2022 Abbott House Annual Report - Report - Page 20
The Legacy of Abbott House
Honoring the Abbott Sisters’ Commitment to Social Justice
Since its founding in 1963, Abbott House has always been a place where transformational
change is possible. For some people in care, the “House” in Abbott House is a physical address;
for others, it represents a compass in life and a sense of true belonging. In fact, many youths
formerly in care have come back to visit their “home,” where foundations of support first began.
But what about the name Abbott?
In 1910, at a time in history when there was still public debate as to whether women should even
be allowed to vote, a brilliant scholar named Edith Abbott published a book entitled, “Women in
Industry,” and soon after, helped establish one of the first social work training programs at the
University of Chicago.
Edith’s younger sister, Grace, was a social worker, public administrator, educator, and reformer.
For many years, through the Great Depression, the two sisters worked closely to address issues
directly related to public welfare and federal and state responsibilities.
As two of the most prominent social-worker figures of their time, the Abbott sisters were
passionate advocates for justice and tirelessly promoted the well-being of children and families.
When Abbott House was choosing its name back in 1963, it recognized the important
contributions that the Abbott sisters had made in the field of social service and seized the
opportunity to establish a legacy in honor of their extraordinary work.
Sixty years later, we remain grateful to Edith and Grace for their courage
and commitment to social justice – and their name, which holds a meaningful
place in our history.
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