Betty Jane Belanus
Encyclopedia
Betty Jane Belanus is an American
writer
. Ms. Belanus completed her graduate work in folklore
at Indiana University
and currently holds a position at the Smithsonian's
research center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
Dr. Betty J. Belanus is an American folklorist and works with the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage as an Education Specialist, where she has been since 1987. Part of her work with the Smithsonian has been the curating of programs for the Smithsonian’s annual Folklife Festival, most recently 2009’s Wales program, and is currently at work for this summer’s “Smithsonian Inside Out”, a look at the occupational life of the Smithsonian.
in 1977, but was more interested in the everyday person than historical features, and the differences between people than what makes us “American”. After taking a class with Dr. George Carey at University of Massachusetts, Amherst on Folklore she began to pursue folklore as an academic discipline. Immediately after graduating from Smith she enrolled in the folklore program at Indiana University
, where she received her M.A. and Ph.D in Folklore.
While in the graduate program at Indiana, Dr. Belanus became interested in the sub-field of public sector folklore; she worked for a time in the Mathers Museum at Indiana University, and her experience with museums as well as an interest in education led her to find a career in public folklore. She also spent two years (1982–84) working for the Indiana Arts Commission as the state’s Folk Arts coordinator.
Dr. Belanus’ relationship with the Smithsonian began in 1986 when she worked as a presenter for the Tennessee program as a part of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival
. She then applied to curate the 1988 program on Massachusetts, formally beginning work on that program in 1987. Following this, Dr. Belanus continued to work for the Smithsonian’s Office of Folklife Programs in various contract positions before forming the position of Education Specialist, a role co-established and shared with Dr. Marjorie Hunt.
As part of her work with the Smithsonian, Dr. Belanus continues to curate programs for the Folklife festival, including Family Farms in the Heartland (1991), New Hampshire (1999), and The Roots of Virginia Culture (2007). As part of her work on the 2009 program on Wales, Dr. Belanus lived in Cardiff
, and worked as a visiting research fellow at the Centre for the Study of Media and Culture in Small Nations at the University of Glamorgan
.
In addition to her curating duties, which includes research, fieldwork, finding and arranging for visiting presenters and how the entire program should be presented, Dr. Belanus’ work as an Education Specialist has her creating education programs, including teaching seminars, which ran concurrent with the festival, as well as education kits. Much of her teaching work is focused on elementary and high school education programs, and how teachers for these age groups can use folklore in the classroom.
At present, Dr. Belanus continues to work at the Smithsonian, researching and preparing for this summer’s Folklife Festival. Her current research centers on a future program focusing on the culture of the film industry.
M.E. Francis, student of Boston University
, is her daughter.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. Ms. Belanus completed her graduate work in folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
and currently holds a position at the Smithsonian's
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
research center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
Dr. Betty J. Belanus is an American folklorist and works with the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage as an Education Specialist, where she has been since 1987. Part of her work with the Smithsonian has been the curating of programs for the Smithsonian’s annual Folklife Festival, most recently 2009’s Wales program, and is currently at work for this summer’s “Smithsonian Inside Out”, a look at the occupational life of the Smithsonian.
Life
Dr. Belanus received a B.A. in American Studies from Smith CollegeSmith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
in 1977, but was more interested in the everyday person than historical features, and the differences between people than what makes us “American”. After taking a class with Dr. George Carey at University of Massachusetts, Amherst on Folklore she began to pursue folklore as an academic discipline. Immediately after graduating from Smith she enrolled in the folklore program at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, where she received her M.A. and Ph.D in Folklore.
While in the graduate program at Indiana, Dr. Belanus became interested in the sub-field of public sector folklore; she worked for a time in the Mathers Museum at Indiana University, and her experience with museums as well as an interest in education led her to find a career in public folklore. She also spent two years (1982–84) working for the Indiana Arts Commission as the state’s Folk Arts coordinator.
Dr. Belanus’ relationship with the Smithsonian began in 1986 when she worked as a presenter for the Tennessee program as a part of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
The Smithsonian Folklife Festival, launched in 1967, is an international exhibition of living cultural heritage presented annually in the summer in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is held for two weeks around the Fourth of July holiday...
. She then applied to curate the 1988 program on Massachusetts, formally beginning work on that program in 1987. Following this, Dr. Belanus continued to work for the Smithsonian’s Office of Folklife Programs in various contract positions before forming the position of Education Specialist, a role co-established and shared with Dr. Marjorie Hunt.
As part of her work with the Smithsonian, Dr. Belanus continues to curate programs for the Folklife festival, including Family Farms in the Heartland (1991), New Hampshire (1999), and The Roots of Virginia Culture (2007). As part of her work on the 2009 program on Wales, Dr. Belanus lived in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, and worked as a visiting research fellow at the Centre for the Study of Media and Culture in Small Nations at the University of Glamorgan
University of Glamorgan
The University of Glamorgan is a university based in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales with campuses in Treforest, Glyntaff, Merthyr Tydfil, Tyn y Wern and Cardiff...
.
In addition to her curating duties, which includes research, fieldwork, finding and arranging for visiting presenters and how the entire program should be presented, Dr. Belanus’ work as an Education Specialist has her creating education programs, including teaching seminars, which ran concurrent with the festival, as well as education kits. Much of her teaching work is focused on elementary and high school education programs, and how teachers for these age groups can use folklore in the classroom.
At present, Dr. Belanus continues to work at the Smithsonian, researching and preparing for this summer’s Folklife Festival. Her current research centers on a future program focusing on the culture of the film industry.
M.E. Francis, student of Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, is her daughter.
Works
- "Serving the Public:An Assessment of Work in the Public Sector Folklore", Putting folklore to use, Editor Michael Owen Jones, University Press of Kentucky, 1994, ISBN 9780813108186
- Caravan to America: Living Arts of the Silk Road, Authors John S. Major, Betty J. Belanus, San Val, Incorporated, 2002, ISBN 9780613761802
- Seasonal: a novel, Round Barn Press, 2004, ISBN 9780971685208