Alice Haldeman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alice Haldeman
Born	Sarah Alice Addams June 5, 1853 Cedarville, Illinois
Died	March 19, 1915(1915-03-19) (aged 61) Chicago, Illinois
Nationality	American
Occupation	Craftswoman, Banker and Philanthropist
Spouse(s)	Henry Winfield Haldeman
Children	Anna Marcet Haldeman
Parent(s)	John H. Addams Sarah Weber
Relatives	Jane Addams (sister) James Weber Linn (nephew)
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Sarah Alice Haldeman (born June 5, 1853 – died March 19, 1915) was an American woman who was skilled in crafts, worked as a banker, and gave a lot of money to good causes. She was the sister of famous social activist Jane Addams. Sarah Alice was also the mother of Marcet Haldeman-Julius.

Sarah Alice Haldeman's Story

Her Family Background

Sarah Alice Haldeman was the daughter of John H. Addams and Sarah (Weber) Addams. Her father, John Huy Addams, was a very successful businessman. He owned a mill and a bank in northern Illinois. He also served as a state senator from 1856 to 1872.

Her father had a big impact on state policies, especially during the American Civil War. Like his grandfather, Isaac Addams, did in the American Revolutionary War, John Huy Addams helped by equipping and sending a company of soldiers.

Early Education and Travel

Sarah Alice grew up in Cedarville, Illinois. She went to a special school there called an academy. This school was started by families who believed in good education.

After the academy, Sarah Alice went to Rockford Seminary in Rockford, Illinois. This school was known as the "Mount Holyoke of the West." She finished her studies there when she was 19 years old. After graduating, she spent a year traveling in Europe. She also studied art in several American studios.

Marriage and Medical Work

In 1875, Sarah Alice married Henry Winfield Haldeman, who was a doctor. For several years, Henry practiced medicine in Iowa. Later, when he studied advanced medicine in Philadelphia, Alice also took a course. She studied at the Woman's Medical College in Philadelphia.

This training helped her work with her husband. She became his anesthetist, helping him during operations. She learned a lot about medicine. In 1884, Henry's health made him stop practicing medicine. They moved to Girard, Kansas, where he started working in banking. They had one daughter, Anna Marcet Haldeman, who survived them both.

Making a Difference in Girard, Kansas

When Alice Haldeman moved to Girard, Kansas, she quickly became important in the community. She helped with education and charity work. Like her sister, Jane Addams of Hull House in Chicago, Alice cared about making society better.

She was especially interested in helping young people. One of her first projects was starting a large and successful boys' club. In 1895, she was elected president of the Girard Board of Education. She held this position for ten years. During this time, she got to know many children in the schools. She also understood their needs very well.

For many years, people in Girard used Alice Haldeman's personal library. But she wanted to do more. So, she gathered women from local clubs and started a library association. She was the president of its board from 1899 to 1908. Thanks to her efforts, the Girard Public Library was built. It became a permanent part of the community's intellectual life.

Alice Haldeman was also very involved with the Presbyterian Church. She was the treasurer of its board of trustees for 28 years. She loved helping foreign missions and supported many missionaries around the world.

She also enjoyed women's clubs. She believed they were important for learning and making friends. She was a member of the Ladies' Reading Club of Girard for over 20 years. She also belonged to the City Federation and State Federation of Women's Clubs. In 1901, she started the Twentieth Century Club of Girard. She was also president of the third district, Kansas Federation of Women's Clubs, from 1900 to 1901.

A Woman in Banking

In 1905, Alice Haldeman's husband passed away. She had already been helping him with his business. After his death, she became very involved in local banking. In May of that year, she reorganized the private Bank of Girard. She turned it into the State Bank of Girard.

Alice Haldeman was elected president of the bank. This was a big deal because no other woman in Kansas had held that office before. She served as president until her death. In 1914, the Kansas State Bankers' Association made a special exception and elected her a vice-president. She managed the bank for over ten years. She also managed a large stock farm in Illinois that she owned for 30 years.

Images for kids

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  Sarah Alice Haldeman

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  Sarah Alice Haldeman's signature