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 Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 297, School Drive, Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivate 1976 
Item 2 of 222, Stafford Street, Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivate1930 *  

* 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 6William Davidson19 August 1907c. August 1911Apprentice 
Item 2 of 6William Davidsonc. August 19111 July 1913Assistant 
Item 3 of 6Leith Town Architect's Office (or Leith Burgh Architect's Office)September 1919April 1920Draughtsman(?)Working under George Simpson, Burgh Architect and Assessor
Item 4 of 6George SimpsonSeptember 1919April 1920DraughtsmanIn Leith Town Architect's Office
Item 5 of 6Kerr & WatsonApril 1920October 1920Draughtsman(?) 
Item 6 of 6William Edgar GauldMarch 1924After August 1930Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3William Edgar GauldEarly 1931for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 3Clement GeorgeEarly 1931for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 3James Brown NicolEarly 1931for Licentiateship

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 4June 1915Cluny Estate  AberdeenshireScotlandUnspecified estate work
Item 2 of 4October 1917Aberlour HouseAberlour BanffshireScotlandUnspecified estate works
Item 3 of 4September 1919State-aided housing schemesLeith EdinburghScotlandAs Draughtsman for Leith Town Architect
Item 4 of 41920Housing schemes   ScotlandAs draughtsman to Kerr & Watson

References

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L no3674 (box 15)