Spiller, Gustav (1864-1940)

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Gustav Spiller to Jane Addams, June 5, 1909

Gustav Spiller to Jane Addams, April 6, 1924

Emily Greene Balch to Jane Addams, October 6, 1922

Emily Greene Balch to Jane Addams, October 6, 1922 (excerpt)

Vilma Glücklich to Jane Addams, June 12, 1924

Vilma Glücklich to Jane Addams, June 26, 1924

Vilma Glücklich to Jane Addams and Emily Greene Balch, October 8, 1924

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Birth Date

1864-03-06

Death Date

1940-02-16

Birthplace

Galati, Romania

Biographical Text

Gustav Spiller was a Romanian-born activist for racial progress. Spiller arrived in England in 1885, and worked as a compositor. He was inspired by meeting Stanton Coit, to form an ethical society in East London. In 1904 he became the paid secretary to the International Union of Ethical Societies.

In 1911 Spiller organized the First Universal Races Congress, an early effort to fight racism. Spiller invited speakers from all over the world to discuss the issue of race and to oppose the eugenics movement. By 1920, Spiller worked in the Labour Office of the League of Nations.

He also wrote numerous books on religion and ethics, including: The Mind of Man (1902), Faith in Man: the religion of the twentieth century (1908), and The Ethical Movement in Great Britain (1934).

Spiller married Nina Barboza in 1903, and they had three children.