The study of literature has been taught at Mount Holyoke since the early days of the Seminary. The English Department, focused mainly on composition, was formed in the 1895/1896 academic year, and it existed concurrently with related departments until 1940/1941. In 1897/1898, the English Literature and Language Department was formed. In 1908/1909, this was renamed English Literature. In 1930/1931, this department became English Literature and Drama. This coexisted until 1940/1941 with the English Speech Department and the English Department. In the 1941/1942 academic year, a merger of the English Department and the English Literature and Drama Department began. The two unified as the English Language and Literature Department, although the merger was not complete until 1947. In the 1947/1948 academic year, the department was changed to the English Department, after beginning to offer a general major in English in 1945. A significant revision of the department curriculum occurred in the early 1960's and became effective in 1963/1964.