Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Alexander Black
Designation:  
Born: 1874
Died:  
Bio Notes: John Alexander Black was born in 1874, probably in Edinburgh, and was articled to James Graham Fairley from 1892 to 1896. He attended Heriot-Watt College and Edinburgh School of Applied Art. He was assistant to Robert Morham, Edinburgh City Architect, but moved to England thereafter to become chief assistant to Thomas William Cubbon in Birkenhead. He left Cubbon to work with William J Taylor, County Architect and Surveyor of Winchester, subsequently moving to Southampton to work for Mitchel Son & Gutteridge. He was elected LRIBA on 27 February 1911, his proposers being James Anderson Williamson, Charles Septimus Errington and Joseph Berkeley Cubey. By this time he had moved north again to Middlesbrough and was collaborating with James Forbes at 43 Albert Road, although he still gave his residential address as 8 Laverockbank Road, Edinburgh.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 6Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate/businessBefore 1892After 1898 
Item 2 of 6Birkenhead, Cheshire, EnglandPrivate/businessAfter 1898Before 1910 
Item 3 of 6Winchester, Hampshire, EnglandPrivate/businessAfter 1898Before 1910 
Item 4 of 6Southampton, Hampshire, EnglandPrivate/businessAfter 1898Before 1910 
Item 5 of 643, Albert Road, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, EnglandBusiness1911 *  
Item 6 of 68, Laverockbank Road, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1911 * Given as 'residential address' on FRIBA nomination paper, despite working in Middlesbrough

* 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 7James Graham Fairley18921896Apprentice 
Item 2 of 7Edinburgh City Architect's Department (Edinburgh Corporation)1896After 1898AssistantUnder Robert Morham, City Architect; directly supervised by James Anderson Williamson
Item 3 of 7Robert Morham1896After 1898AssistantUnder Robert Morham, City Architect; directly supervised by James Anderson Williamson
Item 4 of 7Thomas William CubbonAfter 1898Before 1910Chief Assistant 
Item 5 of 7Mitchell Son & GutteridgeAfter 1898Before 1910Chief Assistant 
Item 6 of 7W J TaylorAfter 1898Before 1910Chief Assistant 
Item 7 of 7Black & ForbesBefore 1910After 1914Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Joseph Berkeley Cubey27 February 1911for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 3Charles Septimus Errington27 February 1911for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 3James Anderson Williamson27 February 1911for Licentiateship

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 71896(?)Dumfries AcademyDumfries DumfriesshireScotlandPrepared drawings for winning competition design for extensions - possibly under J A Williamson?
Item 2 of 71897City Infectious Diseases HospitalColinton EdinburghScotlandAs Assistant to Robert Morham
Item 3 of 71898Portobello Public BathsPortobello EdinburghScotlandAs Assistant to Robert Morham, supervised by James Anderson Williamson
Item 4 of 71910Archibald SchoolsMiddlesbrough YorkshireEnglandIn partnership with James Forbes. Second premium in competition
Item 5 of 71910Linthorpe Council SchoolsMiddlesbrough YorkshireEnglandWon first prize after competition and secured job
Item 6 of 71910Love Lane SchoolPontefract YorkshireEnglandSecond premiated designs - in partnership with James Forbes
Item 7 of 71910(?)Usher Hall  EdinburghScotlandCompetition design

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Who's Who in Architecture1926    

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v10 no 561 (microfilm reel 32)