Archives West Finding Aid

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