Julius A. Schweinfurth was born in Auburn, NY on September 20, 1858. Schweinfurth came to Boston in 1879 and was employed by the architectural firm of Peabody and Stearns. He published a collection of his travel drawings, "Sketches Abroad," in 1888. He continued to work as chief designer for Peabody and Stearns while accepting commissions and submitting designs to competitions as an independent architect until 1895.

In 1895, Schweinfurth left Peabody and Stearns to open his own practice. Between 1895 and 1928, he designed more than 70 buildings and saw many of them built. Schweinfurth enjoyed a national reputation and participated in many of the high profile architectural competitions of his time. He designed several school buildings, residences, and public buildings, most located in and around Boston. Several of his designs were featured in the publication "The American Architect."