Robert H. Swenson Papers, 1937-1980 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Robert Hammond Swenson (1910-1936) was born in Cresco, Iowa. He received a degree in cello performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he taught from 1931 until 1946. Swenson also performed as the assistant first cellist with the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra during this time. He joined the University of Illinois in 1947. While a faculty member, Swenson performed with the Walden String Quartet, the Champaign-Urbana Symphony, and the Chautauqua Symphony. He premiered several works for cello, including Gordon Binkerd's Sonata for Cello and Piano, and works for string quartet, including Elliot Carter's String Quartet No. 1. In 1958, Swenson joined the Stanley Quartet of the University of Michigan for its tour of Brazil and Uruguay.

In 1970 Swenson married Lucille Ziroli. He retired from the University of Illinois in 1979. The following year he earned an honory doctorate from Northland College. Swenson died in Urbana, Illinois on November 24, 1996.