Basic Biographical Details

Name: Allan Graham
Designation:  
Born: 11 December 1870
Died: 1949
Bio Notes: Allan Graham was born on 11 December 1870 and commenced his studies at the Glasgow School of Art in 1883, at the early age of twelve. In 1885 he was articled to Thomas Lennox Watson, and whilst serving his apprenticeship he began attending classes at the Royal Technical College in addition to those at the School of Art. He remained with Watson as an assistant from 1891 to 1894, and during the same period assisted Charles Gourlay at the Technical College. In the latter year he moved to Newcastle to work as principal assistant to Benjamin Ferdinand Simpson. After four years there he moved to London to join Charles James Chirney Pawley as principal assistant, leaving him in 1904 to work on-site on two large country houses for Fryers & Penman of Largs. From 1903 to 1906, whilst employed by the latter two firms, he also ran his own practice part-time from 25 Victoria Street, London, and was responsible for several large houses in Surrey. He commenced full-time independent practice in 1906, working from offices at 33 Goodge Street and 4 Lower Seymour Street.

He passed the qualifying exam in 1908 and was admitted ARIBA on 1 March 1909, his proposers being Watson and Edward Dru Drury and Samuel Flint Clarkson, both of whom were London surveyors, the former to the District of St Margaret and St John and the latter to Kensington; Pawley was not a member of the Institute.

Graham ceased practising in 1913 to become a full-time lecturer on architecture, building construction and reinforced concrete at the LCC School of Building in Brixton. He was still there when he was elected FRIBA in late 1933 or early 1934, his proposers being Herbert Duncan Searles-Wood, Clare Arnold Clayton-Greene who had been a fellow assistant in Pawley's office, and Norman Keep. His nomination papers state that by that time he had travelled in Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, Holland, Greece, Turkey, Syria and Egypt many times, as well as venturing to Russia, Austria and Hungary. He was a Member of the Institute of Structural Engineers.

Grahm died in early 1949, his death being registered between January and March of that year.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 525, Victoria Street, London, EnglandBusiness1903After 1909 
Item 2 of 533, Goodge Street, London, EnglandBusiness1906Before 1913 
Item 3 of 54, Lower Seymour Street, London, EnglandBusinessAfter 19061913 
Item 4 of 515, Primrose Mansions, Battersea Park, London, EnglandPrivateBefore 19091949 
Item 5 of 5LCC School of Building, Brixton, London, EnglandBusiness1913After 1933 

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 5Thomas Lennox Watson18851890Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5Thomas Lennox Watson18911894Assistant 
Item 3 of 5Benjamin Ferdinand Simpson18941898Principal Assistant 
Item 4 of 5Charles James Chirney Pawley18991904Principal Assistant 
Item 5 of 5Fryers & Penman19041906Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6Samuel Flint Clarkson1 March 1908for Associateship
Item 2 of 6Edward Dru Drury1 March 1908for Associateship
Item 3 of 6Clare Arnold Clayton GreeneLate 1933 or early 1934for Fellowship
Item 4 of 6Norman KeepLate 1933 or early 1934for Fellowship
Item 5 of 6Herbert Duncan Searles-WoodLate 1933 or early 1934for Fellowship
Item 6 of 6Thomas Lennox Watson1 March 1908for Associateship

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 2Who's Who in Architecture1914    

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2England and WalesBirths, marriages and deaths  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A v18 p62 (microfilm reel 20); F no3171 (box 18)