Basic Biographical Details

Name: Allan Ferguson Duncan
Designation:  
Born: 21 May 1870
Died: 2 August 1941
Bio Notes: Allan Ferguson Duncan was born at Glen Bank, Port Glasgow on 21 May 1870, the son of Robert Duncan, master shipbuilder, and his wife Mary Ferguson. He was articled to Clarke & Bell of Glasgow in May 1892, remaining as draughtsman to Bell until 1903, with the exception of the period from August 1901 to March 1902 which he had spent sketching and measuring in Italy and Spain.

In May 1903 he commenced independent practice at 146 West Regent Street, Glasgow in partnership with George Donaldson Copland, the firm being known as A F Duncan & G D Copland. The two had met in the Clarke & Bell office, where Copland (born 1874) had been apprenticed from 1891 to 1896, remaining as assistant for two further years before becoming assistant to the Glasgow Corporation Engineer's Department, and had had travelled in Canada, the United States, France and Italy. Both Duncan and Copland were elected LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, proposed by John Bennie Wilson and the Glasgow Institute of Architects.

Duncan and Copland remained in partnership until Copland's death from bronchitis on 3 December 1938, but latterly Copland's principal business was as an insurance broker, the occupation given on his death certificate. Duncan continued to practise under the same title until his death in Glasgow Royal Infirmary on 2 August 1941 of a perforated duodenal ulcer. He was survived by his wife Margaret Isabella Anderson and son J A Duncan.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 4146, West Regent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1911 *  
Item 2 of 49, Blythswood Drive, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1911After 1914 
Item 3 of 4160, Hope Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1931 *1939 or after 1940 
Item 4 of 48, Kelvin Drive, Bishopbriggs, Lanarkshire, ScotlandPrivate1941 *  

* 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 3Clarke & Bell18921896 or 1897Apprentice 
Item 2 of 3Clarke & Bell1896 or 1897May 1903Draughtsmanassisting George Bell (II)
Item 3 of 3A F Duncan & G D CoplandMay 1903 Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1John Bennie Wilson20 July 1911for Licentiateship - as President of the Glasgow Institute of Architects

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 181892(?)City and County Buildings and second Merchants' House  GlasgowScotlandReconstruction of former Council Chambers and Municipal Buildings on Ingram Street as Sheriff Courts - as apprentice/assistant to Clarke & Bell
Item 2 of 18After 1892BagatelleGreenock RenfrewshireScotlandAs apprentice/assistant to Clarke & Bell
Item 3 of 181897A & G Thomson's Warehouse  GlasgowScotlandAlterations to create restaurant - as assistant to Clarke & Bell
Item 4 of 181902Clutha Weaving Factory  GlasgowScotlandAdditions
Item 5 of 18After 1903AbattoirPort Glasgow RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 6 of 18After 1903Factory for Arthur & Henshaw  GlasgowScotlandAdditions
Item 7 of 18After 1903Factory for John Tullis & Sons  GlasgowScotlandAdditions
Item 8 of 18After 1903Factory for Messrs J Brown & Sons  GlasgowScotlandAdditions
Item 9 of 18After 1903Factory for R & J Dick Ltd  GlasgowScotlandAdditions
Item 10 of 18After 1903Glasgow University Football Pavilion  GlasgowScotland 
Item 11 of 18After 1903HouseDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 12 of 18After 1903HouseHamilton LanarkshireScotland 
Item 13 of 18After 1903Kirn Parish Church HallsKirn ArgyllScotlandAdditions
Item 14 of 18After 1903Triple villaPort Glasgow RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 15 of 181905Broadstone Jubilee HospitalPort Glasgow RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 16 of 181905Football pavilion, University Avenue  GlasgowScotland 
Item 17 of 181910Barrowfield Works  GlasgowScotlandTop storey added to main block
Item 18 of 181911Coronation Picture House  GlasgowScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Post Office Directories     
Item 2 of 3RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 3Who's Who in Architecture1914    

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 Additional research by Iain Paterson
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v17 no1236