Julia A. Orum
Teaching Elocution
Philladelphia-born educator, lecturer, and author, Julia Orum was the principal of the Philadelphia School of Elocution and of the Mountain Lake Park Summer School of Elocution. She was most popular as a Shakespearian reader and lecturer. Some critics disagreed with her oral techniques emphasizing clear, expressive speech, distinct pronunciation, and articulation.
The fundamental idea in her system was the correct and adequate expression of the thought contained in the passage to be rendered. In voice culture, correct abdominal breathing and tone production was the key to her system.
Becoming a Christian, she used her talents to help many teachers or preachers overcome the debilitating vocal demands of public speaking. Voices that had given out under the strain of constant school-room reiterations, were saved from pulmonary and throat diseases by Orum's methods.
She was the author of a work entitled The Orum System for Voice Education (1895) and was a constant contributor to periodical publications. The exercises given in the book were unique and practical.
Orum was actively engaged in the philanthropic and benevolent work of the church, particularly its home missions. In 1884, she served as an officer of the Woman's Home Missionary Society (Philadelphia Conference).
Julia A. Orum [1843-1904]