King's School of Oratory explained

The King's School of Oratory, or the Byron W. King School of Oratory, was a school for speech arts in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that operated from 1888^[1] to at least 1948.^[2]

The school taught elocution and speech arts^[3] including public speaking, dramatics, voice production (singing and speaking), physical culture, Shakespeare, and cure of speech defects (i.e. speech therapy).^[4]

The school conferred degrees as well as operating short courses. Speech therapy was open to various ages.

History

The school was founded by Dr. Byron Wesley King, who had overcome a stammer in his own youth to become a renowned orator. King taught speech and drama at Curry College before opening his own school.^[5] King died unexpectedly in 1924 during his return from a speaking engagement.^[6] His widow continued to operate the school until at least 1948.

Notable alumni

• Dutton S. Peterson
• Ila Marshall Cronin
• N. C. Hanks
• Zeola Hershey Misener
• Venzella Jones

Notes and References

1. News: Commencement of the Pittsburg College of Music and King's School of Oratory . 6 June 2022 . The Pittsburgh Press . 26 Jun 1898 . Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania . 4.
2. News: Charleroi Thespians in Ladies in Retirement . The Daily Republican . 8 March 1948 . Monongahela, Pennsylvania . 3.
3. Presbyterian of the South . 21 July 1920 . 94 . 29 . 12 . 5 June 2022.
4. Book: United States Bureau of Education . Report of the Commissioner of Education Made to the Secretary of the Interior for the Year Ended June 30, 1913 with Accompanying Papers, Volume 2 . 1914 . U.S. Government Printing Office . 407 .
5. Book: JA Belfast and JP Greenawalt for Michael Baker Intl Inc, A Bamberg for Clio Consulting, and Cosmos Technologies Inc . Architectural Inventory for the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Planning Sector 6: Mt. Washington and Hilltop West Allentown and Knoxville Neighborhoods Report of Findings and Recommendations . City of Pittsburgh in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission and the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office . 17 .
6. News: Dr Byron W. King Died Suddenly in Hospital . The Morning Press . 13 May 1924 . Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.