Background
Frederick E. Mcllvain was born in 1873 at Bloomington, Illinois, United States.
Frederick E. Mcllvain was born in 1873 at Bloomington, Illinois, United States.
While still in his teens he began architectural study under the late Louis Curtis (a Beaux Arts graduate).
During the early 1900’s Mr. Mcllvain entered into partnership with Frank Jackson, and in the following years the firm designed various types of buildings, theatres, hotels, office buildings, stores and factories. Among the partners' best known works in Kansas City were the Dryfus Hotel; the first S. S. Kresge store; Globe Theatre at 13th and Walnut Street, a store for Oppenheim Brothers at 12th and Walnut, and the remodeling of the old White Hotel. In addition Jackson &Mcllvain prepared plans for the original Elms Hotel at Excelsior Springs, Mo., and after it was damaged by fire in 1911, rebuilt the structure.
When in 1916 Mr. Mcllvain withdrew from the partnership he set up his own office, and continued active in practice until a few months prior to his death. In that last phase of his career his work comprised a number of stores and theatres, including the Liberty Theatre, 1917-18; Security Store and office building at 11th and Main Streets, the Rothchild's Store, 1920-24, and Kresge s new store building, completed in 1925, all in Kansas City. He also designed the Monticello Hotel, at Longview, Wash.