Basic Biographical Details Name: | John Alexander Ogg Allan | Designation: | | Born: | 9 May 1870 | Died: | 24 May 1955 or 25 May 1955 | Bio Notes: | John Alexander Ogg Allan was born on 9 May 1870 and articled to Duncan McMillan of Aberdeen from 1885 to 1890, remaining as assistant until 1892. He attended Robert Gordon's College and Gray's School of Art from 1883-87, and acquired in addition to his architectural training an extensive knowledge of landscape gardening and furnishing. He became a designer with Messrs J Garvie and Sons from 1892 to 1895, and was Master of Works to Aberdeen School Board from 1895 to 1897 when he was appointed official Architect to the same board, remaining there until 1905. In this capacity and later in private practice he was responsible for a number of new schools, mainly in Aberdeen, and for Aberdeen Training College. Allan travelled in Europe (including France, Germany and Belgium) and in 1909 spent two months in the USA as Godwin Bursar. He was awarded a RIBA Silver Medal and 25-guinea prize in 1910 for his essay 'House and Garden: an Essay on the Treatment of Gardens in connection with Buildings', which was published in the RIBA Journal in July that year.
Allan was admitted LRIBA on 24 June 1912, his proposers being Thomas Harold Hughes, Arthur Clyne and William Milburn Junior. He became FRIBA in 1915, his proposers then being Clyne, Henry Vaughan Lanchester and Thomas Martin Cappon.
Allan's younger brother Joseph Anderson Allan (born 9 May 1882) joined him as chief assistant in 1912. Articled to Arthur Hay Livingstone Mackinnon from 1900 to 1905, he brought to the practice experience of large multi-storey warehouse design gained with Harry Smith Fairhurst in Manchester. Around 1925 David John Alexander Ross (born 1899), who had trained with Thomas J Munro in Inverness and had recently been travelling in France funded by the RIAS Rutland Prize, became chief assistant. He was responsible for a number of the modernist schools designed by the firm in the 1930s, and in 1945 became a partner, the practice name becoming Allan, Ross & Allan.
John Alexander Ogg Allan died on 24 or 25 May 1955. He left £730 8s 11d. According to his RIBA Journal obituary, 'Mr Allan held a distinguished place among architects in Scotland and was regarded in the north, throughout the first half of the present century, as the leading authority in the field of educational building and architecture.'
Publication: 'House and garden: and essay on the treatment of gardens in connection with buildings' (1910). | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 47, View Terrace, Aberdeen, Scotland | Private | 1883 | 1887 | Address when attending Robert Gordon's etc | | The Grange, Cults, Aberdeenshire, Scotland | Private | Before 1912 * | After 1914 | | | 25, Union Terrace, Aberdeen, Scotland | Business | Before 1912 | After 1936 | | | 25, Rubislaw Terrace, Aberdeen, Scotland | Private | After 1914 | 1955 | Place of death | | 73A-79A, Union Street, Aberdeen, Scotland | Business | c. 1939 * | | | | 10, Bon-Accord Square, Aberdeen, Scotland | Business | 1952 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or Pupils
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA Proposals
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | RIBA | 1939 | The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | | | Who's Who in Architecture | 1914 | | | | | | Who's Who in Architecture | 1926 | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | RIBA Journal | December 1955 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | Obituary p75 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Aberdeen City Archives (Copy in Public Library) | Aberdeen Plans Committee Minutes | | | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L v23 no1837; F v22 no1574 (microfilm reel 13) | | Robert Gordon's University Archive | Collection of plans, manuscripts etc | | |
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