A Short History of The English-Speaking Union of the United States,
1920-1996
by William L. Shumate The English-Speaking Union was created to fulfill a mission. Formally organized in the United States in 1920, two years after the establishment of its counterpart in the British Commonwealth, it was conceived as a nonpolitical association dedicated to furthering friendship and understanding among English-speaking peoples around the world. It arose from the conviction of its founder, Sir Evelyn Wrench, and a group of like-minded American and British friends, that maintenance of the close personal and national ties forged during World War I was necessary for the preservation of peace. Sir Evelyn firmly believed that given the opportunity to know one another personally, people who shared a common language would soon discover that they also shared similar values, whatever their differences in nationality or background. He imagined the ESU as an inclusive organization "founded in no narrow attitude of race pride, in no spirit of hostility to any people." Its educational mission would be carried out by a host of activities allowing for personal contact between peoples at every level. For many years this mission was summarized in Sir Evelyn's phrase, "To draw together in the bonds of comradeship the English-speaking peoples of the world."
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