Albert Kruse was born December 22, 1897 in Wilmington, Delaware to Albert Kruse and Tilly Kruse. He was educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, graduating in 1922. During World War I he served as a naval aviator. From 1922 to 1924 he worked for Maginnis & WalshinBoston and from 1924 to 1935 for Charles Zeller KlauderinPhiladelphia. In 1935 he returned to Wilmington, where he formed the partnership of Pope & Kruse with architect George E. Pope.[1] In 1961 John Francis McCune III, an employee since 1947, became a partner in the expanded firm of Pope, Kruse & McCune.[2] Kruse retired in 1968, followed by Pope in 1972. McCune continued the firm as McCune Associates until 1981.[3]
Kruse joined the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1935 as a member of the Delaware chapter. He served as chapter president from 1940 to 1942. In 1952 he was elected a Fellow of the AIA. From 1948 to 1955 he was chair of the Committee on the Preservation of Historic Monuments.[4] His interest in preservation led him to lead the restoration of several historic building in Delaware, including the New Castle Court House Museum, completed in 1963. Several of these have since been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places.
Kruse was married in 1940 to Edith Gnann. They had two children: William A. Kruse and Elise D. Kruse.[1] Kruse died February 1, 1974 at the age of 76.[5]
