Frederick G. Clausen

Frederick George "Fritz" (Friedrich Georg) Clausen (1848–1940) was a Danish-born architect who came to the United States in 1869 and founded an architectural practice in Davenport, Iowa. The firm that he founded, presently named Studio 483 Architects, is still in business today, the oldest firm in continuous practice in the state of Iowa.[1] Clausen has been termed the "premier 19th century architect" of Davenport, Iowa.[2]: 22 

Personal life
Frederick G. Clausen House on West Sixth Street

F. G. Clausen was born in Eckernförde, Schleswig, Denmark, on 13 February 1848[3] or 1 May 1848.[4] His official name in Eckernförde was: Fritz Georg Martin Clausen. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1869,[5] but put his emigration request in Germany (Kreis Eckernförde) until 1871.[3]

He was a Fellow of the Western Association of Architects (WAA) from 1885 to 1889. Following the incorporation of WAA into the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1889, he became a Member of AIA, continuing that membership until his retirement in 1914.[6]

In addition to his architecture practice, Clausen was an alderman of the city of Davenport, and was instrumental in setting up the Davenport paid fire department in 1882, with three new fire appliances.[7]

Company history

After his arrival in America, Clausen initially worked as a draftsman for Thomas W. McClelland a local architect of some note.[2] He opened his own firm - F.G. Clausen - in Davenport in 1871,[5] working alone until 1896, and then partnered with Parke Burrows until 1904. When Burrows left, Clausen's son Rudolph J. Clausen, joined the company,[2] which then became known as Clausen & Clausen.[1]

Clausen retired in 1914, and his son continued in business as Clausen & Kruse with Walter O. "Stub" Kruse; and from 1925 with Carrol Klein as the head of interior design, forming Clausen, Kruse & Klein.[5]

Notable buildings

1871-1896 (F.G. Clausen)
J.H.C. Petersen's Sons' Store

1896-1904 (Clausen & Burrows)
St. John's United Methodist Church

1904-1914 (Clausen & Clausen)
Louis P. and Clara K. Best House

Post 1914
Ewert and Richter Express and Storage Co. warehouses in the Crescent Warehouse Historic District

These buildings were designed by Rudolph J. Clausen after Frederick's retirement:

References
  1. Scholtz Gowey Gere Marolf (SGGM) Architects and Interior Designers. "SSGM History". SSGM. Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  2. Martha H. Bowers (January 1982). "NRHP Multiple Resource Assessment: Historical and Architectural Resources of Davenport". National Park Service. (pages 1-30 of PDF document)
  3. Arbeits-Gemeinschaft Genealogie Schleswig-Holstein e.V. (AGGSH e.V.) (ed.). "Auswanderung aus dem Kreis Eckernförde im 19. Jahrhundert" (in German). Archived from the original on 2016-10-10.
  4. Find A Grave: Frederick George „Fritz“ Clausen
  5. Wundram, Bill (8 June 1999). "Architecture - on a bun". Quad-City Times.
  6. "F. G. Clausen". The AIA Historical Directory of American Architects. The American Institute of Architects. Archived from the original on 2013-02-23.
  7. "Davenport Fire Department History". 1911. Archived from the original on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  8. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  9. Martha H. Bowers (July 1983). "NRHP Multiple Resource Assessment: Historical and Architectural Resources of Davenport, Iowa (Part II)". National Park Service. Northwest and north-central Davenport, the Fulton Addition, and McClellan Heights (pages 30-69 of PDF document)
  10. http://www.davenportgoldcoast.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/2009-WalkingTour-Nonbooklet.pdf
  11. James E. Jacobson. "National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form: School Number 6". National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
  12. "Best Building". City of Rock Island. Retrieved 2018-07-27.
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