Basic Biographical Details

Name: William Kerr
Designation:  
Born: 27 March 1880
Died: 11 December 1950
Bio Notes: William Kerr was born on 27 March 1880, and was articled in April 1896 to Thomson & Turnbull of Glasgow where he worked under Thomas Reid Peacock, attending the classes at the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College under Professor Charles Gourlay. In 1901 he became an assistant to John Campbell McKellar, working under George Gunn, and remained there until 1904 when he moved to Boston, Menzies & Morton in Greenock. In 1905, whilst still in the same firm's employment, he took a tour of Germany, visiting the principal towns on the Rhine.

He commenced independent practice in 1907, but seems to have attracted insufficient business at first and took an appointment in the estimating department of A & J Main, structural engineers from November 1908 to November 1909, enabling him to make a study of structural ironwork. Also in 1908 he was appointed tutor of building construction for the Old and New Kilpatrick School Boards, a position he still held at the time of his admittance as LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, for which his proposers were Professor Charles Gourlay, John Bennie Wilson and Robert William Horn. In the latter year he closed his practice and joined the staff of Glasgow Corporation, working there for twenty-five years and becoming Deputy Chief Architect of Glasgow Housing Department. He retired in 1946 and died 11 December 1950.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 226, Queen's Crescent, Cathcart, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate/businessBefore 1911After 1914 
Item 2 of 297, Clarkston Road, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)c. 1927 *After 1950 

* 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 6Thomson & Turnbull (or A Thomson & Turnbull)April 18961898Apprentice 
Item 2 of 6Thomson, Turnbull & Peacock1898April 1901Apprentice 
Item 3 of 6John Campbell McKellar19011904Assistant 
Item 4 of 6Boston, Menzies & Morton19041906Chief Assistant 
Item 5 of 6A & J MainNovember 1908November 1909Assistant(?) 
Item 6 of 6Glasgow Corporation Housing Department (later Architectural & Planning Department, Glasgow Corporation)1920  Became Deputy Chief Architect

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Charles Gourlay20 July 1911for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 3Robert William Horn20 July 1911for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 3John Bennie Wilson20 July 1911for Licentiateship

Buildings and Designs

This 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 71905Alexandra TheatreGreenock RenfrewshireScotlandAs chief assistant to Boston, Menzies & Morton
Item 2 of 71905Clune Park Church and hallsPort Glasgow RenfrewshireScotlandAs chief assistant to Boston, Menzies & Morton
Item 3 of 71905Queen's HotelKirn ArgyllScotlandAs chief assistant to Boston, Menzies & Morton
Item 4 of 7After 1907Alterations on old propertyPollokshaws GlasgowScotland 
Item 5 of 7After 1907Public SchoolRutherglen LanarkshireScotlandUnsuccessful competition design - placed within the top six entries
Item 6 of 7After 1907Two tenementsGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 7 of 7c. 1907HouseGiffnock RenfrewshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 3RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 3Who's Who in Architecture1914    

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA JournalApril 1951 London: Royal Institute of British ArchitectsObituary p249

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 L v14 no904