English Speaking Union of the United States. Nashville Branch. Records, 1957-1978.
(Document/manuscript/pamphlet/archival material)

Organization: Six series, then divided into subseries by type of record;,Arrangement: Chronological.

Materials housed in Special Collections Division of the Main Library, Nashville Public Library.

Box 4 was missing at the time of rehousing in 2006. It contained two folders from Series IV, and all of Series V and VI. Information about the contents of this box is based upon a finding aid created in 1980 by Bill Danahar, and is reproduced in the new finding aid created by Rose Mary Reed during rehousing in 2006.

In library use only. Available by appointment.

Scope and content: The records of the Nashville (Tenn.) Branch of the English Speaking Union of the United States, 1957-1978, include financial records, administrative data, membership rosters, newsletters, clippings, and materials about visiting speakers. Many speakers were from overseas. Among the speakers were Margaret (Mrs. Denis) Thatcher (1969) and retired General Maxwell Taylor (1976). Clippings and rosters mention such Nashville members as: Mrs. Victor (Ila) Stromquist, secretary-treasurer of the Nashville Branch for many years; Mr. (Joseph) Olin White, member of the National Board of Governors 1953-1972 and former Nashville Branch president; and Herschel Gower, member of the Nashville Branch Board of Directors. The records are organized in six series.

I. Financial, 1958-1978. Includes estimated budgets, financial reports, bank account statements, and bank account check stubs. Also in this series are tax-related information and miscellaneous local expenses.

II. Administrative data, 1959-1977. Contains membership lists by year, branch membership statistics, national annual reports, and national by-laws. Some information is also included for proposed project and activities in the 1960s.

III. National newsletters, 1958-1976. Newsletters from the national headquarters of the ESU. Many gaps.

IV. Social activities, 1957-1977. Clippings, photographs, and related information about dinner meetings of the local branch with guest speakers. Included are some lists of those attending the events, correspondence to members about the speakers, and speakers' vitae. Two folders of Series IV were missing at the time of rehousing in 2006. A finding aid produced in 1980 indicated they contained memos and data related to ESU national meetings and ESU travel.

V. ESU (national-local) cross-cultural activities, 1961-1972 and VI. ESU (national-local) correspondence, 1963-1974 were missing at the time of rehousing in 2006.

Cite as: English Speaking Union of the United States, Nashville Branch. Records. Special Collections Division, Nashville Public Library.

This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code)

Source of acquisition unknown;,Acc. RT-100.

In 1918, the English Speaking Union was founded in Great Britain by Sir Evelyn Wrench to promote "international understanding through the use of the English language." The ESU sponsors cultural activities, seminars, and conferences worldwide, as well as administering international youth exchange programs.

The English Speaking Union of the United States, headquartered in New York City and founded in 1920, oversees programs in the branches throughout the United States. As a non-profit, non-political and educational organization, it oversees the speakers and scholars programs and fosters international exchange. A branch of the ESU US was formed in Nashville, Tenn. some time in the 1920s, lapsed in the 1930s, and was reestablished in the 1940s.

In English.

Finding aid available in repository;,folder level control.,https://assets.library.nashville.org/documents/finding-aids/Special_Collections_Division_Finding_Aid_English_Speaking_Union.pdf.

Unknown provenance.

Rehouse;,2006;,Rose Mary Reed.

No further accruals are expected.