Theodor R. Swem was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1917. He received his B.S. in Forestry from Iowa State University before pursuing graduate work at Harvard. Swem moved to Colo. in 1944 to work for the Colorado State Game and Fish Department. He later worked for the Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service and as Chairman for the Alaska Planning Group for the Department of the Interior. His work with the Alaska Planning Group culminated in legislation known as the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) that designated more than 79 million acres be set aside for National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges (1980). Swem was also involved with the implementation of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (1971) and served as President of the Wilderness Society and on the Board of Directors for the American Rivers Organization. Swem died in 2006.
From the description of Ted Swem papers, 1961-2005. (Denver Public Library). WorldCat record id: 53706522
