Background
Frederick Kees was born in 1852 at Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
Frederick Kees was born in 1852 at Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
He was self-educated in architecture and acquired training and experience working in offices in Baltimore.
At the age of twenty Mr. Kees began practice in Baltimore, but was forced to close his office during the panic of 1874. Later he moved to Minneapolis and in 1879 resumed practice. In association with B. W. Fish he designed the Syndicate Block, at the time of its erection the largest building in the city, also prepared plans for the First Baptist Church.
Some years later he formed a partnership with Franklin B. Long (Kees & Long), a firm identified with many of the early business buildings in Minneapolis.