Browse Items (18 total)

J. N. Stearns, The Temperance Speaker, National Temperance Society and Publication House, 1876

The Temperance Speaker represents an American-produced contribution to the vast offerings of juvenile temperance “reciters.” It was published by the…

Tags: children, children's literature, dialogue, elocution, lecture, literature, lyceum, national temperance society, nineteenth century, oratory, poetry, public speaking, recitation, story, temperance, WCTU, woman's christian temperance union, women's history

Lizzie Penney, The Temperance Platform, National Temperance Society and Publication House, 1896

The Temperance Platform, again compiled by Lizzie Penney, was intended for an older audience. Penney claimed that the book was created “In answer to a…

Tags: elocution, lecture, lyceum, national temperance society, nineteenth century, oratory, public speaking, temperance, twentieth century, WCTU, woman's christian temperance union, women's history

George Melville Baker, The Temperance Drama

George Melville Baker’s collection features eight original temperance dramas that were also published separately “for the convenience of performers.”…

Tags: blackface, drama, farce, George baker, George melville baker, nineteenth century, parlor drama, parlor guide, temperance, theater

William Darrah, The Onward Reciter, 1872

The Onward Reciter is a product of the Band of Hope movement in Northern England, specifically Lancashire and Cheshire. Most of the selections were…

Tags: band of hope, Britain, children, children's literature, elocution, England, lecture, lyceum, nineteenth century, oratory, poetry, recitation, story, temperance, youth group

Lizzie Penney, The National Temperance Orator, National Temperance Society and Publication House, 1884

The National Temperance Orator is one of the many “reciters” compiled by Lizzie Penney for the National Temperance Society, for which Penney also…

Tags: elocution, lecture, lyceum, national temperance society, nineteenth century, oratory, public speaking, temperance, WCTU, woman's christian temperance union, women's history

Mrs. W. P. Chase, The Crusade Story: A Pageant, National WCTU Publishing House, ca. 1925

This pageant is an adaptation of the story of the Woman’s Crusade as described by Elizabeth Putnam Gordon in Women Torch-Bearers: The Story of the…

Tags: adaptation, drama, nineteenth century, pageant, temperance, theater, twentieth century, WCTU, woman's christian temperance union, women's crusade

Oratorical Prize Medals display

These medals were donated to the Archives by members of the WCTU. Many were won during the 1890s. They represent contests for all age groups and were…

Tags: contest, elocution, medals, nineteenth century, oratory, prohibition, temperance, twentieth century, WCTU, woman's christian temperance union

Oratorical Contest Rules Leaflet, National WCTU Publishing House

This twentieth-century leaflet lists rules for participants and judges in WCTU oratorical contests. It features a “Judge’s Blank” and explains which…

Tags: contest, elocution, nineteenth century, oratory, public speaking, temperance, twentieth century, WCTU, woman's christian temperance union, women's history

Oratorical Contest Medals, 1921

The WCTU’s annual catalog featured images of medals that could be ordered and distributed to winners of oratorical contests. The medals came in…

Tags: contest, elocution, medals, nineteenth century, oratory, prohibition, public speaking, temperance, twentieth century, WCTU, woman's christian temperance union, women's history

Lost and Saved

With words by poet and songwriter Eben Rexford and music by singer, teacher, and composer T. Martin Towne, Lost and Saved was quite elaborate,…

Tags: cantata, chicago, drama, Illinois, musical, nineteenth century, parlor drama, temperance, theater