Basic Biographical Details Name: | John Parker | Designation: | | Born: | 17 September 1866 | Died: | 16 September 1921 | Bio Notes: | John Parker was born in Greenock on 17 September 1866. He originally trained as a naval architect with McNicol & Smith, Glasgow, from October 1879 to 1880, but transferred to the office of John Baird the Second, in the latter year. At the end of his articles in February 1883 he emigrated to South Africa and obtained as assistant's post in the office of Charles Freeman, Cape Town. He commenced independent practice in Cape Town in 1890, soon thereafter taking on as senior assistant Alexander Forsyth from the Edinburgh office of Thornton Shiells & Thomson. Parker's practice was extremely successful, designing a number of large city blocks and in 1896 it also recruited the Australian Franklin Kaye Kendall who subsequently transferred to Sir Herbert Baker's office. Forsyth was taken into partnership c.1900 but it was not until 1905 that the firm adopted the style of Parker & Forsyth. Parker was admitted FRIBA on 3 February 1902, his proposers being Arthur Henry Reid, Herbert Baker and George Murray Alexander, all of whom were practising in Cape Town at the time.
During the period of the partnership Parker became the first president of the National Society of Architects and President of the Cape Town Institute of Architects. He also held the post of first Mayor of greater Cape Town for two years. The practice was hugely successful designing a considerable number of office blocks and churches, together with the Tivoli Theatre and a synagogue.
Parker died in Cape Town 16 September 1921: the practice was continued by Forsyth. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 19, Hout Street, Cape Town, South Africa | Business | 1901 * | | | | The Firs, Rosebank, Cape Town (near), South Africa | Private | 1901 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or Pupils
RIBARIBA Proposers
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Seymour, D Picton | | Victorian buildings in South Africa | | | | | www.artefacts.co.za | | www.artefacts.co.za | | Website of artefacts, for the recording of South African buildings | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 25 November 1921 | v121 | | p706 - obituary - CHECK for further info | | Jagger Journal | December 1983 | no4 | | | | RIBA Journal | 12 November 1921 | v29 | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | p24 - obituary |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | F v14 p21 no862 (imcrofilm reel 11) |
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