Basic Biographical Details Name: | Alexander Black | Designation: | | Born: | 1 January 1893 | Died: | 12 1976 | Bio Notes: | Alexander Black was born on 1 January 1893, the son of Alexander Black, foreman platelayer, and his wife Helen Norrie Yule. He was educated at public schools before being articled to William Davidson of Ellon, Aberdeenshire on 19 August 1907. On completing his apprenticeship he remained for a further two years as assistant before becoming an Assistant-Valuer at the Land Valuation Department of the Inland Revenue in July 1913. Two years later in June 1915 he joined the Architectural Department of the Cluny Estates, Aberdeenshire, where he spent six months before undertaking a year's military service with the 1st London Sanitary Company. In October 1917 he returned to estate work, finding a year's employment on the Aberlour Estates in Banffshire. His LRIBA nomination papers indicate that he ceased to practise from November 1918 to September 1919, recommencing thereafter with George Simpson, the Town Architect of Leith where he was engaged on working drawings for large state-aided housing schemes. He left that office in April 1920 to spend six months working on further housing schemes for Kerr & Watson of Johnstone. He then withdrew from practice again due to ill health and did not return to the profession until March 1924, when William Edgar Gauld took him on as an assistant. He was elected LRIBA early in 1931, his proposers being Gauld, James Brown Nicol and Clement George; at that time he was still assisting in Gauld's office, and was living at 22 Stafford Street, Aberdeen.
Black died on 21 December 1976 at his home in School Drive, Aberdeen. His wife, Isabella Small, had predeceased him. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 97, School Drive, Aberdeen, Scotland | Private | | 1976 | | | 22, Stafford Street, Aberdeen, Scotland | Private | 1930 * | | |
* 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 | | William Edgar Gauld | Early 1931 | for Licentiateship | | Clement George | Early 1931 | for Licentiateship | | James Brown Nicol | Early 1931 | 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 | | June 1915 | Cluny Estate | | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Unspecified estate work | | October 1917 | Aberlour House | Aberlour | | Banffshire | Scotland | Unspecified estate works | | September 1919 | State-aided housing schemes | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As Draughtsman for Leith Town Architect | | 1920 | Housing schemes | | | | Scotland | As draughtsman to Kerr & Watson |
ReferencesArchive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | H M Register House | Death Register | | | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L no3674 (box 15) |
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