Intercollegiate Debate: Reflecting American Culture, 1900–1930

Abstract

College debate descended from the literary societies that were popular on American college campuses through the 19th century. As an intercollegiate pursuit, debate rose during the same years as college football and found its niche on campuses largely characterized by youthful revelry and indifference to serious study. Despite its deep roots in American life, debate was far from old-fashioned; rather, it had many points of intersection with modern American culture. In this paper, I examine the experiences of intercollegiate debaters at Emory University, New York University, and the University of Chicago. I also demonstrate that early 20th century debate reflected several popular American values including efficiency, expertise, and determination. The history of intercollegiate debate has tended to emphasize the work of coaches and the academic discipline of public speaking. However, different approaches are possible. For example, debating may be examined as a cultural representation that has its own set of social conventions, and which reflects aspects of American culture. This paper is a small step toward such an interpretation.

Key Words:

• debate
• history of education
• Emory University
• New York University
• University of Chicago