Southwest Parks and Monuments Association

Founded in 1938 at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, the organization began as Southwest Monuments Association, created to support 18 national monuments in the Southwest through educational and interpretive materials. Its earliest work included publishing park guides and helping visitors better understand the places they were exploring.

Over time, the group expanded in reach and mission. It later became Southwest Parks and Monuments Association, and in 2002 it was renamed Western National Parks Association. Today, it remains a nonprofit cooperating association of the National Park Service, supporting parks across the West through publications, retail, interpretation, and direct aid.

Because this is an organization rather than an individual author, there is no single personal biography to tell. Still, its history is closely tied to people such as park naturalist Dale King, who helped launch the association, and archaeologist Emil W. Haury, who was instrumental in its founding years.