Van Balen, John A. 1947-

PERSONAL: Born March 19, 1947, in Utrecht, Netherlands; naturalized U.S. citizen; son of Jan (an artist and woodworker) and Belia (a homemaker) Van Balen; married Jeanne M. Fuerstenberg (a health administrator); children: Killian Cocco, Jessica, Kathryn. Ethnicity:“White.”Education: University of Utah, M.S., 1973; State University of New York College at Geneseo, M.L.S., 1974.

ADDRESSES: Home— Custer, SD. E-mail— vanbalen@goldenwest.net.

CAREER: Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA, librarian, 1974-75; University of South Dakota, Vermillion, professor and head of public services at Weeks Library, 1976-2005. Military service: U.S. Army, 1966-68; served in Vietnam.

WRITINGS

Geography and Earth Science Publications, Pierian (Ann Arbor, MI), 1978.

Index to Earth Science Publications, Greenwood Press (Westport, CT), 1985.

A Contribution to Andreas’ Atlas of Dakota-1884, and G.K. Warren’s Military Map of Nebraska and Dakota-1858, University of South Dakota (Ver-million, SD), 1997.

Dakota Place Names: Geographical Names on 18th and 19th Century Maps, University of South Dakota (Vermillion, SD), 1998.

South Dakota Chronology from Prehistoric Times to 1899, University of South Dakota (Vermillion, SD), 1998.

Great Plains Indian Illustration Index, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 2004.

SIDELIGHTS: John A. Van Balen told CA:“My publications are in the form of finding-aids and guides—reference works that are designed for researchers, students, genealogists, and individuals interested in regional history and geography. My primary research focus has been the Northern Great Plains, the study of place names, and Native American biography. I noted gaps in reference materials particularly related to the Northern Plains region.”