Basic Biographical Details

Name: James Lees Somerville
Designation:  
Born: 12 July 1912
Died: 27 November 1998
Bio Notes: James Lees Somerville was born on 12 July 1912, the son of William Somerville, tailor and his wife, Isabella Kerr Lees. He studied under James Macgregor on the Diploma Course at Edinburgh College of Art from October 1930. He worked as a draughtsman in the Burgh Surveyor's Offices, Musselburgh from August 1933 to 1934, and as an assistant in H M Office of Works, Manchester from 1936. He passed the qualifying exam in Edinburgh in June 1937, and was admitted ARIBA on 6 March 1939, his proposers being James Macgregor, John Ross McKay and John Fraser Matthew. By 1948 he had moved to the Ministry of Works offices at 259 Union Street in Aberdeen, and he remained there until at least 1957. He remained in Aberdeen for the rest of his career.

He died at Woodend Hospital Aberdeen on 27 November 1998. His wife Marjorie Shelley Prophet had predeceased him. He was survived by his daughter, Susan.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 3Carnie Croft House, Skene, Aberdeenshire, ScotlandPrivate 1998 
Item 2 of 3Flat 4, Palatine Cinema Buildings, Palatine Road, Manchester, EnglandPrivate1938 *  
Item 3 of 3Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivate/businessBefore 1948After 1957 

* 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 2Musselburgh Burgh Surveyor's OfficesAugust 19331934Draughtsman 
Item 2 of 2H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency)1936After 1957AssistantInitially in Manchester; in Aberdeen from at least 1948 to at least 1957

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3James Macgregor6 March 1939for Associateship
Item 2 of 3John Fraser Matthew6 March 1939for Associateship
Item 3 of 3John Ross McKay6 March 1939for Associateship

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3RIBA1948The RIBA Kalendar 1948-1949 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 2 of 3RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 3RIBA1957The RIBA Kalendar 1957-1958 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIAS NewsletterFebruary 1999v10, no1 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 no7136 (combined box 175)