Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Alexander Ogg Allan
Designation: Architect
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 Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 647, View Terrace, Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivate18831887Address when attending Robert Gordon's etc
Item 2 of 6The Grange, Cults, Aberdeenshire, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1912 *After 1914 
Item 3 of 625, Union Terrace, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1912After 1936 
Item 4 of 625, Rubislaw Terrace, Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivateAfter 19141955Place of death
Item 5 of 673A-79A, Union Street, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusinessc. 1939 *  
Item 6 of 610, Bon-Accord Square, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusiness1952 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 6Duncan McMillan18851890Apprentice 
Item 2 of 6Duncan McMillan18901892Assistant 
Item 3 of 6Messrs J Garvie & Sons18921895Designer 
Item 4 of 6Aberdeen School Board Architects' Department18951897Master of Works 
Item 5 of 6Aberdeen School Board Architects' Department18971905Architect 
Item 6 of 6Allan, Ross & Allan1945Before 1955Partner 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 37Ian Alexander Moodie  Apprentice 
Item 2 of 37Arthur Stewart Wood18961900Assistant 
Item 3 of 37Robert Sharp1899c. 1903(?)Apprentice 
Item 4 of 37Alexander Robert MeldrumLate 19001903AssistantReturned 1904-1906 and in 1910
Item 5 of 37Robert Robb Gall1901Before 1918AssistantWorking for Aberdeen School Board
Item 6 of 37Robert Sharpc. 1903(?)1909Assistant 
Item 7 of 37Alexander Robert MeldrumDecember 1904February 1906Assistant 
Item 8 of 37Alexander Gordon1 August 1908August 1913Apprentice 
Item 9 of 37Alexander Robert MeldrumSeptember 1910After 1912Assistant 
Item 10 of 37Joseph Anderson Allan19121945Chief AssistantChief Assistant and Junior Partner
Item 11 of 37John Charles McKenzie1 April 191227 July 1914Apprentice 
Item 12 of 37Herbert Henry ReidAugust 1912 or 19141920ApprenticeWith exception of war service, 1914-19
Item 13 of 37Alexander GordonAugust 1913February 1914Assistant 
Item 14 of 37Simpson LowAugust 1913December 1919ApprenticeWith the exception of two-and-a-half years' war service
Item 15 of 37James Ellaby (or Ellerby) Rhind24 May 19144 August 1914Assistant 
Item 16 of 37William Logan TaylorAugust 1914November 1916Apprentice 
Item 17 of 37Alexander GordonNovember 1914June 1915Assistant 
Item 18 of 37T Scott Sutherland19181921Apprentice(?) 
Item 19 of 37William Logan TaylorMarch 1919After 1922Apprentice 
Item 20 of 37William Peter (junior)19221923Assistant 
Item 21 of 37David John Alexander Rossc. 19251945Chief Assistant 
Item 22 of 37John Flett Duncan13 September 192626 November 1927Junior Assistant 
Item 23 of 37Neil Ross1927 Junior Assistant 
Item 24 of 37Alexander PhilipJune 1927June 1930Apprentice 
Item 25 of 37John George DavidsonJune 1928September 1931Apprentice 
Item 26 of 37Frances Jane Harvey MercerAugust 1929September 1929Apprentice 
Item 27 of 37Robert Muil BremnerNovember 1931 Assistant 
Item 28 of 37Frances Jane Harvey MercerJune 1932June 1935Apprentice 
Item 29 of 37George Norman MiddletonAugust 19321938(?)Apprentice 
Item 30 of 37George Milne Watt19341935Assistant 
Item 31 of 37Frances Jane Harvey Mercer1935After 1936Assistant 
Item 32 of 37Alfred Easton AllanJuly 1936After 1938Junior Assistant 
Item 33 of 37John Hutcheon DonaldAugust 1937June 1938Apprentice 
Item 34 of 37Sidney Patrick MurrayAugust 1937After 1938Junior Assistant 
Item 35 of 37Thomas ('Tom') Campbell Watson1938After 1940 role unclear; probably assistant?
Item 36 of 37Ivor Llewellyn Bowman HopkinsJuly 1939After 1941Assistant(?) 
Item 37 of 37John Hutcheon DonaldBefore 19401941Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6Thomas Martin Cappon1915for Fellowship
Item 2 of 6Arthur Clyne24 June 1912for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 6Arthur Clyne1915for Fellowship
Item 4 of 6Thomas Harold Hughes24 June 1912for Licentiateship
Item 5 of 6Henry Vaughan Lanchester1915for Fellowship
Item 6 of 6William Milburn (junior)24 June 1912for Licentiateship

RIBA Proposals

This architect proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 60Joseph Addison1 March 1920for Associateship
Item 2 of 60Joseph Anderson Allan3 December 1934for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 60Joseph Anderson Allan16 October 1945for Fellowship
Item 4 of 60William George Rowntree BodieLate 1928for Associateship
Item 5 of 60Robert Muil Bremner1932for Associateship
Item 6 of 60Kenneth Henderson BrownEarly 1922for Associateship
Item 7 of 60James Charles Clark30 November 1925For Associateship
Item 8 of 60William Arthur Smith CormackLate 1900sfor Associateship
Item 9 of 60Alexander James CruickshankLate 1929 or early 1930for Associateship
Item 10 of 60John George Davidson8 January 1934for Associateship
Item 11 of 60William Alexander DavidsonEarly 1921For Associateship
Item 12 of 60John Hutcheon Donald12 November 1940for Associateship
Item 13 of 60Percival Howard DouglasLate 1929 or early 1930for Associateship
Item 14 of 60John Sim DowJanuary 1930for Associateship
Item 15 of 60John Flett Duncan11 February 1935for Associateship
Item 16 of 60Donald Alexander FowlerLate 1928 or early 1929for Associateship
Item 17 of 60Roderick Donald FraserLate 1928for Associateship
Item 18 of 60Robert Robb Gall30 November 1903for Associateship
Item 19 of 60Charles Robertson GallieLate 1921for Associateship
Item 20 of 60William Glashan2 November 1925For Associateship
Item 21 of 60Alexander GordonEarly 1921for Associateship
Item 22 of 60Alexander William GrahamLate 1931 or early 1932for Licentiateship
Item 23 of 60Ivor Llewellyn Bowman Hopkins21 October 1941for Associateship
Item 24 of 60William Dalton IronsideLate 1930for Associateship
Item 25 of 60Alexander Fraser Lawrie3 March 1924For Associateship
Item 26 of 60Robert Sorley Lawrie30 November 1925for Associateship
Item 27 of 60Peter Shearer Leask5 December 1927For Associateship
Item 28 of 60Simpson LowLate 1920 or early 1921for Associateship
Item 29 of 60George Sutherland MacdonaldLate 1929 or early 1930for Associateship
Item 30 of 60Robert Stuart Stephen Mackay11 June 1923For Associateship
Item 31 of 60John Gibb MarrLate 1933for Fellowship
Item 32 of 60John Charles McKenzie1 March 1920for Associateship
Item 33 of 60Ian Hastings McLarenEarly 1930for Associateship
Item 34 of 60Ian Hastings McLaren14 December 1948for Fellowship
Item 35 of 60Frances Jane Harvey Mercer11 May 1936for Associateship
Item 36 of 60Kenneth Bradley Miller6 December 1937for Associateship
Item 37 of 60George Angus MitchellLate 1921for Associateship
Item 38 of 60Ian Alexander Moodie8 January 1923For Associateship
Item 39 of 60Robert Horn Morrison30 November 1925For Associateship
Item 40 of 60Robert James MorrisonLate 1929for Associateship
Item 41 of 60Sidney Patrick Murray9 May 1938for Associateship
Item 42 of 60Alexander PhilipEarly 1932for Associateship
Item 43 of 60Alexander Simpson ReidLate 1922for Associateship
Item 44 of 60Herbert Henry ReidEarly 1921for Associateship
Item 45 of 60Herbert Henry Reid6 April 1948for Fellowship
Item 46 of 60James Ellaby (or Ellerby) Rhind1 March 1920for Associateship
Item 47 of 60James Rattray RiddellLate 1930for Associateship
Item 48 of 60Duthie RitchieLate 1928 or early 1929for Associateship
Item 49 of 60Robert Leslie RolloEarly 1930for Fellowship
Item 50 of 60Neil Ross3 May 1949For Licentiateship
Item 51 of 60William Wyllie Clark ShewanLate 1929 or early 1930for Associateship
Item 52 of 60T Scott Sutherland3 March 1924for Associateship
Item 53 of 60T Scott SutherlandMid 1930for Fellowship
Item 54 of 60William John TaylorLate 1928for Fellowship
Item 55 of 60William Logan TaylorLate 1922For Associateship
Item 56 of 60Thomas ('Tom') Campbell Watson4 June 1940for Associateship
Item 57 of 60George Milne Watt11 December 1945for Associateship
Item 58 of 60William George WhyteEarly 1929for Associateship
Item 59 of 60Frederick Wright12 December 1944for Associateship
Item 60 of 60[James] Fenton ('Tony') Wyness12 February 1946for Fellowship

Buildings and Designs

This architect 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 591896Central Fire Station  AberdeenScotlandSecond premiated competition design (£25)
Item 2 of 591896Skene Street School  AberdeenScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 3 of 59After 1897Brown's School  AberdeenScotlandAdditions
Item 4 of 59After 1897High School for Girls  AberdeenScotlandAdditions
Item 5 of 59After 1897Holburn Street School  AberdeenScotlandAdditions
Item 6 of 59After 1897King Street School  AberdeenScotlandAdditions
Item 7 of 59After 1897Old Aberdeen School  AberdeenScotlandNew building
Item 8 of 59After 1897St Clement Street School  AberdeenScotlandRebuilding or addition?
Item 9 of 59After 1897Victoria Road School  AberdeenScotland 
Item 10 of 591898Dunbar Street School  AberdeenScotland 
Item 11 of 591900sBroomhill School  AberdeenScotland 
Item 12 of 59After 1900Ruthrieston School  AberdeenScotlandAs architect to Aberdeen School Board
Item 13 of 59After 1900Walker Road Infants School  AberdeenScotlandAdditions
Item 14 of 591901Central Higher Grade School  AberdeenScotlandAs architect to Aberdeen School Board
Item 15 of 591901Rosemount Public School  AberdeenScotlandAdditions
Item 16 of 591901Woodside School  AberdeenScotlandReconstruction
Item 17 of 591902Aberdeen Academy  AberdeenScotland 
Item 18 of 591903Frederick Street School  AberdeenScotlandAs architect to Aberdeen School Board
Item 19 of 591904Sunnybank School  AberdeenScotlandAs architect to Aberdeen School Board
Item 20 of 591905Aberdeen Grammar School  AberdeenScotlandClassrooms and library to NW added
Item 21 of 591906Middle School  AberdeenScotlandAdditions
Item 22 of 591906New school  AberdeenScotland 
Item 23 of 591907Gray's School of Art  AberdeenScotlandPlans for proposed Technical College and School of Art
Item 24 of 591909Aberdeen Provincial Committee Training College  AberdeenScotlandAppointed as architect for job
Item 25 of 591913Aberdeen Grammar School  AberdeenScotlandEast and west wings
Item 26 of 591913School of Fisheries  AberdeenScotlandProposed
Item 27 of 59c. 1914Gray's School of Art  AberdeenScotlandExtension
Item 28 of 591925Spray Baths Building, Hanover Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 29 of 591925Two Hostels, HiltonKittybrewster Aberdeen  
Item 30 of 59After 1925High School for Girls  AberdeenScotlandReconstruction - either as chief assistant to John Alexander Ogg Allan (if pre-1945), or as partner in Allan, Ross & Allan (if post-1945)
Item 31 of 59After 1925Housing for the University of Aberdeen  AberdeenScotland 
Item 32 of 59After 1925Kaimhill Junior Secondary School  AberdeenScotland 
Item 33 of 59After 1925Smithfield Primary School  AberdeenScotland 
Item 34 of 59After 1925St Peter's RC School  AberdeenScotland 
Item 35 of 59After 1925Stockethill South Primary School  AberdeenScotland 
Item 36 of 59After 1925West LeighPitfodels AberdeenScotland 
Item 37 of 591926Aberdeen Grammar School  AberdeenScotlandGymnasium to north west added
Item 38 of 591926Intermediate SchoolTorry AberdeenScotland 
Item 39 of 591927Westfield School  AberdeenScotlandRemodelling
Item 40 of 591929Westfield School  AberdeenScotlandRemodelling
Item 41 of 591930Gallowgate School  AberdeenScotlandExtension
Item 42 of 591930Linksfield Road School  AberdeenScotland 
Item 43 of 591931RC School  AberdeenScotland 
Item 44 of 591931Sunnyside Royal Hospital, nurses' homeMontrose AngusScotlandNurses home and extension (building for the senile)
Item 45 of 591931Torry School  AberdeenScotlandExtension
Item 46 of 591933School (1933)Kittybrewster AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 47 of 591934Ashley Road School  AberdeenScotlandRemodelling
Item 48 of 591934Victoria Sawmills  AberdeenScotlandPlans in hand for reconstrcution and additions
Item 49 of 591936Powis Intermediate School  AberdeenScotland 
Item 50 of 591937Queen's Cross Free Church  AberdeenScotlandAdditions
Item 51 of 591939Tullos Primary School  AberdeenScotlandDavid John Alexander Ross responsible, as Allan's chief assistant
Item 52 of 59Late 1930sRuthrieston School  AberdeenScotlandModernist glazed south front onto Riverside Drive
Item 53 of 591948Higher Grade School Kincorth Kincorth AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 54 of 591952Aberdeen Town and County Bank Head Office  AberdeenScotlandAlterations
Item 55 of 591953Robert Gordon's Secondary School  AberdeenScotland 
Item 56 of 59Before 1954St Thomas's Episcopal ChurchAboyne AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations? Additions? - uncertain if involved
Item 57 of 59Before 1955Hilton Junior Secondary SchoolHilton AberdeenScotland 
Item 58 of 59Before 1955Hospital buildings for North Eastern Hospital Board  AberdeenshireScotlandAdditions?
Item 59 of 59Before 1955Torry Junior Secondary SchoolTorry AberdeenScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 2 of 3Who's Who in Architecture1914    
Item 3 of 3Who's Who in Architecture1926    

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this architect:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA JournalDecember 1955 London: Royal Institute of British ArchitectsObituary p75

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3Aberdeen City Archives (Copy in Public Library)Aberdeen Plans Committee Minutes  
Item 2 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v23 no1837; F v22 no1574 (microfilm reel 13)
Item 3 of 3Robert Gordon's University ArchiveCollection of plans, manuscripts etc