Do Without Club

Three horizontal bands of color with text. White on red (top), blue on white (middle), white on blue (bottom). 

The National Council of Teachers of English created a “Committee on American Speech” in 1915 for the purpose of getting Americans interested in preserving “proper” speech. They wrote letters to get endorsement for the Speech Movement, created leaflets of information and wrote articles for newspapers and magazines to promote their cause.

American Speech Week was intended to make Americans aware of and to support the need for improving one’s speaking voice and to raise the standard of speech usage in day to day life. It was originally held November 2-8, 1919 and then again in 1921.

Grace Williamson Willett was a member of the Chicago Woman’s Club and was one of many who created a pledge to encourage participation.