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Nelson, Betty M., 1935-

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: March 17, 1935 -

Biographical Information

Originally from West Virginia, Betty M. Nelson received a bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology from the Women's Division of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and then a master's degree in student personnel administration from Ohio University. She served over 30 years on the staff of Purdue University, beginning in the Psychology Department before being asked to join Helen Schleman's staff in the Office of the Dean of Women. She served as Assistant and Associate Dean before being appointed Dean of Students to succeed Barbara I. Cook in 1987. During the 1970s and 1980s, much of Nelson's administrative energy was focused on the civil rights of those with disabilities and ensuring that campus was an accessible place for all students, faculty, and staff members. She was instrumental in the creation of Adaptive Programs (now the Disability Resource Center), which formed in response to the needs of students with disabilities. Nelson founded and chaired the Advisory Council on Disability Issues, a faculty and student advisory group to raise awareness of disability issues in the classroom. She was also a charter member of the Association on Higher Education and Disabilities (AHEAD) and a founding member of the Indiana Higher Education Committee on Disabled Students (later named IN-AHEAD). In addition to her advocacy efforts for the disabled, Nelson was instrumental in the establishment of the Student Leadership Development Program in the Office of the Dean of Students. She served in leadership positions in the National Association for Women Deans, Advisors, and Counselors; the NAWDAC Foundation, and the Indiana AWDAC. Nelson is active in community service, having served in leadership roles with the Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette, the Lafayette Rotary Club (as its first woman president), the Lafayette YWCA, Leadership Lafayette, and other local service organizations. Since her retirement, Nelson has provided leadership for the Purdue University Retirees Association. Some of Dean Nelson's awards and honors include the Sagamore of the Wabash, the Grand Marquis de Lafayette Award for Community Service, the Helen B. Schleman Gold Medallion, and the Special Boilermaker Award.

Citation:
MSO 1, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Oral History Program collection, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.

Found in 25 Collections and/or Records:

Betty M. Nelson Award, 2004 - 2015

 File — Box 3: Series MSP 31, Series 8; Series MSP 31, Series 4; Series MSP 31, Series 7; Series MSP 31, Series 6; Series MSP 31, Series 3; Series MSP 31, Series 5
Identifier: MSP 31, Series 7, File 2
Scope and Contents From the Collection: The Purdue University Retirees Association (PURA) records document the history, growth, and development of PURA, the Retirees Association for Purdue faculty and staff. Topics include employee retirement benefits, medical benefits, supplemental retirement income, employment options, volunteerism, and retiree activities. Correspondence between PURA and Purdue presidents Frederick Hovde, Arthur Hansen, Steven Beering, and interim president John Hicks is also included.Committees...
Dates: 2004 - 2015

Betty Nelson Collection of Purdue University related items

 Collection — Box 1
Identifier: MSP 266
Scope and Contens

This collection consists of three items: one decorated storage box with a photo of University Hall on the front, one Purdue University matchbook cover with the 1975 football schedule on the back, and one Purdue-themed painted display plate with the inscription "Purdue 01." The three items were retrieved from a Westminster Village Retirement Community garage sale in 2017.

Dates: 1970's

Betty Nelson papers

 Unprocessed Material — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 20170328

Betty Nelson papers, addition 01

 Unprocessed Material — Communal collections box 16
Identifier: 20120515.2

Betty Nelson papers, addition 02

 Unprocessed Material — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 20150311

Betty Nelson papers, addition 03

 Unprocessed Material — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 20150619.1

Betty Nelson papers, addition 04

 Unprocessed Material — Box Box 1
Identifier: 20150915

Betty Nelson papers, addition 05

 Unprocessed Material — Box Box 1
Identifier: 20150917

Betty Nelson papers, addition 06

 Unprocessed Material — Box 1
Identifier: 20170602

Betty Nelson papers, addition 07

 Unprocessed Material — Box 1
Identifier: 20190401
Dates: 2008 - 2019; Majority of material found within 2018 - 2019

Betty Nelson papers, addition 08

 Unprocessed Material — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 20140515.3

Betty Nelson Papers, addition 09

 Unprocessed Material — Box 1
Identifier: 20200309

Betty Nelson papers on Janice Voss

 Unprocessed Material — Communal collections box 16
Identifier: 20111014.1

Sharon Byrkett papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSA 320
Scope and Contents This collection contains awards, certifications, and honors documenting the life and achievements in social work and disability access and awareness of Sharon Byrkett. Of most prominence is a hand-written manuscript by Byrkett titled "Understanding My Disability" written in 1983. Other materials in the collection include a journal from 1967, photo albums and scrapbooks depicting events from her personal life and conferences attended, and craft items made by Byrkett. Digital files include...
Dates: 1967 - 2010; Majority of material found within 1983 - 2010

Collection of Sandy Monroe retirement celebration records

 Unprocessed Material — Digital folder 2022-034 Collection of Sandy Monroe retirement celebration records
Identifier: 2022-034
Dates: August 30, 2021

Collection on Helen B. Schleman, addition 01

 Unprocessed Material — Box Communal Accessions 68
Identifier: 2024-047

Barbara Cook papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSF 467
Abstract

The Barbara Cook papers predominantly document Barbara Cook's career in the Dean of Women and Dean of Students office and as professor of education at Purdue University (1956 - 1989), including her leadership roles in Mortar Board and NAWDAC -- National Association of Women Deans, Administrators, and Counselors. Types of material include correspondence, speeches, teaching material, articles and essays, and biographical information.

Dates: 1932 - 2012; Other: Date acquired: 11/04/2009

Dean of Students records, addition 03

 Unprocessed Material — Box 1
Identifier: 2022-053

Lafayette Rotary Club records

 Unprocessed Material — Communal accessions box 32
Identifier: 20181206.1

Marylu McEwen Sculpture Dedication materials honoring Betty Nelson, Sandra Monroe, and Linda Ewing

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSK 3
Abstract

These sculpture dedication materials capture information on how the sculpture came to be, why it exists, and whom it honors.

Dates: 2013 - 2014

Purdue University Dean of Women papers, addition 01

 Unprocessed Material
Identifier: 20090806.1

Purdue University News Service records, addition 04

 Unprocessed Material — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 2022-078

Purdue University Retirees Association (PURA) records, addition 07

 Unprocessed Material — Communal accessions box 32
Identifier: 20181206
Dates: September 28, 2018

Helen B. Schleman papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSF 334
Scope and Contents The Helen Schleman papers document the life of Helen B. Schleman from her time as a student at Northwestern University in the 1920s up until her death in 1992. Much of the collection documents Schleman’s tenure at Purdue University as Head of the Women’s Residence Halls, Dean of Women, and Dean Emeritus, as well as her military service in the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve (SPARs) during World War II. Additionally, the collection contains Schleman’s collection of newspaper clippings pertaining...
Dates: 1920 - 2003; Majority of material found within 1934 - 1980

Significant People, 1950 - 1989

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSF 334, Series 4
Scope and Contents

Series 4 contains records pertaining to individuals who were important to Helen Schleman. These files contain clippings, manuscripts, correspondence, and epehemera that Schleman collected and that document the lives and careers of several important women in her life.

Dates: 1950 - 1989