Samuel Dowse Robbins' account of the origins of speech therapy in America

Abstract

At the age of 75, five years before his death in 1968, Samuel Dowse Robbins recorded six hours of autobiographical material for Professor Luther F. Sies. Robbins, a contemporary of the late Robert West, contributed much to the growth of the speech and hearing profession. This article is an account of how speech therapy in the United States developed as reported by Robbins. Coming from a pioneer speech pathologist of Robbins' stature, this account of the origins of speech therapy should be of value to the profession. All the material that follows this introduction is Robbins' except that which is bracketed. The authors have edited the material lightly in order that Robbins' own viewpoint and personality would be retained.