In 2010 the Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter (Snyderville Basin, Park City, Utah) was donated to Utah State University, making it the largest gift in USU history. Known to native peoples as the “Hole in the Sky,” the preserve encompasses a 1,200 acre wildlife preserve and state of the art environmental education facility. The dream of the preserve started in 1992, when Dr. Paula Swaner and her children pursued a way to honor their late husband and father Leland Swaner; and culminated in the impressive, one-of-a-kind preserve in the high desert. In 2015, USU Special Collections was given the opportunity to document the family’s legacy story. This collection compromises five interviews with Swaner family members. Check out the
This collection was born digital. The products (audio and transcripts) are being processed into a digital collection: Swaner Family Oral History Collection, with links to this register. As well, a copy of each vetted transcript will be included in the physical collection
Dr. Paula Margetts Swaner was born in 1927 at Holy Cross Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was raised in Salt Lake City by her parents Sumner Gray Margetts, a civilian consulting engineer who was on Governor Henry H. Blood’s Civil Conservation Board, and her mother Pauline Moyle Margetts, and her two sisters Katherine and Sherrie. Paula Swaner graduated from the University of Utah with a B.A. and M.A. in English Literature, an M.S. in Educational Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology; and from the Pacific Graduate Institute an M.A. in the Mythological Studies Program. In 2003 Dr. Swaner "established the Rocky Mountain Psychological Center, a psychotherapist's group practice involving training and community mental health projects; from 2003-2006 she organized a two-year project coordinated with the Utah Psychological Association's 'Perspectives on Prejudice' project, including presenters from International Psychotherapy Institute and Pacifica Graduate Institution." 1
She married Leland Scowcroft Swaner on 22 May 1951; they had three children: Leland Scowcroft, Jr (Tad), Sumner Margetts Swaner, and Paula Swaner Sargetakis. Leland Swaner, graduated from Stanford University in 1941. "As a young man he worked for Deseret Livestock Ranch, Forestry Service, John Scowcroft and Sons Co. and the Tracy Loan and Trust Co. He established Redwood Investment Co. in 1948, which was pioneering in the area of Industrial Parks in the United States. He became an investor, land developer, farmer and rancher. During his life he devoted time and energy to many community projects." 2 In 1957: Leland S. Swaner purchases the Spring Creek Angus Ranch which he continues to operate for the next 35 years. Originally constructed in the late 1800s, the ranch was located on the north side of the roadway, complete with a barn and other ranch buildings
Leland Swaner, Sr. died on 3 September 1992. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Paula suggested to her children that they set aside a few acres of land as a memorial to Leland, Sr. This grew to the 1,200 acre Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter, which this collection documents. In 2010, the Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter made the largest gift in Utah State University's history, transferring the Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter to USU ownership and oversight. Swaner's mission to preserve, educate, and nurture will continue with increased programming, research opportunities, and satellite education.3
Citation: 1. Paula M. Swaner: Alumna, M.S. Educational Psychology. College of Education, University of Utah. Accessed 9 June 2016, http://education.utah.edu/alumni/profiles/paula-swaner.php; 2. Deseret News. Obituary, Leland S. Swaner, 6 September 1992. accessed 9 June 2016, http://www.deseretnews.com/article/246233/DEATH--LELAND-S-SWANER.html?pg=all; 3. Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter website: History: accessed 9 May 2016: http://www.swanerecocenter.org/about_us/history.html
The interivews are arranged by interviewee name
No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances
Permission to publish material from the Swaner Family Oral History Project must be obtained from theCurator of the Fife Folklore Archives and/or the Special Collections Department Head
Release forms are kept in Folk Coll 60: Collection File
Materials (audio, transcript, video) were generated from five oral histories conducted in 2015-2016 by Randy Williams, Nell Larson, and Dennis Hinkamp (videographer) with Swaner family members. Mrs. Diana Swaner donated several photographs for the collection, 20 May 2016
Processed in May and June 2016
| Title | Type |
|---|---|
| Series | |
| Item | |
| Item | |
| Item | |
| Series | |
| Item | |
| Item | |
| Item | |
| Item | |
| Item | |
| Series | |
| Item | |
| Item | |
| Item | |
| Item | |
| Item | |
| Item | |
| Item | |
| Item | |
| Series | |
| Item | |
| Item | |
| Item | |
| Series | |
| Item | |
| Item | |
| Item |