Basic Biographical Details

Name: Donald Alexander Fowler
Designation:  
Born: 15 September 1904
Died: 1975
Bio Notes: Donald Alexander Fowler was born on 15 September 1904 and was articled to R Carruthers Ballantyne of Inverness in 1921, attending evening classes at Inverness Academy. He left the practice, which by then had become Carruthers Ballantyne & Taylor after William John Taylor had been taken into partnership, in 1925 to spend three years studying full-time at Aberdeen School of Architecture, but returned in June 1928 as draughtsman. That same summer he was awarded his Post-Diploma and passed the RIBA qualifying exam in Edinburgh. He was admitted ARIBA at the end of that year or the beginning of the next, his proposers being James Brown Nicol, Robert Gordon Wilson Junior and John Alexander Ogg Allan. Shortly thereafter he moved to Shanghai to join the Public Works Department there as an assistant.

He returned to Inverness in 1934 and entered into private practice, possibly working for an unspecified firm rather than on his own account. In January 1938 he became senior assistant to Harold Francis Hurcombe, and in 1943 commenced practice on his own account in Oxford as City Estates Surveyor and Architect to the Education Committee. He was elected FRIBA in 1950, proposed by H F Hurcombe, W A Eden and B R Foggett, by which time he was living and working at 22 Oakwell Mount, Roundhay, Leeds. He retired in 1969, and died six years later.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 4108, Church Street, Inverness, Inverness-shire, ScotlandPrivate1928 *  
Item 2 of 4Shanghai, ChinaPrivate/business19291934 
Item 3 of 422, Oakwell Mount, Roundhay, Leeds, Yorkshire, EnglandPrivate/business1950 *  
Item 4 of 4Derwent House, Wressle, Selby, Yorkshire, EnglandPrivate(?)c. 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 5Robert Carruthers-Ballantyne (or Robert Ballantyne Carruthers; or Roy Carruthers Ballantyne)1921July 1921Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5Carruthers Ballantyne & Taylor (or Ballantyne & Taylor)July 19211925Apprentice 
Item 3 of 5Carruthers Ballantyne & Taylor (or Ballantyne & Taylor)June 19281929Draughtsman 
Item 4 of 5Shanghai Public Works Department19291934Assistant 
Item 5 of 5Harold Francis Hurcombe19381943Senior Assistant 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 2James Wilson Mackintosh1932Before 1936Apprenticenomination papers state 'D A Fowler & T Munro'
Item 2 of 2James Wilson MackintoshAfter 19321936Junior Assistantnomination papers state 'D A Fowler & T Munro'

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6John Alexander Ogg AllanLate 1928 or early 1929for Associateship
Item 2 of 6W ___A____ Eden22 May 1950For Fellowship
Item 3 of 6George Herbert Foggitt22 May 1950For Fellowship
Item 4 of 6Harold Francis Hurcombe22 May 1950For Fellowship
Item 5 of 6James Brown NicolLate 1928 or early 1929for Associateship
Item 6 of 6Robert Gordon Wilson (junior)Late 1928 or early 1929for Associateship

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 11936Over and AboveInverness Inverness-shireScotland 

References

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no4245 (stored with F4550, combined box 21); F4550 (combined box 21)
Item 2 of 2School of Architecture, Garthdee, Aberdeen, RGIT: former pupils, 1937-1970Galletly, James