Basic Biographical Details

Name: Donald McKay Stoddart
Designation:  
Born: 1875
Died: 31 January 1930
Bio Notes: Donald McKay Stoddart was born in 1875 (reg dist 644/12, entry no 177), the son of J Hastie Stoddart, editor of the Glasgow Herald, and Sarah Cunningham McTaggart. He was educated at Glasgow High School. Unusually, prior to commencing his apprenticeship, he was awarded three silver medals from the South Kensington Schools and he spent most of 1892 travelling in Italy and France. On his return he was articled to Honeyman & Keppie and began attending classes at Glasgow School of Art under William James Anderson and Francis H Newbery. He completed his apprenticeship in 1897 and travelled in Italy the following year, returning to the same office as draughtsman and continuing his studies at Glasgow School of Art until 1899. In 1900 he entered the office of Alexander Nisbet Paterson as chief draughtsman, and he remained in the same firm thereafter, taking charge in Paterson's absence and being given the somewhat unusual freedom to have a small private practice. He was admitted LRIBA on 4 July 1910 his proposers being Paterson, John Keppie and Andrew Graham Henderson.

Stoddart was called up for war service and although declared unfit for combatant service, he served in a Motor Transport Battalion in France. He returned in 1919 and was taken into partnership. But his health had been damaged and his role in the office remained much the same as it had been before 1914, as in Paterson's words, he suffered from 'a want of boldness in general conception, the proverbial failure to see the wood for the trees'.

Stoddart was admitted FRIBA on 30 November 1925, his proposers being Paterson, Keppie and John Watson, the last reflecting the close relationship which had developed between Paterson and the Watsons.

Stoddart died of pneumonia at the Western Infirmary on 31 January 1930.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 3266, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1903After 1924 
Item 2 of 336, Falkland Mansions, Hyndland, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1910After 1914 
Item 3 of 3219, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1929 *  

* 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 5Honeyman & Keppie18921897Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5Honeyman & Keppie18981900Draughtsman 
Item 3 of 5Alexander Nisbet Paterson1900Early 1903Chief Draughtsman 
Item 4 of 5Campbell Douglas & PatersonEarly 19031914Chief DraughtsmanThe firm name may have reverted to A N Paterson between 1910 and 1914.
Item 5 of 5A N Paterson & Stoddart1919Early 1930Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6Andrew Graham Henderson4 July 1910for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 6John Keppie4 July 1910for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 6John Keppie30 November 1925for Fellowship
Item 4 of 6Alexander Nisbet Paterson4 July 1910for Licentiateship
Item 5 of 6Alexander Nisbet Paterson30 November 1925for Fellowship
Item 6 of 6John Watson30 November 1925for Fellowship

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 421898Brechin CathedralBrechin AngusScotlandRestoration, alterations and additions - as draughtsman to Honeyman & Keppie
Item 2 of 421900Auchendennan HouseArden DunbartonshireScotlandAdditions - as chief draughtsman to Alexander Nisbet Paterson
Item 3 of 421901Golfhill Public SchoolDennistoun GlasgowScotlandAs chief draughtsman to Alexander Nisbet Paterson
Item 4 of 421902Clyde Street SchoolHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandAs chief draughtsman to Alexander Nisbet Paterson
Item 5 of 421906Colquhoun Arms HotelArrochar DunbartonshireScotlandAs chief draughtsman to Alexander Nisbet Paterson
Item 6 of 421906National Bank of Scotland, St Enoch Square  GlasgowScotlandAs chief draughtsman to Alexander Nisbet Paterson
Item 7 of 421907Liberal Club  GlasgowScotlandNew clubhouse - as chief draughtsman to Alexander Nisbet Paterson
Item 8 of 421907Yarrow ChurchYarrow SelkirkshireScotlandAlterations and additions and restoration - as chief draughtsman to Alexander Nisbet Paterson
Item 9 of 421919Memorial Cross to the Earl and Countess of HomeDouglas LanarkshireScotland 
Item 10 of 421920National Bank of Scotland War Memorial  EdinburghScotland 
Item 11 of 421920Parade CinemaDennistoun GlasgowScotlandDesigned within the Paterson & Stoddart partnership though principally by Stoddart
Item 12 of 421920Shandon war memorialGullybridge DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 13 of 42c. 1920Langside Old Parish ChurchLangside GlasgowScotlandWar memorial
Item 14 of 42c. 1920Rhu War MemorialRhu/Row DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 15 of 42c. 1920William Millie Dow MemorialDysart FifeScotland 
Item 16 of 421921Glasgow High School War Memorial  GlasgowScotland2nd prize
Item 17 of 421922Design for RIBA (War?) memorial     
Item 18 of 421922Glasgow Academy  GlasgowScotlandPerhaps competition design - for extension?
Item 19 of 421922Helensburgh War Memorial, Hermitage ParkHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 20 of 421922Holy Trinity Episcopal ChurchKilmarnock AyrshireScotlandInternal alterations - inlcuding nave roof and mullions and transoms of windows?
Item 21 of 42c. 1922Scalesheugh Mausoleum  CumberlandEngland 
Item 22 of 42c. 1922Stevenson Memorial Church, memorial  GlasgowScotlandDesigned independently, though at the time in partnership with Paterson
Item 23 of 421923Campbeltown War MemorialCampbeltown ArgyllScotlandWon competition to secure job (according to HS Lists and B of S)
Item 24 of 421923RowaleynRhu/Row DunbartonshireScotlandAdditions - entrance tower
Item 25 of 421923Scottish National Zoological Park, Gateway (including lodge)Corstorphine EdinburghScotland 
Item 26 of 421923St Bride's Girls' SchoolHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandJunior wing and alterations
Item 27 of 421923Yarrow ChurchYarrow SelkirkshireScotlandRebuilding after fire
Item 28 of 42c. 1923Helensburgh Cemetery, Bonar Law MemorialHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 29 of 421924Glasgow Academy War Memorial  GlasgowScotlandTook over job
Item 30 of 421924Scottish National Zoological Park AquariumCorstorphine EdinburghScotlandAppointed after competition but later modified the design
Item 31 of 421925Additions to a house in Stirlingshire  StirlingshireScotland 
Item 32 of 421925Duncan Macpherson HospitalGourock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 33 of 421925Mausoleum in a private park     
Item 34 of 421925The Savings Bank of Glasgow, MuirendCathcart GlasgowScotland 
Item 35 of 42c. 1925House at Whitecraigs for John M BrownWhitecraigs GlasgowScotland 
Item 36 of 42c. 1925Tomb of Stewart Henbest Capper  CairoEgypt 
Item 37 of 421926Gleddoch HouseLangbank (near) RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 38 of 421927Palace of the League of Nations  GenevaSwitzerlandCompetition design
Item 39 of 421928DunardHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandUnspecified work
Item 40 of 421928National Bank of Scotland, Helensburgh BranchHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 41 of 421929University of Glasgow Students Union  GlasgowScotlandCompetition design - not successful
Item 42 of 421932Rural seatCardross DunbartonshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 3Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts1899   679 & 770 (studies from his Italian tour: mosaics from S Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna and fountain by Giovanni Della Robbia from Sta Maria Novella, Florence)
Item 3 of 3Who's Who in Architecture1914    

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Journal8 March 1930 London: Royal Institute of British ArchitectsObituary p311

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 v2 no134 (microfilm reel 29); F no2323 (box 5; microfilm reel 17)