Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Ferguson Donaldson
Designation:  
Born: 14 September 1911
Died: 25 October 1998
Bio Notes: John Ferguson Donaldson was born on 14 September 1911, the son of George Donaldson and his wife Jessie Ferguson. He was articled to Thomas Bowhill Gibson from June 1927, attending morning classes at Edinburgh College of Art under John Begg from October that year. He remained with Gibson as assistant after completing of his apprenticeship in June 1932, and in September the following year joined H M Office of Works, Edinburgh as architectural assistant while continuing his studies. He passed the RIBA final exam in July 1936 and was admitted ARIBA on 30 November, his proposers being Begg, John Jerdan and Frank Charles Mears. His nomination papers state that he had visited Holland to study contemporary Dutch architecture in August 1928, and had travelled in Germany in July 1931.

Donaldson was working in the Department of the Environment, Colchester, Essex at the beginning of the 1970s but retired to 15 Comely Bank Place on 9 November 1972.

Donaldson died on 25 October 1998 at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. He was single.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 331, Comely Bank Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1936 *  
Item 2 of 315, Comely Bank Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate9 November 1972  
Item 3 of 3Colchester, Essex, EnglandBusinessEarly 1970sBefore 9 November 1972 

* 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 3Thomas Bowhill GibsonJune 1927June 1932Apprentice 
Item 2 of 3Thomas Bowhill GibsonJune 1932September 1933Assistant 
Item 3 of 3H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency)1933After 1936AssistantIn Edinburgh office

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3John Begg30 November 1936for Associateship
Item 2 of 3John Jerdan30 November 1936for Associateship
Item 3 of 3(Sir) Frank Charles Mears30 November 1936for Associateship

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 A no6142 (combined box 122)