Scope and Contents:
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 Materials related to Belting’s research and professional work include published and unpublished manuscripts about the French and Native Americans in Illinois by Belting, research materials and articles by Belting and others on the history of Champaign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.
This finding aid was updated in 2023-2024. Prior to this update, this finding aid included insensitive and inaccurate language, such as the term “Indian” to refer to the Indigenous peoples of North America, the term “Gypsy” to refer to members of the Romani people, and the term “Negro” to refer to African Americans. As part of this update, these terms were removed from the finding aid wherever possible. The term “Indian” was replaced with “Native American” and “Gypsy” was replaced with “Romani Groups.” The terms “Indian,” “Gypsy,” and “Negro” are still present when used by Belting. These terms are part of titles of published or unpublished works, or titles of educational courses taught by Belting.
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