Harry Kels Swan, Historian, Curator

Harry Swan has lived his whole life in New Jersey. Collecting historical artifacts was a family tradition that began with his great-great-grandfather, who lived from 1770 to 1844. As a high school student, Harry developed a love of early American history and artifacts from shopping with his father at auctions and curio shops. In 1950 he became a member of the Bucks County Historical Society of Doylestown, PA, and his investment in American Revolution articles increased.

He received his degree in American History from Rutgers in 1952, where he was enrolled in the Army ROTC during the Korean War (though not in active duty). Mr. Swan went on to earn his Masters degree in Historical Foundations of American Education from Rutger's Graduate School of Education. He taught world history briefly at North Plainfield High School.

In 1972, Harry Swan was appointed a curator at Liberty Village in Flemington, NJ, where he oversaw antique weaponry, silver and glass artifacts, including his own extensive collection. His collections were made part of his contract with the State of New Jersey in 1976, when he became curator of the Washington Crossing State Park Visitor Center.

Mr. Swan's life mission is to establish a permanent home for the Swan Historical Foundation and "perpetuate a broad-based collection of American historic artifacts that can be enjoyed and studied by future generations of American and foreign peoples."