Belting, Natalia M. Collection, 1954, 1976-1986 | Illinois History and Lincoln Collections
Belting, Natalia Maree, 1915-1997
Champaign County (Ill.)
Champaign County--Champaign (Ill.)
Champaign County--Urbana (Ill.)
Cousins, Norman, 1915-1990
Emigration and immigration
Fort Crevecouer (Ill.)
Fort de Chartres Site (Ill.)
Fox Nation
Frontier and pioneer life
Native Americans
Native American studies
Potawatomi
Presbyterian
Professor
Randolph County--Kaskaskia (Ill.)
Sauk Nation
Seineke, Kathrine Wagner, 1908-2001
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Women's rights
Women--Teachers
World War, 1939-1945
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Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 02 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 03 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 04 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 05 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 06 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 07 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 08 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 09 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 1 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 10 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 11 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 12 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 13 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 14 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 15 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 16 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 17 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 18 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 19 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 1B Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 20 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 21 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 22 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 23 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 24 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 25 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 26 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 27 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 2B Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 3B Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Box 01 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Card box 1 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Card box 2 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Card box 3 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Card box 4 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Card box 5 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Card box 6 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Card box 7 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Card box 8 Submit request (Aeon) |
Illinois History and Lincoln Collections Main Library, Room 324 | Other Submit request (Aeon) |
This collection contains research and personal papers of Dr. Natalia Maree Belting, a professor of history at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana (UIUC) from 1942 to 1985. It includes Belting’s research, particularly on French colonial and Native American history in the Kaskaskia area of Illinois. The collection also provides insight into Belting’s life in Champaign-Urbana during the twentieth century and her experiences as a professor at UIUC.
Natalia Maree Belting was born on July 11, 1915 in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She moved to Urbana, Illinois, with her father, University of Illinois professor Paul E. Belting, prior to 1930. She received her A.B. degree in journalism from the University of Illinois in 1930, her A.B. in history in 1937, and her doctorate in 1940. In 1941, she joined the university's history department, becoming an associate professor in 1973 and, later, a full professor. Belting remained with the department until her retirement in 1985. Throughout her adult life, Belting was active in community affairs, and preached occasionally at Presbyterian churches. She resided in Urbana until her death in 1997.
Specializing in early Illinois history, Belting focused on the history and culture of the Illinois Confederation, particularly the Kaskaskia, and French colonizers in Illinois Country. Much of her research centered on the French settlement and fort at Kaskaskia. Belting wrote over twenty children’s books, often based on Illinois history or adapted from myths and folktales. She additionally authored the syndicated "Illinois Past" column for central Illinois newspapers and became a widely known speaker on Illinois history.
The arrangement of this collection largely retains Belting’s original organization and folder titles. Materials related to Belting’s research and professional work include published and unpublished manuscripts about the French and Native Americans in Illinois by Belting, research materials and articles by Belting and others on the history of Champaign County and Illinois, materials related to Belting’s Illinois-French dictionary project, materials for courses taught by Belting, and drawings prepared for a 1954 W-ILL television series on Illinois history that Belting hosted along with Professor Robert M. Sutton. Published works by Belting, both academic and children’s books, are also present. The collection additionally contains "Illinois Past" columns from December 9, 1979 to June 29, 1986. Access to specific columns is available through annual, chronological indexes.
Materials related to Belting’s personal life and family are present, as well. These include correspondence, diaries and notebooks, financial records, and a large number of photographs and photo albums depicting the Belting family and pets. Diaries and correspondence of members of Belting’s family—Paul E. Belting, Martha Fox Belting, Henry Belting, Anna M. Hanselman, and John Rundle—are also present.
Boxes 1B-3B of this collection were donated to the Illinois Historical Survey by Belting between 1980 and 1989. Boxes 1-26 of the Belting Collection include materials bequeathed to the Illinois Historical Survey, the predecessor of the Illinois History and Lincoln Collections, upon Belting’s death in 1997.