Anna E. Nicholes (May 2, 1865 – July 20, 1917) was an American social reformer, civil servant, and clubwoman associated with women's suffrage and the settlement movement in Chicago.

[1] In 1913, Nicholes became a chosen a member of the Cook County civil service commission, serving as secretary until 1915.

[4] Nicholes put life, common sense, and human understanding into a brief career as an officeholder.

In one term as county civil service commissioner, she achieved the task of making merit rule.

[5] In 1915, she resigned for her civil service position in order to continue on with her work at Neighborhood House settlement where Nicholes was a co-founder,[6] and had been head resident for a number of years.