Basic Biographical Details

Name: Frances Jane Harvey Mercer
Designation:  
Born: 14 November 1910
Died: 25 January 2000
Bio Notes: Frances Jane Harvey Mercer was born on 14 November 1910, the daughter of George Mercer, chauffeur, and his wife, Mary Stephen Webster. She was engaged as a pupil of John Alexander Ogg Allan in August 1929. A month later she commenced full-time study on the diploma course at the School of Architecture, Robert Gordon's College. She gained her intermediate certificate in June 1932 and thereafter spent three full years in Allan's office to complete her training, obtaining her diploma in June 1935 and passing the Professional Practice examination in July. She was admitted ARIBA on 11 May 1936, her proposers being Allan, R Leslie Rollo and John Gibb Marr. At that time she was still working in Allan's office at 25 Union Terrace, Aberdeen. Her nomination papers state that she had spent several college vacations measuring and sketching 'old castles in Aberdeenshire & Kincardineshire'. Her declaration accepting her admittance was witnessed on 14 May by David John Alexander Ross, chief assistant in Allan's firm. She was later a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.

She went on to become the Deputy Architect of the NE Regional Hospital Board a post which she held from 1960.

Mercer died aged 89 at home in Cults on 25 January 2000. She was a member of the RIBA at this time but not of the RIAS.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 3Rowan Court, Cults, Aberdeenshire, ScotlandPrivate 2000 
Item 2 of 311, Monearn Terrace, Raemoir Road, Banchory, Kincardineshire, ScotlandPrivate1936 *  
Item 3 of 315, Pitstruan Place, Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivate(?)c. 1960  

* 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 5John Alexander Ogg AllanAugust 1929September 1929Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5John Alexander Ogg AllanJune 1932June 1935Apprentice 
Item 3 of 5John Alexander Ogg Allan1935After 1936Assistant 
Item 4 of 5Northern Regional Hospital Board (later North Eastern Regional Hospital Board)30 September 1960 Deputy Architectfirst woman to be appointed Deputy Regional Architect by a hospital board; Senior Assistant Architect from 1949-1960 per Builder p636
Item 5 of 5Aberdeen County Architect's Department 1958 need to CHECK role

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3John Alexander Ogg Allan11 May 1936for Associateship
Item 2 of 3John Gibb Marr11 May 1936for Associateship
Item 3 of 3Robert Leslie Rollo11 May 1936for Associateship

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 2 of 4RIBA1961Kalendar 1960-61   
Item 3 of 4RIBA1965The RIBA Kalendar   
Item 4 of 4RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Builder30 September 1960  'Appointment Creates Precedent' p636
Item 2 of 2RIAS NewsletterApril 2000v11, no3 Death note

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 A no6053 (combined box 116)