Bertha E. Schlotter papers, 1916-1970

  • IdentificationMSSchl66
  • Title
    • Bertha E. Schlotter papers MSSchl66
    • Schlotter, Bertha E. papers
  • PublisherSpecial Collections
  • LanguageEnglish
  • RepositorySpecial Collections
  • Physical Description1.5 Linear feet
  • Date1916-1970
  • AbstractThe collection contains photographs, newspaper clippings, articles, pamphlets, correspondence, and speeches. The materials pertain to Hull-House, Neva Leona Boyd, recreation, and the developmentally disabled.
  • OriginationSchlotter, Bertha E.

Old Resource ID was BSchlotter

Bertha E. Schlotter was born on September 18, 1897 in Keokuk, Iowa. She attended the Iowa State Teachers College for three semesters, received a Diploma from the Missouri School of Social Economy, and later attended Northwestern University where she studied education, sociology, and psychology. Schlotter taught in rural primary schools for five years.

Bertha E. Schlotter is best known for her pioneering work in recreational therapy. Influenced by Neva Leona Boyd among others, Schlotter studied the impact of organized recreational activities on the development of the mentally and physically disabled. She served as Director for the Friendly House Community Center in her native Keokuk, educational director of the Lincoln State School, and as an institutional therapy consultant for the Illinois Department of Public Welfare. Bertha E. Schlotter published several articles and conducted original research such as An Experiment in Recreation with the Mentally Retarded in 1932 with Margaret Svendsen. She was long associated with Hull-House in various capacities including work for the Retarded Children's Aid, Inc. and service as director of the program for the ageing in 1959 after retiring from the Illinois Department of Public Welfare.

The Bertha E. Schlotter Papers include Hull-House Yearbooks, Gads Hill Center materials, unpublished papers, articles, clippings, speeches, awards, certificates, photographs, and scrapbooks.

Eleanor Schlotter donated these papers to the University of Illinois at Chicago on February 19, 1985. These materials were accessioned on March 20, 1985.

Bertha E. Schlotter papers, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Illinois at Chicago

  • Names
    • Boyd, Neva Leona
    • Hull-House (Chicago, Ill.).
    • Schlotter, Bertha E. -- Archives
  • Subject
    • Developmentally disabled.
    • Midwest Women's History.
    • Recreational therapy.