Speech Department records

Although elocution was emphasized in various courses since the founding of the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, it was not directly mentioned in the Seminary's catalogue until 1869. At this time, it was connected with courses in rhetoric. In 1888, at the time of transition from Seminary to College, courses in elocution were required for various courses of study. By 1893, elocution was required for all degrees. By 1895, however, elocution was no longer required, and was not required until 1908 when it appeared as a component of the first year English course. After ten years of being taught within the first year English course, an independent course in speech was established. By 1922, the College had established an entrance examination in speech. Students generally were required to take one course in speech but could be exempt if excellent speech was demonstrated on the entrance examination. If a speech deficiency was demonstrated, a student was required to do corrective work in speech without credit. By 1927, three more courses in speech had been added, including Forms, Public Speaking, and Dramatic Interpretation. In 1930, the number of courses offered increased to seven, and these courses were now given under the Department of English Literature. In the following year, the requirement in speech was abandoned. In 1932, the speech courses were transferred from the Department of English Literature to the Department of English. Within the next ten years, the course of study in speech expanded to include ten courses, including Remedial Speech, First Principles of Speech, Speech Improvement, American Pronunciation, Choral Speaking, Reading, Speaking, and Broadcasting, Public Speaking, Debating, Oral Interpretation, and Scientific Aspects of Speech Problems. In 1941, the Speech Department was established as an independent department. In the 1943/1944 academic year, students were given the option of choosing an interdepartmental major in Speech and Drama. In the 1950/1951 academic year, students could choose an interdepartmental major in Speech and Psychology called Scientific Aspects of Speech. In the 1964/1965 academic year, the major in Speech and Drama became Speech and Theater Arts, and in the following year, the Speech Department became a part of the Department of Theater Arts and Speech. Although courses in speech were still taught, the department became the Department of Theater Arts in the 1973/1974 academic year.