The Marjorie Gullan Collection
A small collection of material relating to the work of speech and elocution tutor Marjorie Gullan, M.B.E.
About Marjorie Gullan
From Marjorie Gullan's Scrapbook, page 27. "Poetry for London", Daily Sketch, 28 September 1928
Margaret (always known as Marjorie) Isabel Morton Gullan (1879-1959) was born in Reading. Her father moved to Glasgow in 1883 to take up the post of minister at the Augustine Free Church and the family home was in Albert Road, Langside (now part of Tantallon Road). Family friends included Helen Moyes (q.v.) and Graham Moffat (q.v.) When she left Hutchesons' she went to London to study elocution and voice production.
The 1901 Glasgow Census lists her as an 'elocution teacher' and in 1904 she set up the 'School of Elocution' at 534 Sauchiehall Street. The school proved a success and Marjorie also taught drama and elocution at Park School and Laurel Bank School.
From Marjorie Gullan's Scrapbook, page 37: "the Appeal of Dramatic Expression", Daily Record and Mail, 2 October 1928
The scrapbook of press cuttings contains a comprehensive account of Marjorie Gullan's early professional career in Scotland. In 1926 she moved to London to take up a post as Head of the Department of Speech Training and Dramatic Art at London Regent Street Polytechnic. In 1932, along with Clarissa Graves, Marjorie opened the Speech Institute in London which also included courses in choral speaking and puppetry.
The school closed in eventually in 1953; a year earlier Marjorie received an M.B.E. for her achievements in establishing speech training in schools and renewed interest in choral speaking. She died in Reading in 1959.
Marjorie Gullan's MBE
About the collection
The collection consists of the following:
- A scrapbook of press cuttings about her work during the 1920s.
- Correspondence, 1960-1994, regarding her estate and further work on her life and career, including letters to The Mitchell Library.
- A copy of the 1984 dissertation by Ronald Eugene Shields, Louisiana State University entitled Marjorie Gullan: speech teacher, lecturer, public reader and pioneer in choral speaking.
- Marjorie Gullan's M.B.E.
- Six 78 rpm records featuring Marjorie Gullan.
- A reel to reel tape of an appreciation by Miriam Gow.
- A folder of news cuttings.
From Marjorie Gullan's scrapbook. "Miss Marjorie Gullan presents her Students in a Festival Recital", 1923
From Marjorie Gullan's scrapbook. "Miss Marjorie Gullan presents her Students in a Festival Recital", 1923
For this collection you will need to book an appointment to see the material. Please call us on 0141 287 2988 or email Special Collections ahead so we can prepare material for you in advance of your visit. Please see our website for more information.
Finding aid
See above
Further reading
Gullan, Marjorie, and Gurrey, Percival (1937). Poetry speaking for children. London: Methuen.
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