From collection Candidates
Harriet E. Vittum campaigned as a independent candidate for the Board of Alderman from Chicago, Illinois' 17th Ward in 1914. In the same year she ran for Cook County's Board of commissioners on the Progressive ticket. She may have placed a second bid for County Commissioner in 1916. She was unsuccessful in all three elections. She was born in Canton, Illinois on February 14, 1872. Harriet Vittum was active in civic, social welfare, and political affairs. She opened the first hospital in her hometown of Canton from her own home. Her Altruistic Hospital led the county to open the Graham Hospital, the county's first official hospital. She was actively involved in Children's reform, and worked for three years for the Children's Aid Society in Chicago. She continued her work in infant care and education at the Northwestern University Settlement where she was Head Resident for 40 years. The settlement aided new immigrants and parents that were unfamiliar with the children's healthcare system in the U.S. While working at the Settlement, Miss Vittum began participating in Progressive Party Politics. In addition to running in several of her own campaigns, Vittum headed the women's division in the Republican presidential campaigns of Charles Evan Hughes and General Leonard Wood. During the course of her life, Vittum was president of the Chicago Kindergarten Institute; head of the Federal Housing Authority, Women's Division, Chicago Association of Better Housing Commission; president and founder of the Chicago Women's City Club and president of the Roll Call of American Women among other organizations. In these roles, Vittum lobbied for protective labor reform and housing rights for women and children. Vittum continued her work at the settlement until the age of 75. She passed away in December 16, 1953 from a stroke. Chicago first honored Vittum with the Civic Trophy of the Citizens Award for the "most unselfish meritorious service to Chicago in 1936" and again in 1922 when the Lincoln Academy of Illinois added her name to the Hall of Fame of Historic Illinoisians. She received Honorary Master of Arts Degrees from Knox College in 1924 and Northwestern University in 1936.
