RS 21-7-106 Bessie Gerstenberger Papers

Descriptive summary
creator:	Gerstenberger, Bessie
title:	Papers
dates:	1918-2006, n.d.
extent:	9.03 linear feet (21 document boxes and 1 half-document box)
collection number:	RS 21/7/106
repository:	University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

Administrative information
access:	Open for research
publication rights:	Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation:	Bessie Gerstenberger Papers, RS 21/7/106, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

Biographical note

Bessie Keeney Gerstenberger earned a B.S. (1937) in Zoology from Iowa State College (University), an M.A. (1941) in Health and Physical Education Administration from the University of Iowa, and a Ph.D. (1972) from the University of Illinois.

During World War II she worked as a social worker with families and military personnel in Columbus, Georgia; Burlington, Iowa; and Junction City, Kansas. In addition, she worked various scientific jobs, including work as a company inspector of the detonator line at the Iowa Ordnance Plant in Burlington, Iowa; a chemist at the Bluebonnet Ordnance Plant in McGregor, Texas; and a laboratory technician at the University of Illinois.

Following the war, Gerstenberger focused her career on education and recreation. She worked for the Iowa State University Extension Service as a State Health and 4-H Radio Specialist, and she developed curriculum in health, physical education, and recreation for school districts in Iowa. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, she held a variety of jobs as a private recreation consultant, an instructor for the YWCA in Des Moines, and an instructor of Women’s Physical Education at Drake University. In 1967, Gerstenberger began work on her Ph.D. at the University of Illinois, where she also taught courses in recreation and physical education.

After earning her Ph.D. (1972), Gerstenberger became the State Educational Coordinator for the Iowa Office of Planning and Programming. She then worked in a variety of positions for the Department of Public Instruction. While there, she promoted programs for physical education for the handicapped, the use of computers in education, and health education.

In addition to her professional activities, Gerstenberger was active with Toastmasters International, a public speaking organization, as well as other civic and volunteer groups.

Collection description

This collection (1936-2001, n.d.) contains materials that document Gerstenberger’s education, teaching, and her involvement in physical education for the handicapped, Senior Health Insurance Information Program, Leisurecraft and Counseling Camp, and Toastmasters International. The papers include reports, course materials, correspondence, and speeches. The collection also contains drafts and notes for Gerstenberger’s doctoral dissertation entitled, A Study of Dimensions of Administrative Leader Behavior and Its Relationship to Situational Variables in the Departments of Professional Recreation Education in Colleges and Universities, which she wrote while a graduate student at the University of Illinois.

Organization

This collection is arranged into eight series:
Series 1, Physical Education for the Handicapped (1976-1981)
Series 2, Professional Development (1958-1987, n.d.)
Series 3, Courses (1969-1972, n.d.)
Series 4, Leisurecraft and Counseling Camp (1951-1975)
Series 5, Ephemera (1936-1983, n.d.)
Series 6, Dissertation Materials (1971-1973, n.d.)
Series 7: Toast Masters International (1943-2000)
Series 8: Senior Health Insurance Information Program (1991-2001, n.d.)

Container list

Box	Folder	Title	Dates
1	1	Community Recreation for the Handicapped	1976
1	2	Handicapped Children's Act	1976
1	3	Legislative Notes on Physical Education for the Handicapped	1976
1	4	Physical Education for the Handicapped: Three Year Plan	1976
1	5	Physical Education for the Handicapped: Three Year Plan	1976-1981
1	6	Physical Education for the Handicapped: Three Year Plan	1977-1980
1	7	Physical Education for the Handicapped at Drake University and Iowa State University	1977-1982
1	8	Needs Assessment Instruments	1979
1	9	Documentation and Surveys	1979-1980
1	10	Physical Education for the Handicapped	1979-1981
2	1	Physical Education for the Handicapped	1979-1981
2	2	Physical Education for the Handicapped	1979-1982
2	3	Employment of the Handicapped	1979-1982
2	4	Physical Education Programs for the Handicapped in Iowa (PEPSHI)	1980
2	5	Physical Education Programs for the Handicapped in Iowa (PEPSHI)	1980
2	6	Physical Education Programs for the Handicapped in Iowa (PEPSHI)	1981

Container list

Box	Folder	Title	Dates
2	7	Rating Form for Agency Supervisors	1958
2	8	Recreation Conferences	1960-1969
2	9	American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (AAHPER): Newsletter and Publications	1967
3	1	Employment for Recreation Majors	1967
2	2	Illinois Parks and Recreation Training Institute	1967
3	3	National Parks and Recreation Association Congress	1969
3	4	Recreation Convention at Illinois State University	1969
3	5	Illini Union Staff: Social Committee	1969-1970
3	6	Community Recreation Leader Aptitude Inventory	1970
3	7	Report: “Education for Leisure: A National Policy and Position Statement of the Society of Park and Recreation Educators”	1970
3	8	Conventions	1970-1971
3	9-10	New Castle, Delaware, Parks and Recreation	1970-1971
3	11	Plan for Statewide Use of Computers in Education	1970-1976
3	12	American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (AAHPER): Conference	1971
3	13	Philadelphia Recreation Convention	1971
4	1	Recreation Leadership Research	1971-1973
4	2	Careers in Recreation	1972
4	3-6	Plan for Statewide Use of Computers in Education	1975
5	1	Plan for Statewide Use of Computers in Education	1975
5	2	Computing Activities in Secondary Education	1975-1976
5	3	State Wide Use of Computers in Education: Documentation	1975-1976
5	4	Educational Consulting	1975-1980
5	5-6	Iowa Plan for the Use of the Computer for Education	1976
5	7	Special Education	1976
5	8	American Education and Research Association	1976-1979
5	9	Education Conferences	1977
5	10	Iowa Talented and Gifted	1977
6	1	Iowa Talented and Gifted	1977
6	2	Human Relations Programs: Reviews	1977-1979
6	3-4	Comprehensive School Health Evaluation Task Force	1978
6	5	Iowa Talented and Gifted	1978
6	6	Role of Data Collection in Education	1978
6	7	Booklet: “Focus on Health and Nutrition: A Health Education Guide for High School Teachers”	1979
6	8	Iowa Talented and Gifted	1979
7	1	Iowa Talented and Gifted	1979
7	2	Iowa Talented and Gifted	1979
7	3	Title IV	1979
7	4	Title IV	1979
7	5	Title IV: General Information	1979
8	1	Title IV: Meeting Minutes	1979
8	2	Human Relations Programs: Correspondence	1979-1980
8	3	Women Educators (WE)	1979-1980
8	4	Women’s Academic Advisory Committee	1979-1980
8	5	Executive Women’s Breakfast Club	1979-1981
8	6	Health and Nutrition: Reference Materials	1979-1985
8	7	Booklet: “Content Ideas for the Gifted and Talented in Primary and Intermediate Education”	1980
8	8	Human Relations Programs: Guideline	1980
8	9	League of Women Voters	1980
9	1-3	South Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education: In-service	1980
9	4-5	Teacher of the Year	1980
9	6	Newsletters and Memberships	1980-1981
10	1	Iowa Educational Research and Evaluation Association (IEREA): Membership	1980-1982
10	2	Executive Women’s Program	1981
10	3-4	Human Relations Skills in Education	1981
10	5	Booklets: School Food Service Planning	1981-1982
10	6	Iowa Educational Research and Evaluation Association (IEREA)	1981-1982
10	7	Professional Activities: Listing and Correspondence	1982
10	8	Executive Women’s Club	1982
10	9	Iowa Educational Forum	1982
11	1	Child Care Food Program: Evaluations	1983
11	2	Comparable Worth Project	1983
11	3	Competency Based Curriculum	1983
11	4	Conference Presentation: Menu Planning	1983
11	5	Food Program	1983
11	6-7	Short Course in School Food Service Management	1983
11	8	Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development	1984-1985
12	1	Child Care Food Program	1984-1985
12	2	Child Care Food Program: Objectives	1985
12	3	Child Care Food Program: Workshop	1985
12	4	Food Activities for Children	1985
12	5	Department of Public Instruction: Correspondence	1985-1986
12	6	Child Nutrition Program	1985-1988
12	7	Child Care Food Program	1986
13	1	Children and Families: Policies	1986
13	2	Child Care Food Program	1986-1987
13	3	Iowa State University Department of Health: Home Study Courses	n.d.
13	4	Leader Behavior Description	n.d.
13	5	Textbook Prototype	n.d.


Series 1	Physical Education for the Handicapped	1976-1981
extent:	0.84 linear feet (2 document boxes)
description:	This series contains material pertaining to Gerstenberger's involvement with the handicapped, developing physical education programs for the disabled, and legislation related to physical education for disabled students.


Series 2	Professional Development	1958-1987, n.d.
extent:	4.62 linear feet (11 document boxes)
description:	This series contains materials relating to Gerstenberger’s professional activities, including her records from recreational meetings, conferences, and programs; reports from government and educational agencies on the use of computers, recreation, special education, and the education for talented and gifted students. In addition, this series contains materials from specific programs, such as the Child Care Food Program. Finally, this series contains materials related to organizations of which Gerstenberger was a member, including the Executive Women’s Breakfast Club.


Series 3	Courses	1969-1972
extent:	0.42 linear feet (1 document box)
description:	This series includes coursework, notes, and class materials from Gerstenberger either taught or took as a doctoral student at the University of Illinois.