| HISTORY NOTE : |
Aaltje Van Denburg was born on October 23, 1919, in Syracuse, New York
to parents with Dutch ancestry. She received a B.F.A. from Syracuse University
in 1942 with a major in Illustration. In 1952, she received her M.S. in
Crafts from the University of Tennessee. Van Denburg's stay at Knoxville
is what persuaded her to become a resident of Tennessee, hoping that West
Tennessee would be similar to East. When she graduated in 1952, she decided
to stay and accept a position at the University of Tennessee Martin Branch.
At that time UTM was a small school that only offered students bachelor's
degree programs in agriculture and home economics. Van Denburg's professional
affiliations include: American and Tennessee Home Economics Associations;
Southern Highland Handicraft Guild; Tennessee Colleges Art Commission: Martin
Art Commission: and the American Craftsman's Council. She also had numerous
profession Activities that included: private painting classes; folk records;
programs of folk song; art, craft lectures for various civic clubs and schools;
and consultative services for interior design She served on various university
committees while at UTM including: Administrative (Public Occasions); Faculty
Senate (Student Honors); and the School of Home Economics. |