SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES
& Hilton M.
Briggs Library Special Collections
F.C.W. Kuehn collection
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Administrative Information |
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Note | Scope and
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Arrangement
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COLLECTION SUMMARY Title: F.C.W. Kuehn collection Dates: 1883-1970 (bulk 1906-1908, 1919-1949) Creator: F.C.W. (Frank Charles William) Kuehn Physical Description: 1.05 linear feet—3 containers, 2 photographs, 154 oversize items Collection number: MA 4 Language: Collection material in English. Repository: South Dakota State University Archives, Hilton M. Briggs Library, South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D. Abstract: Collection is composed of architectural drawings by F.W.C. Kuehn created for various projects. Included are rural school plans and county highway maps designed by Kuehn as well as bids and plans for projects. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Provenance: This collection was received as a gift on June 21, 1984. Jeannette E. Kinyon, Lois K. Johnson, and Margaret K. Voels, daughters and heirs of Frank Charles William Kuehn, Huron architect and map maker, known as F.C.W. Kuehn, made the gift. In 2002, Jeannette E. Kinyon bequest in the will the diploma from the International Correspondence Schools of Scranton Pennsylvania of her father, Frank Charles William Kuehn to the archives with the intention and wish that this gift reside would reside with the original donation made in 1984. Access Restrictions: This collection is open to research without restriction but may not be used for commercial purposes. Items in this collection do not circulate and may be used in-house only. Copyright Status: Copyright 2008 by South Dakota State University and SDSU Archives. Please credit the SDSU Archives if you copy or reproduce material from this finding aid. It is the responsibility of anyone reproducing material to determine the copyright holders and obtain permission from them if necessary. Archives staff will provide available copyright information on request. Please note that most collections, especially those received before 1997, may not have complete information on file. (Revised 15 SEP 2003) Preferred Citation: [Identification of item]. F.C.W. Kuehn collection, MA 4, South Dakota State University Archives, South Dakota State University, Brookings, S. D. Processing Information: This collection was processed by Crystal J. Gamradt, 9 March 1998 with revisions on June 24, 2008 (cjg). SELECTED SEARCH TERMS The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the subject guide. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically therein. Names:
Subjects:
BACKGROUND NOTE Frank Charles William Kuehn was born on September 4, 1884 in LeMars, Iowa. His family moved to Dakota Territory when he was 7 months old. They settled on a claim in Jackson Township, Sanborn County, Dakota Territory on March 1, 1885. The family lived in a sod shanty amid an extended family of Kuehn’s grandfather and the brothers and sisters of Elizabeth and Frank Theodore Kuehn, Kuehn's parents. On March 1, 1903, the family moved northwest 18 miles to Huron, South Dakota, which continued to be Kuehn’s home for the next 67 years. Kuehn married Amelia Johanna Wagner on June 3, 1914. They had three daughters; Jeannette, Lois and Margaret. In October 1950, Amelia died of a heart attack. Kuehn remarried on August 15, 1954 to Florence Dokken Hanson. Before the age of 21, Kuehn knew he wanted to be an architect. He registered for classes with the International Correspondence Schools in Scranton, Pennsylvania. In 1907, he began working in the office of Huron architect, George Issenhuth. He continued to work for Mr. Issenhuth throughout all of 1908 and 1909 while he continued his studies with the correspondence school. On September 9, 1909, Kuehn opened his own office in Huron, SD. He established himself as an architect of schools with a plan submitted for a two-story brick school for Frankfort, SD. With this school, a good example of Prairie-School Style of architecture, Kuehn began a long association with the State Department of Public Instruction, which lasted for 41 years. In 1918, Kuehn began writing insurance to supplement his income, possibly a result of World War I, which caused a decline of building in SD. He would continue to write insurance in addition to being an architect to the end of his life. In the early 1920s, Kuehn planned a number of homes and several impressive buildings for downtown Huron. He also began drawing county maps for SD, ND, and MN. In the 1930s, he began producing blueprints and created the Huron Blue Print Co. This helped provide for his family during the Depression. He also worked for Home Owners Loan Corp., inspecting homes for financing and writing reports. In the 1940s, Kuehn began to be recognized outside of SD for his Standard Rural School Plans. During the 1950s, Kuehn worked almost exclusively on his growing county map business. In the 1960s, he expanded to include highway maps for Minnesota counties. He also combined SD, ND, and MN. County maps into books, which sold well. Kuehn died following an illness in 1970. He had designed and built many projects too numerous to mention. For more information see F.C.W. Kuehn Prairie Architect which was written by his daughters in 1984. This details his life as an architect and notes many of the projects he worked on throughout his career. SCOPE and CONTENTS NOTE Collection is composed of architectural drawings by F.W.C. Kuehn created for various projects. Included are rural school plans and county highway maps designed by Kuehn as well as bids and plans for projects. ARRANGEMENT of the RECORDS This collection is arranged into three series: SERIES I: Architectural drawings, 1906-1954 This series is composed mainly of blueprints, and 109 drawings both on linen paper (63) and drawing paper (46). The architectural drawings include work from both Kuehn’s years enrolled in the International Correspondence Schools and his career as an architect. The largest groups represented here are from the 12th Supervisory District Alcohol Plant, which include 16 blueprints and 47 linen drawings, Kuehn’s course work drawings submitted to the correspondence school, and his plans for rural schools. Material is arranged by type of material. Box 1.
SERIES II: General, 1883-1970 This series is composed of miscellaneous items retained by Kuehn. Included is a composite poster commemorating Kuehn’s 60th anniversary in business, a binder of Kuehn’s County Highway Maps, photographs, and a green visor which Kuehn wore while drawing plans and maps. Folders are arranged in alphabetical order. Box 1.
SERIES III: Random specifications, 1917-1952 This series is composed of specifications for projects Kuehn worked on. These offer some insight into projects Kuehn worked on, as well as information about what such works entails. Folders are arranged in alphabetical order. Box 1.
Box 2.
Box 3.
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Updated 23 June 2008 by cjg Email questions or comments to: arcrefs@sdstate.edu Copyright 2008 by South
Dakota State University and SDSU Archives. |