David Backes

David Backes met Sigurd and Elizabeth Olson while an undergraduateat the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He later lived for a shorttime near Ely, Minnesota and visited with the Olsons at their home onseveral occations. Their encouragement helped convince him to go tograduate school at Madison, where, shortly after Olson's death, hewrote a master's thesis about Olson's key role in banning airplanesfrom the area known today as the Boundary Waters Canoe AreaWilderness. By 1990 Elizabeth Olson, who had carefully guarded herhusband's image and was often reluctant to provide access to hispapers and diaries, granted David permission to write Olson'sbiography. David not only had the opportunity to read and study hisprivate journals, he also extensively interviewed other members ofthe Olson family and many others who knew Sigurd Olson, includingsuch major figures in conservation history as former InteriorSecretary Steward Udall and Park Service Director George Hartzog.

David Backes is also the author of Canoe Country: An EmbattledWilderness and The Wilderness Companion.

VisitTheSigurd F. Olson Web Site, created and maintained by David Backes.