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
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]
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]
Christian and Elfrieda Mueller home, 530 Ripley St. Davenport, IA (c. 1885) Designed by Clausen and built for a local dry goods merchant as an anniversary present for his wife.[10] Contributing property in the Hamburg Historic District
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:
One or more buildings in the Crescent Warehouse Historic District, portions of E. 4th St., E. 5th St., Iowa St. and Pershing Ave. Davenport, IA (Clausen & Kruse), NRHP-listed
W.D. Petersen mausoleum, Oakdale Memorial Gardens, Davenport, IA (1921; Clausen & Kruse), contributing building in Oakdale Cemetery Historic District, NRHP-listed
^ abScholtz Gowey Gere Marolf (SGGM) Architects and Interior Designers. "SSGM History". SSGM. Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
