Records of The Kirk Oratory Contest
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No requestable containers
Scope and Contents
The records of the Kirk Oratory Contest cover the years 1949-1970; records for the years 1953 and 1965 are missing. Folders are chronologically arranged by year. Each folder is internally arranged by type of material and includes, when available: 1) lists of speakers; 2) judges' ballots; 3) judges' summaries, comments and evaluations, often detailed; 4) speeches and/or outlines of speeches (arranged alphabetically by orator's name); 5) announcements (rules, programs, posters, etc.); 6) correspondence (arranged by date). These records are a mixture of handwritten originals (judges' ballots and comments), original and carbon copied typescripts, and mimeographed copies.
Included are also records pertaining to the Northern Oratorical League Contest for the years 1954-1958, 1970. These follow the Kirk Contest folders and have a similar chronological internal arrangement.
Speeches found in the Kirk Contest records provide a reflection of the concerns of the era in which they were written. The topics range widely from the threat of communism and the problem of President Eisenhower's health in the 1950s to civil rights issues in the 1960s.
Dates
- 1949-1970
Creator
- Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.). School of Oratory (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions on use of the materials in the department for research; all patrons must comply with federal copyright regulations.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is stored at a remote campus location and requires two business days advance notice for retrieval. Please contact the McCormick Library at specialcollections@northwestern.edu or 847-491-3635 for more information or to schedule an appointment to view the collection.
Extent
1.00 Boxes
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Kirk Oratory Contest was established at Northwestern University in 1878 with a $100 award for 1st prize donated by Mrs. James S. Kirk, whose husband was a trustee of the University from 1878 until his death in 1886. The records of the Kirk Oratory Contest cover the years 1949-1970; records for the years 1953 and 1965 are missing. Each folder includes, when available: 1) lists of speakers; 2) judges' ballots; 3) judges' summaries, comments and evaluations, often detailed; 4) speeches and/or outlines of speeches (arranged alphabetically by orator's name); 5) announcements (rules, programs, posters, etc.); 6) correspondence (arranged by date). Included are also records pertaining to the Northern Oratorical League Contest for the years 1954-1958, 1970. The topics range widely from the threat of communism and the problem of President Eisenhower's health in the 1950s to civil rights issues in the 1960s.
Arrangement Note
Folders are chronologically arranged by year.
Method of Acquisition
Transferred to the University Archives from the School of Speech on August 26, 1991, as Accession #91-156.
Separated Materials
About two inches of duplicates and multiple announcements were discarded.
Processing Information
William K. Beatty, March, 1994.
- Title
- Guide to the Records of The Kirk Oratory Contest
- Author
- William K. Beatty
- Date
- 01/03/1994
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- eng
Library Details
Part of the Northwestern University Archives Repository
Deering Library, Level 3
1970 Campus Dr.
Evanston IL 60208-2300 US
847-491-3635
specialcollections@northwestern.edu