Established in 1874, the Interstate Oratorical Association (IOA) represents the nation's oldest competitive collegiate speaking association. It is now composed of collegiate speaking associations in 19 states. Begun by three student members of the Adelphi Society at Knox College, the IOA held its first contest on February 27, 1874 at the Opera House in Galesburg, Illinois, and completed plans for a permanent organization on June 9 of that year. An annual contest has been held every year since then The contest had one division and each state was represented by a single orator until 1936, when separate divisions were initiated for men and women. In 1974, the IOA voted to return the contest to a single division format. Contest winners were awarded monetary gifts until 1953, when IOA voted to give medals and certificates instead. The site of the IOA annual contest rotated among member states until 1984, when the Association voted to consider site location based on the merits of the bids presented. Several books have been published listing the speeches of the winners of the IOA contest throughout the years. Between 1908 and the early 1930s, each college was responsible for publishing its winning speeches but in 1934, the IOA took over this task and has since continued to publish all of the orations presented in "Winning Orations." Many contestants in the IOA contests have gone on to establish themselves meritoriously in a number of professions, including law, education, religion, and speech communication. (Specific individuals and their accomplishments are cited.) (JD)