Barnett, Samuel A.

(1844–1913)Foun-der of the original settlement houses, he worked with Octavia Hill in the development of the original Charity Organization Societies (COS) in England. He used his church for a type of discussion group that became a model for many social group work methods. A community organizer and activist for improved housing and treatment of mental illness, in 1884 he founded Toynbee Hall, the first settlement house, and named it after one of his recently deceased volunteer workers. Later he came to the United States and worked with Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr in establishing Hull House.