FAQ'S | Elena M. Sliepcevich Centre for Health Education Studies | SIU

Why was this Centre established?

The original concept for this Centre was based on desire to provide an appropriate tribute to the unique spirit and leadership provided by Dr. Elena M. Sliepcevich during her entire career starting in 1939 as a Montana school teacher until her retirement from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1992. The death of Dr. Sliepcevich as well as several key leaders of her generation underscored the need to capture important history of Health Education. Further, several professional associations and many individuals expressed similar concerns for documenting history of the profession. A variety of projects were initiated across the country in response to these concerns. This Centre is designed to be a centralized repository of primary and virtual resources for Health Education curricula, research, and scholarly work.

This Centre, as conceptualized by its founding Director, Dr. Judy C. Drolet, is designed to be a centralized repository of primary and virtual resources for Health Education curricula, research, and scholarly work.
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When was this Centre established at SIUC?

October, 2008 after receiving the donated collection of professional papers and documents as well as personal memorabilia from the Sliepcevich family.
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Why is the Centre named after Dr. Elena M. Sliepcevich?

Widely renowned as among the leading health educators in the US, Dr. Sliepcevich was a Professor of Health Education at SIUC from 1973-1992. She directed the School Health Education Study (SHES), the most comprehensive and largest curriculum development project in the history of the profession. As the only national curriculum created without federal funds, its conceptual approach remains the innovative benchmark for organizing knowledge and structuring learning opportunities that mutually benefit goals of public health and education. In addition to SHES, she was a prolific writer, pioneer in development of patient education, recognized for her extensive research, and recipient of numerous highly respected national awards.
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Why did Dr. Sliepcevich come to SIUC?

According to Dr. John C. Taylor’s “A History of the Formation, Development, and Growth of the Department of Health Education at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, 1921 to 1993,” (1996), every leading Department of Health Education in the country was trying to employ Dr. Sliepcevich after completion of the School Health Education Study project. At SIUC, Dr. Donald N. Boydston, Department of Health Education Chair, and Dr. Robert D. Russell, Professor of Health Education persuaded her to participate in the expanding graduate programs at SIUC. In 1994, Dr. Russell stated, “Elena told us that the influential factor in her coming to SIUC was that she wanted to work with both me [Russell had worked on the SHES] and Boydston, having known both of us and our work at SIUC.” During Dr. Boydston’s 33 years as Chair, the department grew from two faculty to over two dozen offering Bachelor’s Master’s, and PhD degrees in Health Education.
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May anyone add to the Centre’s Collections?

The Centre’s initial Collections include materials associated with Dr. Sliepcevich’s life work; and those of Health Education key leaders affiliated with her. Additions are reviewed to determine their consistency with the Mission of this Centre. Policies and resources required to develop a collecting area also will be part of this review to ensure the richness of primary documents available for use with curricula, research, and scholarly work. If you wish to discuss adding to the Collections, please contact Centre Director Dr. Judy C. Drolet. Contact information is at the bottom of each site page.
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What is the relationship among Centre / Collections / Papers?

The Centre is the overarching tribute to Dr. Sliepcevich and Health Education key leaders. Within the Centre are multiple Collections of professional materials associated with these major figures. Collections are comprised of Leader papers, media, and other documents as well as personal memorabilia. As resources become available, future activities will be planned for the Centre and identified on the page titled Centre Research and Scholarly Work on this site.
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Why are the Centre Special Collections housed in the SIUC Morris Library Special Collections Research Center?

The Centre Special Collections documents are housed as part of Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Morris Library Special Collections Research Center. Papers and other materials of historical significance are preserved in a highly secure, environmentally controlled setting. They are readily available for use in a central location by scholars, graduate and undergraduate student researchers, and others interested in Health Education research, education, curriculum development, and service. Myriad resources in these Special Collections provide opportunities to access unique, comprehensive materials of interest to diverse disciplines.
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Where else are Centre materials housed?

Materials that are not appropriate for the Morris Library Special Collections Research Center are housed in collaboration with other SIUC departments that are supportive of the Centre. For example, donations from the Sliepcevich family included art pieces associated with the School Health Education Study (SHES). They are housed along with Dr. Sliepevich’s academic regalia (Springfield (MA) College, 1955) and Honorary Doctoral Degree hood (University of Idaho, 1987) as part of the SIUC Museum’s collections. Political memorabilia from her time in Washington, DC were donated to the Mileur Collection of over 1,500 political science memorabilia added to the SIUC Paul Simon Public Policy Institute in October, 2008. Duplicate materials from SHES are in a display at the Health Education program office in Pulliam Hall, Third Floor hallway (outside room 308).
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Who do I contact about professional contributions to the SIUC Health Education (HED) Key Leaders Collection?

Centre Director, Dr. Judy C. Drolet. Contact information is at the bottom of each page.
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Who do I contact about specific content in the Centre Special Collections?

Dr. Brandye D. Nobiling, Senior Archivist, conducted the initial year-long archiving of the Centre’s Special Collections. Her contact information is at the bottom of each page.
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How do I make a financial contribution to support the work of this Centre?

The Centre is funded by private donations. Plans for formal fund raising/development work are in process. All contributions are welcomed and identified on the Resources page for this site. Donations should be addressed to SIU Foundation, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, MC 4309, Colyer Hall, Carbondale, IL 62901-4309 with the Elena M. Sliepcevich Centre for Health Education Studies identified on the “Memo” line. If you wish to discuss supporting the Centre’s work, please contact Centre Director, Dr. Judy C. Drolet. Contact information is at the bottom of each site page.
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How do I see contents from the Centre’s Special Collections?

Link to the Collection you are interested in perusing by clicking on its title on this site. Identify items and place them in the cart. A staff member from the Special Collections Research Center (SCRC), Morris Library at SIUC will select these items from the Collection. They will be available for your use only in SCRC. Future plans include digitizing materials included in the Centre Special Collections.
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What is the source of the pictures on the header of the Centre web site?

These illustrations were included in the book publication of the School Health Education Study entitled “Health Education: A Conceptual Approach to Curriculum Design, Grades Kindergarten Through Twelve,” published in 1967 by 3M Education Press.
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Who were members of the School Health Education Study (SHES) Writing Group?

• Elena M. Sliepcevich, Director, SHES, Washington, DC
• Ann E. Nolte, Associate Director, SHES, Washington, DC
• William H. Creswell, Jr., Professor of Health Education, University of Illinois
• Gus T. Dalis, Consultant in Health Education, Office of Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools
• Edward B. "Ned" Johns, Professor of School Health Education, UCLA
• Richard K. Means, Professor of Health Education, Auburn University
• M. Helen Mullally, Brightwood Demonstration School, Washington, DC (1964-1965)
• Marion B. Pollock, Assistant Professor of Health Education, CSU, Long Beach
• Robert D. Russell, Associate Professor of Health Education, SIU Carbondale
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Who were members of the School Health Education Study (SHES) Advisory Committee?

• Herman E. Hilleboe, MD, Committee Chairman, Professor and Health, Division of Public Health Practice, Columbia University, New York, NY
• Granville W. Larimore, MD, Committee Secretary, First Deputy Commissioner, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY
• Ruth Abernathy, Professor of Physical and Health Education, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
• Forrest E. Conner, Executive Secretary, American Association of School Administrators, Washington, DC
• William H. Creswell, Jr., Professor of Health Education, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL
• Donald A. Dukelow, MD, Department of Health Education, American Medical Association, Chicago, IL
• Byron W. Hansford, Commissioner of Education, State Department of Education, Denver, CO
• Sara Louise Smith, Professor and Head, Health Education Department, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
• W.K. Streit, Director, Health and Safety Services, Cincinnati Public Schools, Cincinnati, OH
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Who were members of the School Health Education Study (SHES) Project Staff?

• Mary Jane Freeman, Administrative Assistant
• Carolena J. Greimel, Secretary
• Mary Catherine Ware, Research Assistant
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Where were the “School Health Education Study (SHES) Experimental Curriculum Materials Project: 1964-65 Tryout Centers” located?

• Alhambra Public Schools, Alhambra, CA
• Evanston Public Schools, Evanston, IL
• Great Neck-Garden City Public Schools, Long Island, NY
• Tacoma Public Schools, Tacoma, WA
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