Sweeney, Margaret (1902-1968) | University of Illinois Archives

Margaret Ellen Sweeney Erbes (1902-1968) was born in Chicago on May 28, 1902. Sweeney's mother, Clara Beata Sweeney, taught her to play the harp. After learning from her mother, Sweeney began studying with Enrico Tramonti of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Throughout the late 1920s and early 1930s, she performed as the staff harpist of W.L.S. radio in Chicago and was the featured soloist of the Magic Harp hour. She also performed with the Chicago Little Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Women's Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Ebba Sundstrom. Sweeney later became the head of the Harp department at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago.

In 1952, Sweeney met Philip Henry Erbes, the vice president and secretary of the William Wrigley Jr. gum company. The two were married the same year. Despite taking Erbes' last name, Sweeney continued to perform under her maiden name. Following Margaret's death in 1968, Philip Erbes would go on to marry the harpist Roslyn Rensch. Near the end of Sweeney's life she was a member of the Three Arts Club, the Guild of the Chicago Historical Society, and the Arts Club of Chicago. She died on November 10, 1968 in Chicago.

Roslyn Rensch, The Harp , 70 and 110.

"Margaret Sweeney Plays Harp with Little Symphony: Irish Girl is Popular Solo Artist, Civic Music Sponsors Concert," Wausau Daily Herald (Wisconsin) (April 16, 1932), 7.

"Musical Attractions," Chicago Sunday Tribune (January 15, 1933), 51.

"Margaret Ellen Erbes," Find a Grave Index.

"Miss Sweeney, Noted Chicago Harpist, Dies," Chicago Tribune (November 12, 1968), 34.

"Living on Lake Shore Drive," Chicago Tribune (February 24, 1952), 163.