Frank W. Kinney was born in Vermont on August 23, 1855.By 1895, he was living in Minnesota and had formed a partnership with Henry Orth in Austin. The partnership of Kinney and Orth designed several large buildings in various parts of Minnesota until 1900. Around this time, Kinney joined with Menno S. Detweiler, a partner up until the opening of Kinney’s solo practice in 1905. Published images of Kinney’s work, whether in partnership or working alone, are indicative of a Beaux-Arts/Classical Revival sensibility, often with large-scale and stylized detail. The Calhoun Commercial Club follows this model. Frank W. Kinney died in Minneapolis in 1929.