ABSTRACT
Jane Addams was a leading public figure in the United States during the Progressive Era (1890–1920). She spearheaded the movement to establish settlement houses and was an influential thinker on politics, urban affairs, and women's rights. Her significance for public administration and policy is in the areas of democratic citizenship, civic life, the nature of administration, and the importance of learning from experience. This entry calls attention to Jane Addams as a rich source of perspectives relevant to current day governance.
