A Message from the St. Louis Board

Welcome Message

The English-Speaking Union of the United States is a non-profit, non-political educational organization founded in 1920, two years after an English-Speaking Union was launched in England.

Its mission initially was "to draw together in the bonds of comradeship the English-speaking peoples of the world."

The world has changed dramatically since then, but as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh wrote recently, the English-Speaking Union has managed to adapt to these changes so that the ESU has made "the transition from a union of friendship among speakers of English into a dynamic body devoted to the promotion of the use of English as a medium of international communication."

The mission of the ESU today is "to promote scholarship and the advancement of knowledge through the effective use of English in an increasingly global community."

The St. Louis Branch, also founded in 1920, is one of 75 ESU branches in the United States; and we share a common mission with some 55 ESUs in non-English-speaking countries.

To realize our mission, we offer a wide range of educational programs that address the need to improve the quality and accessibility of the English language.

We urge you to browse our website to learn more about our branch activities and educational programs, as well as information about becoming a member of the English-Speaking Union.

We also invite you to attend one of our meetings so that you can become acquainted with members who share an enthusiasm for the English language and participate in our branch's educational and cultural activities.

We welcome you!!

Ruth A. Bryant
President Emerita, St. Louis Branch

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