Frederick G. Clausen

Frederick George "Fritz" Clausen (1848–1940) was a German-born architect who came to the U.S. in 1869 and founded an architectural practice in Davenport, Iowa. The firm that he founded - currently Scholtz Gowey Gere Marolf (SGGM) - 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

Contents

Personal life

Clausen was born in Eckern Forde, Schleswig, Germany in 1848.[3] and came to the U.S. in 1869 [4] He was a Fellow of the Western Association of Architects from 1885 to 1889 and, following the incorporation of WAA into AIA, a Member of The American Institute of Architects from 1889 until his retirement in 1914.[5]

In addition to his architecture practice, Clausen was an Alderman of Davenport, and was instrumental in setting up the Davenport paid Fire Department in 1882, with three new fire appliances.[6]

Company History

On coming to 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, [4] 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.[4]

Notable buildings

1871-1896 (F.G. Clausen)

1896-1904 (Clausen & Burrows)

1904-1914 (Clausen & Clausen)

Post 1914

References

  1. ^ a b Scholtz Gowey Gere Marolf (SGGM) Architects and Interior Designers. "SSGM History". SSGM. http://sggm.net/history.htm. Retrieved 4 December 2011. 
  2. ^ a b c d Martha H. Bowers (January, 1982). "NRHP Multiple Resource Assessment: Historical and Architectural Resources of Davenport". National Park Service. http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/64000149.pdf.  (pages 1-30 of PDF document)
  3. ^ Pioneer America Society transactions 6-10. http://www.google.co.uk/search?tbm=bks&tbo=1&q=fritz+clausen+architect&btnG=. 
  4. ^ a b c Wundram, Bill (June 8, 1999). "Architecture - on a bun". Quad-City Times. http://qctimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/columnists/bill-wundram/article_9930ec6f-eb6e-501f-9c31-b33e519487cf.html. 
  5. ^ "F. G. Clausen". The AIA Historical Directory of American Architects. The American Institute of Architects. http://communities.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/ahd1007946.aspx. 
  6. ^ "Davenport Fire Department History". 1911. http://members.zumatel.net/leon429/dfd1911.html. Retrieved 4 December 2011. 
  7. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
  8. ^ Martha H. Bowers (July, 1983). "NRHP Multiple Resource Assessment: Historical and Architectural Resources of Davenport, Iowa (Part II)". National Park Service. http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/64000149.pdf.  Northwest and north-central Davenport, the Fulton Addition, and McClellan Heights (pages 30-69 of PDF document)
  9. ^ a b http://www.davenportgoldcoast.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/2009-WalkingTour-Nonbooklet.pdf