NELSON, Ted (W.) 1931-

PERSONAL: Born June 22, 1931, in McCloud, CA; son of DeWitt (a forester) and Sadiebelle (a lecturer; maiden name, Friedley) Nelson; married Sharlene Patten (a writer), July 17, 1955; children: Gregg, Janise Nelson Gates. Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: Attended Pomona College, 1949-51; University of California—Berkeley, B.S., 1954; University of Michigan, M.F., 1957. Politics: Republican. Religion: Methodist. Hobbies and other interests: Sailing, backpacking, skiing, oil painting, playing the banjo.

ADDRESSES: Home and office—824 South Marine Hills Way, Federal Way, WA 98003.

CAREER: Diamond Match Co., Lyman Springs, CA, resident forester, 1957-64; Weyerhaeuser Co., Tacoma, WA, 1964-91, retiring as vice president of Timberlands, Washington division; writer, 1991—. Member of board of directors, China Relations Council and World Affairs Council. Military service: U.S. Army, Infantry, 1954-56; became first lieutenant.

MEMBER: Forest History Society (member of board of directors, 1992—), Society of American Foresters, National Maritime Historical Society, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, U.S. Lighthouse Society, Washington Forest Protection Association (honorary trustee, 1991), Oregon Historical Society, Washington State Historical Society, Japan-America Society (member of board of directors), Tacoma Yacht Club.

WRITINGS:

WITH WIFE, SHARLENE NELSON

(And with Joan LeMieux) Cruising the Columbia and Snake Rivers: Eleven Cruises in the Inland Waterway, Pacific Search Press (Seattle, WA), 1981, revised edition, 1986.

The Umbrella Guide to Washington Lighthouses, Umbrella Books (Friday Harbor, WA), 1990, revised edition, 1998.

The Umbrella Guide to California Lighthouses, Epicenter Press (Seattle, WA), 1993, revised edition, 1999.

The Umbrella Guide to Oregon Lighthouses, Epicenter Press (Seattle, WA), 1994.

Bull Whackers to Whistle Punks: Logging in the Old West, Franklin Watts (Danbury, CT), 1996.

The Umbrella Guide to Exploring the Columbia-Snake River Inland Waterway, Epicenter Press (Seattle, WA), 1997.

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Children's Press (Danbury, CT), 1997.

Olympic National Park, Children's Press (Danbury, CT), 1997.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Children's Press (New York, NY), 1998.

Mount Rainier National Park, Children's Press (New York, NY), 1998.

William Boeing: Builder of Planes, Children's Press (New York, NY), 1999.

The Golden Gate Bridge, Children's Press (New York, NY), 2001.

Brett Favre, Capstone Books (Mankato, MN), 2001.

The Makah, Franklin Watts (Danbury, CT), 2003.

The Nez Percé, Franklin Watts (Danbury, CT), 2003.

Jedediah S. Smith, Franklin Watts (Danbury, CT), 2004.

Author of booklets about forestry.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Nonfiction articles for children.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, August, 1996, p. 1899.

Library Journal, June 1, 1990, p. 158.

School Library Journal, July, 1996, p. 94.