T. Swann (Thomas Swann) Harding

Born in 1890, T. Swann Harding — Thomas Swann Harding — was an American author, editor, and civil servant. Records for his papers at the Library of Congress describe him in exactly those terms and show that his career brought together government service with a steady stream of writing on literary and scientific subjects.

Harding wrote for well-known magazines including Scientific American and The Atlantic, where he published articles in the 1930s on science, medicine, food and drug policy, and related public issues. He also published short books for a broad audience, including The Truth About the Tobacco Habit, showing his interest in explaining controversial health topics in plain language.

Archival records indicate that he retired in 1951, and his surviving papers include correspondence with editors and publishers as well as unpublished work on agriculture and federal policy. He died in 1973, leaving behind the work of a curious, practical writer who tried to connect scientific ideas with everyday life.