Basic Biographical Details

Name: Isobel Hogg Kerr Beattie
Designation:  
Born: 25 August 1900
Died: 13 July 1970
Bio Notes: Perhaps the first female architect in regular professional practice in Scotland, Isobel Hogg Kerr Beattie (originally Isabella Hogg Beattie) was born on 25 August 1900, the daughter of Lewis Beattie, farmer, and his wife, Alice Walker Kerr. She studied at Edinburgh College of Art from October 1921, gaining the 'old' diploma in June 1926. Four months later she joined an unidentified office where she worked for a year. From 1928 to 1929 she practised independently, but in October of the latter year she returned to Edinburgh College of Art, obtaining a further diploma the following June. During her college years she spent her holidays measuring and sketching in England and Scotland, her tours embracing Oxford, Cambridge, Norfolk, Yorkshire, Hexham, Carlisle, the Scottish Borders, Edinburgh, Melrose, Elgin and Glasgow. She was admitted ARIBA in mid-1931, her proposers being John Begg, Charles Denny Carus-Wilson and Frank Charles Mears. By that time she had joined the firm of Jamieson & Arnott in Edinburgh. Later in the 1930s she worked from an office at 47 Castle Street, Dumfries, thought to be the same address as that from which she was working on her own account during her brief period of independent practice in the late 1920s. She remained there until at least 1964. She did a great deal of work for the Buccleuch estate, and lived in a 30s house designed by herself.

She never married, and died at Sibbaldbieldside Farm, Applegarth after an illness on 13 July 1970. Her papers were dispersed.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 447, Castle Street, Dumfries, Dumfriesshire, ScotlandBusinessc. 1928After 1964 
Item 2 of 4Moniaive, Middlebie, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire, ScotlandPrivate1931 *  
Item 3 of 4The Breconrae, Dumfriesshire, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)1939  
Item 4 of 4The Thrushwood, Mouswald, Dumfriesshire, ScotlandPrivate/business1950 *After 1970 

* earliest date known from documented sources.


Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 1Auldjo Jamieson & Arnott1931 *   

* earliest date known from documented sources.


RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3John BeggMid 1931for Associateship
Item 2 of 3Charles Denny Carus-WilsonMid 1931for Associateship
Item 3 of 3(Sir) Frank Charles MearsMid 1931for Associateship

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Municipal Annual1964Scottish Municipal Annual1964-1965  
Item 2 of 4RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 4RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 4 of 4RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Dumfries and Galloway Standard15 July 1970  Obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Information on Dumfries practice from Ben Tindall.
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no4670 (combined box 28)