Helen Culver
Encyclopedia
Born in 1832, Helen Culver was a successful real estate developer and philanthropist. She owned Hull House
and rented it to Jane Addams
, before later giving the property to Addams along with hundreds of thousands of dollars of donations, contributing substantially to founding the comprehensive settlement-house movement in the United States. She was a trustee of Hull House until 1898.
Culver graduated from Randolph Academy, New York
in 1852. In 1853 she started a private school in Sycamore, Illinois, and from 1854-1861 she served as teacher and principal in various Chicago schools. From 1868 to 1889 Culver worked with her cousin, Charles Hull, in his real estate ventures in Chicago and around the country, including Atlanta and Jacksonville, Florida. When Hull died in 1889, Culver inherited the real estate business.1
Besides backing Jane Addams, Culver supported several other important scholarly causes, such as giving over $1.1 million to the University of Chicago
, making her one of the University's most important early donors.2. In 1906 she gave $50,000 to William I. Thomas to fund a study of The Polish Peasant in Europe and America3. Culver died in 1925.
Hull House
Hull House is a settlement house in the United States that was co-founded in 1889 by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr. Located in the Near West Side of , Hull House opened its doors to the recently arrived European immigrants. By 1911, Hull House had grown to 13 buildings. In 1912 the Hull...
and rented it to Jane Addams
Jane Addams
Jane Addams was a pioneer settlement worker, founder of Hull House in Chicago, public philosopher, sociologist, author, and leader in woman suffrage and world peace...
, before later giving the property to Addams along with hundreds of thousands of dollars of donations, contributing substantially to founding the comprehensive settlement-house movement in the United States. She was a trustee of Hull House until 1898.
Culver graduated from Randolph Academy, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1852. In 1853 she started a private school in Sycamore, Illinois, and from 1854-1861 she served as teacher and principal in various Chicago schools. From 1868 to 1889 Culver worked with her cousin, Charles Hull, in his real estate ventures in Chicago and around the country, including Atlanta and Jacksonville, Florida. When Hull died in 1889, Culver inherited the real estate business.1
Besides backing Jane Addams, Culver supported several other important scholarly causes, such as giving over $1.1 million to the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, making her one of the University's most important early donors.2. In 1906 she gave $50,000 to William I. Thomas to fund a study of The Polish Peasant in Europe and America3. Culver died in 1925.