Social Work's Legacy of Peace: Echoes from the Early 20th Century

In the early 20th century, women took courageous stands in working for peace. Jane Addams and Emily Greene Balch, both active in the settlement house movement, played instrumental roles in opposing World War I. Their fierce commitment to mediation in settling international conflicts despite negative public opinion holds lessons for social workers today. Both women formed organizations, some of which continue to play central roles in the social work profession today. This article describes their activities in the Women's Peace Party, as well as their accomplishments at the 1915 Women's International Peace Conference at The Hague.