Collection ID: C707
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Collection context

Summary

Creator:
Van der Smissen, Betty, 1927-2008
Abstract:
Betty van der Smissen was an alumna of the University of Kansas and Indiana University and an educator, writer, and consultant in the field of outdoor recreation and risk management. Contents of this collection date from 1954 through 2008 and consist mainly of teaching material such as course syllabi, correspondence, readings, and exams; research and drafts of publications; handbooks and self-assesment material for park and recreation agency accreditations; and material related to van der Smissen's participation in professional organizations and conferences.
Extent:
8 cubic feet (8 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English
Preferred citation:

[item], Betty van der Smissen papers, Collection C707, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

Background

Biographical / Historical:

Margaret "Betty" van der Smissen was born on December 27, 1927, in Great Bend, Kansas. After high school she entered the University of Kansas, where she earned her BA in 1949 and J.D. in 1952. She continued her studies at Indiana University, where she earned a Master's in Recreation in 1954 and and Doctor of Recreation (Re.D.) in 1955.

With her legal background, Dr. van der Smissen went on to become one of the most sought-after experts in the area of sport and recreation negligence. She authored accreditation standards for recreation university curricula, parks and recreation agencies, and the American Camping Association camps. She spent her professional career as faculty at a number of universities and colleges, including Iowa University, Penn State, Michigan State University, Bowling Green University, and the University of Northern Iowa. During this time, Dr. van der Smissen gave more than 500 presentations and lectures worldwide, authored or co-authored numerous textbooks, chapters, professional articles and educational films and videos.

Dr. van der Smissen passed away in November 2008.

Scope and Content:

This collection documents Betty van der Smissen's career as an educator, writer, and consultant in the field of outdoor recreation and risk management. Contents date from 1954 through 2008 and consist mainly of teaching material such as course syllabi, correspondence, readings, and exams; research and drafts of publications; handbooks and self-assesment material for park and recreation agency accreditations; and material related to van der Smissen's participation in professional organizations and conferences.

Acquisition information:
Accession: 2010/098
Custodial history:

Donated to the University Archives by the van der Smissen family in 2010.

Processing information:

This collection is still being processed. Provisional finding aid created January 2019.

Arrangement:

The contents of this collection are in the order in which they were received.

Access

RESTRICTIONS:

Advance notice required for access to collection.

As the collection is not completely processed, additional review for restricted materials, such as those protected by attorney-client privilege and student privacy laws, is required before individual access requests can be granted. Please contact University Archives staff for more information.

TERMS OF ACCESS:

The donor(s) of this collection have not transferred their copyrights for the materials to the Trustees of Indiana University. For more information, please contact the Indiana University Archives staff.

The Indiana University Archives respects the intellectual property rights of others and does not claim any copyrights for non-university records, materials in the public domain, or materials for which we do not hold a Deed of Gift. Responsibility for the determination of the copyright status of these materials rests with those persons wishing to reuse the materials. Researchers are responsible for securing permission from copyright owners and any other rights holders for any reuse of these materials that extends beyond fair use or other statutory limitations.

Digital reproductions of archival materials from the Indiana University Archives are made available for noncommercial educational and research purposes only. If you are the copyright holder for any of the digitized materials and have questions about its inclusion on our site, please contact the Indiana University Archives staff.

PREFERRED CITATION:

[item], Betty van der Smissen papers, Collection C707, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
Herman B Wells Library E460
1320 East Tenth Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47405-7000, United States
CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
CONTACT:
812-855-1127
archives@indiana.edu