Basic Biographical Details

Name: James Alexander Mawson Baxter
Designation:  
Born: 1879 or 1880
Died: 21 August 1923
Bio Notes: James Alexander Mawson Baxter was born in 1879 or 1880 and articled to James MacLaren of Edinburgh in August 1894, remaining as assistant for six months. He attended Heriot-Watt College and studied under Professor F W Simon at the School of Applied Art. In 1900 he became draughtsman to Francis William Deas, remaining there until his death, latterly as Manager. He was lecturer on Fire-Proof Construction and Plan-drawing at the Heriot-Watt College (the Technical School of Edinburgh) and chief assistant to James Jerdan in the honours and advanced class of Building Construction in the same place from 1908. He passed the RIBA qualifying exam in November 1911, in London, and spent most of his summer holidays sketching and measuring buildings in Scotland and England, including Glasgow, Elgin, London, Cambridge, Ely and Durham. Deas descibed him as ' modest and unassuming, his grasp of practical bulding construction was equalled by his technical knowledge in almost every trade connected with it and by his admisable draughtsmanship. He was an enthusiast in his work with the enthusiast's enquiring mind and untiring energy. The testimonies of affection that have come from those who worked with him, or were in any way associated with him, show how deep and widespread his influence was'. Baxter died on 21 August 1923. No work carried out on his own account is known.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 17, Brougham Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1912 *  

* 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 4John McLarenAugust 18941899Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4John McLaren18991900Draughtsman 
Item 3 of 4Francis William Deas1900Before 1911DraughtsmanBecame head draughtsman latterly
Item 4 of 4Francis William DeasBefore 19111923Manager 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Francis William Deas4 March 1912for Associateship
Item 2 of 3(Sir) Robert Stodart Lorimer4 March 1912for Associateship
Item 3 of 3Harold Ogle Tarbolton4 March 1912for Associateship

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Journal1923v30London: Royal Institute of British Architectsp627 Obituary by Francis Deas.

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A v20 no2258 (microfilm reel 21)