Basic Biographical Details Name: | William Kerr | Designation: | | Born: | 27 March 1880 | Died: | 11 December 1950 | Bio Notes: | William Kerr was born on 27 March 1880, and was articled in April 1896 to Thomson & Turnbull of Glasgow where he worked under Thomas Reid Peacock, attending the classes at the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College under Professor Charles Gourlay. In 1901 he became an assistant to John Campbell McKellar, working under George Gunn, and remained there until 1904 when he moved to Boston, Menzies & Morton in Greenock. In 1905, whilst still in the same firm's employment, he took a tour of Germany, visiting the principal towns on the Rhine.
He commenced independent practice in 1907, but seems to have attracted insufficient business at first and took an appointment in the estimating department of A & J Main, structural engineers from November 1908 to November 1909, enabling him to make a study of structural ironwork. Also in 1908 he was appointed tutor of building construction for the Old and New Kilpatrick School Boards, a position he still held at the time of his admittance as LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, for which his proposers were Professor Charles Gourlay, John Bennie Wilson and Robert William Horn. In the latter year he closed his practice and joined the staff of Glasgow Corporation, working there for twenty-five years and becoming Deputy Chief Architect of Glasgow Housing Department. He retired in 1946 and died 11 December 1950. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 26, Queen's Crescent, Cathcart, Glasgow, Scotland | Private/business | Before 1911 | After 1914 | | | 97, Clarkston Road, Glasgow, Scotland | Private/business(?) | c. 1927 * | After 1950 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | Charles Gourlay | 20 July 1911 | for Licentiateship | | Robert William Horn | 20 July 1911 | for Licentiateship | | John Bennie Wilson | 20 July 1911 | for Licentiateship |
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | 1905 | Alexandra Theatre | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | As chief assistant to Boston, Menzies & Morton | | 1905 | Clune Park Church and halls | Port Glasgow | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | As chief assistant to Boston, Menzies & Morton | | 1905 | Queen's Hotel | Kirn | | Argyll | Scotland | As chief assistant to Boston, Menzies & Morton | | After 1907 | Alterations on old property | Pollokshaws | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | After 1907 | Public School | Rutherglen | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Unsuccessful competition design - placed within the top six entries | | After 1907 | Two tenements | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | c. 1907 | House | Giffnock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | British Architectural Library, RIBA | 2001 | Directory of British Architects 1834-1914 | | | | | RIBA | 1950 | The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | | | Who's Who in Architecture | 1914 | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | RIBA Journal | April 1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | Obituary p249 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L v14 no904 |
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