Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1883-1970 (Creation)
Extent
- 1.05 linear feet (2 document cases, 1 oversize box)
Name of creator
Biographical history
Frank Charles William Kuehn was born on September 4, 1884, in LeMars, Iowa. His family moved to Dakota Territory when he was just seven months old, settling on a claim in Jackson Township, Sanborn County, on March 1, 1885. The family lived in a sod shanty, surrounded by Kuehn's extended family, including his grandfather and the siblings of his parents, Elizabeth and Frank Theodore Kuehn. In March 1903, the family relocated to Huron, South Dakota, where Kuehn would live for the next 67 years. On June 3, 1914, Kuehn married Amelia Johanna Wagner, and together they had three daughters: Jeannette, Lois, and Margaret. Amelia passed away in October 1950 due to a heart attack, and Kuehn remarried Florence Dokken Hanson on August 15, 1954.
From a young age, Kuehn was determined to become an architect. He enrolled in the International Correspondence Schools in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and in 1907 began working for Huron architect George Issenhuth. He continued working for Issenhuth through 1909 while furthering his studies. On September 9, 1909, Kuehn opened his own architectural office in Huron, SD, and quickly established himself as a school architect with a design for a two-story brick school in Frankfort, SD. This building, a notable example of Prairie-School Style architecture, marked the beginning of his 41-year relationship with the South Dakota Department of Public Instruction.
In 1918, to supplement his income during a decline in building projects due to World War I, Kuehn began selling insurance. He continued this work alongside his architecture throughout his life. In the early 1920s, Kuehn designed homes and notable downtown Huron buildings, and began producing county maps for South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota. In the 1930s, he founded the Huron Blueprint Co., which provided services during the Great Depression. He also worked for the Home Owners Loan Corporation, inspecting homes for financing. During the 1940s, Kuehn’s Standard Rural School Plans gained recognition beyond South Dakota.
In the 1950s, Kuehn shifted his focus almost exclusively to his expanding county map business. By the 1960s, he had broadened his maps to include highway maps for Minnesota counties and compiled books combining maps from South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota, which sold well. Kuehn passed away in 1970 following an illness. Over the course of his career, he designed numerous projects, many of which are detailed in the 1984 publication F.C.W. Kuehn Prairie Architect, written by his daughters, which documents his life and architectural contributions.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
The F. C. W. Kuehn Papers consist of architectural plans for various buildings, primarily located in South Dakota, spanning from 1917 to 1952. It includes designs for one-story and other structures, such as commercial buildings, schools, churches, and residential properties. Notable examples include the Huron Dairy Products Company, several South Dakota Standard and Kuehn’s Standard school buildings, and the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Doland. Additionally, the collection features plans for public works projects, including city auditoriums, fire stations, and service stations, as well as residential structures and a variety of renovations and repairs. These plans reflect the architectural development and growth of South Dakota during the early to mid-20th century, highlighting a range of construction types and purposes.
The architectural drawings include work from both Kuehn's years enrolled in the International Correspondence Schools and his career as an architect.
The general items are composed of miscellaneous items related to Kuehn.
The random specifications are composed of construction specifications for projects Kuehn worked on.
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
The collection is open to all researchers, with materials accessible on-site only and not available for circulation.
For extensive research, scheduling an appointment in advance via phone or email is encouraged, including details about the research topic and intended use.
To access materials, researchers must complete and sign the Registration Form and provide proof of identity (e.g., University ID or driver’s license). By signing, researchers agree to adhere to the
Reading Room Rules. The registration document also includes guidelines on making copies of materials, correct referencing, and copyright obligations.
Physical access
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
South Dakota State University supports access to its collections, both published and unpublished. However, access to certain items may be restricted due to their fragile condition, donor agreements, or copyright.
Reproduction of materials is allowed for research purposes only, and written permission is required for publication or distribution.
Due to the delicate nature of some items, reproduction may be limited.
Languages of the material
- English
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Uploaded finding aid
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Kinyon, Jeannette, with Lois Johnson, Margaret Voels, and Harry E. Voels, Prairie architect: F.C.W. Kuehn, his life and work, Sioux Falls, SD, The Center for western Studies, c1984. Call number: SD Collection: NA 737.K72 K5
Related descriptions
Notes element
General note
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General note
Copyright and Use Statement
In Copyright This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Materials in this collection may be subject to Title 17, Section 108 of the United States Copyright Act. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright, privacy, publicity, trademark, and other applicable rights for their intended use. Obtaining all necessary permissions is the user's responsibility. Written authorization from the copyright and/or other rights holders is required for publication, distribution, or any use of protected materials beyond what is permitted under fair use.
Specialized notes
Alternative identifier(s)
ID
ID
Description control element
Rules or conventions
Sources used
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Kuehn, Frank Charles William, 1884-1970 (Subject)