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Finding Aid for Robert S. Swanson Personal Papers, 1946-2013
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Swanson, Robert S.
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Abstract
This collection includes biographical materials of Chancellor Swanson, correspondence, committee minutes, course materials, student papers, speeches and publications.
Description
Robert S. Swanson, a native of Superior, Wisconsin, was born October 3, 1924, and passed away January 27, 2013. Swanson first came to Stout as a student in 1942, but his studies were interrupted by the Second World War. Following duty as a staff sergeant in an anti-tank company in Europe, he returned to Stout in 1946. In his junior and senior years, he taught classes in woodworking and was appointed to a half-time position on the faculty when he entered graduate school. his changed to a full-time position after he received his master’s degree in 1950. Five years later he was awarded a doctorate in education from the University of Minnesota. In the following years he served as chair of the Woodworking Department, Assistant Dean and later Dean of the School of Applied Science and Technology, Director of the Summer Session and in 1966 he was appointed Dean of the Graduate College. It was under his leadership that the enrollment in the Graduate College tripled and the number of degree programs offered doubled. In September 1972, he was appointed Chancellor of UW-Stout. He served as Chancellor from 1972-1988.
In addition to his activities as a teacher, Swanson was active in other areas of education as well. He had a textbook published on "Plastic Technology" and had numerous articles published in the areas of Education and Technology. In 1967, he was named "man of the year" by the American Council of Industrial Arts Teacher Educators and was made an "honorary member" of the National Association of Teacher Educators in 1970. Swanson served as a member of the Menomonie Board of Education for ten years. In 1958, he was the winner of an award for research by the American Technical Society for his study on "The Operational Definition and Measurement of Educational Philosophy."