska history who transformed the rights of immigrants and improved child welfare nationally, attended the University of Nebraska from 1902 to 1906. Despite the valuable relationships and involvements Grace Abbott invested her time in while at the University of Nebraska, it was the impacts of her progressive childhood and time in Chicago that shaped her career in social work.

Grace Abbott had an upbringing centered around learning and freedom. Born in Grand Island in 1878, she grew up with a father who was a veteran of the Union in the Civil War and part of Nebraska’s two Constitutional Conventions. Her mother grew up in a Quaker family that was connected to the Underground Railroad. Her mother’s “concern for the oppressed, her interest in progressive ideas and social reform, her pacifist beliefs, and her commitment to the rights of women were significant influences in Grace’s development.” Abbott was no stranger to progressive politics throughout her childhood. She and her sister Edith grew up learning to read and recite civil war poems, cementing personal values that would dictate her work for the rest of her life. Her grandmother characterized her as “a little rebel” which was a mantle that she carried through in every group of people she helped throughout her life. This characterization of her family exemplifies the people which she learned from and the values she adopted for the rest of her life.[1]

Abbott’s progressive childhood began with her mother’s passions and involvements. In 1882, a five-year-old, she watched her mother fight for women’s suffrage in Nebraska. Her mother was the president of the first women’s suffrage association in Grand Island and was at the forefront of fighting for the amendment that would have made Nebraska the first state to grant women full suffrage. The Abbott family hosted Susan B. Anthony in their home and attended speeches by other notable suffragists before the 1882 amendment was defeated by the male votes of Nebraska. Edith described the atmosphere in their home writing,

Grace used to say that she was born believing in women’s rights; and certainly, from the earliest days, women’s suffrage had been part of [our mother’s] childhood. ‘I was always a suffragist, and even if you are little girls, you can be suffragists, too, because it is right and just,’ was the clear teaching in our childhood home.

Growing up in a place where the indelible rights of marginalized groups were supported and fought for instilled this feeling in the Abbott sisters. Abbott’s childhood was steeped in progressive thought and political change which set her up to fight for rights for the marginalized her entire life.[2]

These formative years, marked by extensive participation in suffragist activities, served as a catalyst for her involvement with an organization dedicated to providing women with a space to foster female friendships and find support at college. Women’s sororities were a chance for women to live close to campus because of the lack of dormitories and residences close to campus in the early twentieth century. Grace Abbott was initiated into her sorority, Delta Gamma in 1902. She was reported leaving for Madison, Wisconsin, where the sorority women attended their annual convention of Delta Gamma. Because of the time and perceived importance of women’s activities, The Daily Nebraskan did not publish many articles about women’s organizations or Abbott’s involvements outside of Greek organizations. Living amongst women in college may have propelled Abbott to move into Hull House in Chicago with her sister Edith after graduation, a space where many of the residents were women focused on improving the lives of the working-class residents in the neighborhood. Living amongst educated women in college and a childhood marked with women working for suffrage, drove Abbott to get involved with similar fights for rights for marginalized groups throughout the rest of her life.[3]

Abbott spent four years at the University of Nebraska where she took classes that reflected her drive to learn more. Even though she was not there to earn a law degree, her interest in American government and constitutional history pushed her to enroll in extra law courses at both the University of Nebraska and the University of Chicago. Further, in 1935, a Doctor of Law degree was granted to Abbott at both the University of Nebraska and the University of Wisconsin. Going above and beyond and taking law classes were valuable skills she gained while at the University. Her educational background was crucial because it gave her the skills to later pass social reform legislation to protect marginalized groups. But, arguably more important than the law classes was the time she spent living and working among immigrant populations in Chicago, learning about their struggles and seeing the direct impact of policies on their lives. [4]

Abbott believed deeply in the importance of education and worked with it in many places. After her sister Edith left to study at the University of Nebraska, she took over Edith’s position at Grand Island Senior High and taught history. Then, while studying at the University, she participated in a women’s discussion group for teachers. The meetings of the Teachers of History were held on Wednesdays in University Hall. Abbott was elected the secretary of the group in 1905. The Omaha Daily Bee listed one of their topics of discussion, The Judicial Mind of the Teacher by Charles E. Teach. One of the main points was about unbiased teaching practices, “In all historical study and teaching the teacher is called upon and obliged to see that a square deal is given to the records of the past. The teachers must look upon the questions that he handles without prejudice”. Abbott was working with a group that was advocating for teaching practices unaffected by the teacher’s distortion of topics. To run for a position within a group like this reflects Abbott’s ability to work reach for and succeed in leadership in places that matter, discussing and acting on things that matter. The discussion group, although not enacting any consequential educational bills or advocating for rights, brought this awareness to teach without prejudice to history teachers across Nebraska. This directly translated into her advocacy for unbiased education in classrooms filled with immigrant children.[5]6 

While working in Chicago, she was heavily involved in securing education for the city’s immigrant children. As the director of the Immigrants’ Protective League, 95% of Chicago’s child population was enrolled in school because of her intentional and direct care for their wellbeing. Not only did she just enroll the children though, but she also took an active stance on the type of history being taught. Her involvement in the women’s discussion group while at the University of Nebraska had a direct impact on her view on how to teach history without prejudice. In an article she wrote in 1910, Abbott said, “In our zeal to teach patriotism, we are often teaching disrespect for the history and traditions which the immigrant parent had a part in making”. She worked to establish the precedent in schools in Chicago that immigrant children should be taught the history of their respective countries with widespread understanding and empathy instead of preconceived ideas. Her deep respect for different people and different educational backgrounds led Abbott to promote the unprejudiced education of immigrant children throughout her career.[6]8

These areas of intentional involvement while at the University of Nebraska pushed Grace Abbott forward in her career goals. Although being in a sorority in the 1900s was a natural segue to being involved with women’s rights and participating in a discussion group for teaching without prejudice leads to promoting immigrant children’s education, they were not crucial to the development of her career in social work. Her time and involvements at the University were important because it gave her a logical step forward to continuing her education and career at the University of Chicago. “She loved Nebraska but there were limited jobs for women here and she left the state to become director of the Immigrants’ Protective League of Hull House in 1908.” Chicago during the Progressive Era was a larger city with more people and more opportunities for Abbott. She needed to be in a place where her passions and ambitions could find a place to flourish.[7]9

The Progressive Era was a time Grace Abbott marked with immense involvement in advocacy work for immigrants, child welfare and education, mother’s safety and rights, and women’s suffrage. The rapid urbanization of large cities caused by the waves of immigrants coming in meant that as a resident of Hull House, Abbott interacted with and positively influenced the lives of thousands of people. She arranged with the federal authorities to have the names of all arriving immigrant girls coming alone to Chicago to ensure safe arrival to the places and people they were meeting. During her time at the Immigrants’ Protective League, she received the names of 26,909 immigrant women and girls. After her work in Chicago, she moved on to even larger places, becoming the highest-ranking woman in the government from 1921 to 1934 as chief of the Department of Labor’s Children’s Bureau. She passed the Federal Maternity and Infancy Act which was the first system of federal aid for social welfare. She managed to add a child labor amendment to the constitution in 1924 and then proceeded to save the Children’s Bureau in 1930 when the President at the time, Herbert Hoover, wanted to tear it down. Her accomplishments stretch beyond these few but exemplify that without meeting Jane Addams at Hull House or being involved with national philanthropists and national actors while working for immigration rights, she would have never gained national spotlight.[8]10

Grace Abbott’s career in social work changed the lives of many people and her legacy in social work in Chicago and the government continues to ensure that marginalized people are cared for. With a family steadfastly dedicated to protecting and fighting for social reform and the rights of everyone, her values were set in stone at an early age and provided her with a guide throughout her life. At the University of Nebraska, Abbott took law school classes, was an active member of Delta Gamma, engaged with the history teacher’s discussion group, and continued to teach in Grand Island. After leaving Nebraska, she worked in the Hull House with Jane Addams and Edith Abbott. She had the opportunity to hear the stories of immigrants and children and worked directly with government institutions. When looking at Grace Abbott’s career in social reform and change, although her collegiate involvements were valuable investments of her time while pursuing her education, they were overshadowed by her progressive upbringing and connections she made in Chicago.

Notes

1. Nebraska Hall of Fame Letter “Grace Abbott”: October, 1978, MS 0129, box 15, folder 11, Grace and Edith Abbott Collections, Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska- Lincoln, Lincoln, NE.
2. Abbott and Sorensen, 55.
3. “Local and Personal.” The Daily Nebraskan. October 14, 1902. https://nebnewspapers.unl.edu/lccn/sn96080312/1902-10-14/ed-1/seq- 3/#words=Abbott+Delta+Gamma+Grace (accessed April 8, 2023); “The Social Week.” The Daily Nebraskan. May 9, 1903. https://nebnewspapers.unl.edu/lccn/sn96080312/1903-05-09/ed- 1/seq-7/#words=Abbott+Grace (accessed April 8, 2023).
4. Abbott, Edith, and John Sorensen. A Sister's Memories: The Life and Work of Grace Abbott from the Writings of Her Sister, Edith Abbott (Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2015), 24. Abbott and Sorensen, 119.
5. “Omaha Man Talks History.” Omaha Daily Bee. December 28, 1905. https://nebnewspapers.unl.edu/lccn/sn99021999/1905-12-28/ed-1/seq-3/#words=Abbott+Grace (accessed April 8, 2023).
6. Abbott and Sorensen, 143.
7. History Nebraska. “Abbott Family [RG2916.AM].” History Nebraska. Accessed April 30, 2023. https://history.nebraska.gov/collection_section/abbott-family-rg2916-am/.
8. Abbott and Sorensen, 138. Amin, Aisha. “Grace Abbott: Social Work Pioneer.” PBS. Public Broadcasting Service, March 7, 2023. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/graceabbott- social-work-pioneerxphseo/ 13763/#:~:text=Grace%20Abbott%20(1878%2D1939),Department%20of%20Labor's%2 0Children's%20Bureau.

Bibliography

• Abbott, Edith, and John Sorensen. A Sister's Memories: The Life and Work of Grace Abbott from the Writings of Her Sister, Edith Abbott (Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2015), 24. Abbott and Sorensen, 119.
• Amin, Aisha. “Grace Abbott: Social Work Pioneer.” PBS. Public Broadcasting Service, March 7, 2023. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/grace-abbott-social-work-pioneerxphseo/ 13763/#:~:text=Grace%20Abbott%20(1878%2D1939),Department%20of%20La bor's%20Children's%20Bureau.
• Edith and Grace Abbott. Photograph. Lincoln, n.d. Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska.
• History Nebraska. “Abbott Family [RG2916.AM].” History Nebraska. Accessed April 30, 2023. https://history.nebraska.gov/collection_section/abbott-family-rg2916-am/.
• University of Nebraska Doctor of Law Diploma: 1935, MS 0129, box 15, folder 7, Grace and Edith Abbott Collections, Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska- Lincoln, Lincoln, NE.
• “Local and Personal.” The Daily Nebraskan. October 14, 1902. https://nebnewspapers.unl.edu/lccn/sn96080312/1902-10-14/ed-1/seq- 3/#words=Abbott+Delta+Gamma+Grace (accessed April 8, 2023)
• Nebraska Hall of Fame Letter “Grace Abbott”: October, 1978, MS #129, box 15, folder 11, Grace and Edith Abbott Collections, Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska- Lincoln, Lincoln, NE.
• “Omaha Man Talks History.” Omaha Daily Bee. December 28, 1905. https://nebnewspapers.unl.edu/lccn/sn99021999/1905-12-28/ed-1/seq- 3/#words=Abbott+Grace (accessed April 8, 2023).
• “The Social Week.” The Daily Nebraskan. May 9, 1903. https://nebnewspapers.unl.edu/lccn/sn96080312/1903-05-09/ed-1/seq- 7/#words=Abbott+Grace (accessed April 8, 2023).

Photo Captions

Figure 1: Grace Abbott's University of Nebraska Doctor of Law Diploma. University of Nebraska Doctor of Law Diploma: 1935, MS 0129, box 15, folder 7,
Grace and Edith Abbott Collections, Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE.

Figure 2: Edith and Grace Abbott. Photograph. Lincoln, n.d. Archives & Special Collections,University of Nebraska.