Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Biographical Details Name: | Donald Alexander Stewart | Designation: | Architect | Born: | 6 July 1876 | Died: | 16 January 1940 | Bio Notes: | Donald Alexander Stewart was born on 6 July 1876, the son of Alexander Stewart, hotel keeper, and his wife Christina McPherson. He educated at Sharp's Institution, Perth, and articled to David Smart in Perth from 1 August 1892, Smart then working in partnership with his son James as D & J Smart. Stewart completed his apprenticeship with David Smart after the dissolution of the partnership with his son in 1895, which was probably due to a family agreement regarding the readmission of James's own son John to the practice. Stewart became David's senior assistant the following year, and on 1 January 1907 was taken into partnership, the firm name becoming Smart & Stewart. Prior to this Stewart had travelled abroad three times, each time spending a week in France and Belgium, and he had served as secretary of the Perth Architectural Association in the late 1890s. Later he was President of the RIAS.
Smart retired in or about 1911 at the age of 86 and died in 13 October 1914 at the age of ninety. He was then living at Rockbank, Kinnoull, and left a widow, Margaret Morrison. He left a moveable estate of £8589 13s 4d, comparable with the most successful Glasgow practitioners, suggesting a large domestic practice or perhaps inheritance.
Stewart continued the practice alone under the same name. In early 1911 he was admitted LRIBA, his proposers being George Penrose Kennedy Young and William Fleming Wilkie. In 1919 he employed Robert Matthew Mitchell as an assistant, taking him into partnership five years later, the firm name becoming Smart Stewart & Mitchell. Mitchell was slightly older, born in 1874 and had been apprenticed in a 'workshop' (presumably a joiner's). He was essentially self-taught, having gained a place in the office of James Graham Fairley in Edinburgh in 1896 without any formal apprenticeship. In 1898 he had moved to the Stirling firm of McLuckie and Walker and in 1901 had commenced practice at 27 King Street, Crieff. Owing to lack of business he had emigrated to Edmonton, Alberta, in 1911, securing admission as LRIBA on 20 July just prior to his departure. Whilst in Edmonton he had been employed first by Roland Walter Lines and then as chief draughtsman and subsequently chief architect to the Edmonton Public School Board. He had returned to Scotland on war service in 1916 and had chosen to remain.
Stewart was elected FRIBA in November 1929, proposed by the RIBA Council, of which he was a member; he had also served as President of the Dundee Institute of Architects. He died on 16 January 1940. He had been married twice, first to Georgina McDougall, and second to May Isobel Elliot. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 42, Tay Street, Perth, Perthshire, Scotland | Business | Before 1895 | After 1911 | |  | 6, Rosemount Place, Perth, Perthshire, Scotland | Private | 1911 * | | |  | Murrayfield, St Magdalene's Road, Craigie, Perth, Perthshire, Scotland | Private | 1929 * | 1940 | |  | 40, Tay Street, Perth, Perthshire, Scotland | Business | Before 1929 | 1940 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes |  | RIBA Council | November 1929 | for Fellowship |  | William Fleming Wilkie | Early 1911 | for Licentiateship - as President of the Dundee Institute of Architects |  | George Penrose Kennedy Young | Early 1911 | for Licentiateship |
RIBA Proposals
Buildings and DesignsThis architect was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes |  | 1894 or 1895 | Perth District Asylum, Pinel House and Tuke House | Murthly | | Perthshire | Scotland | As apprentice to David Smart |  | 1899 | Royal Bank of Scotland Buildings | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | As assistant to David Smart |  | 1900 | Police Buildings | Crieff | | Perthshire | Scotland | As assistant to David Smart |  | 1901 | House of Falkland, Stable Block | Falkland | | Fife | Scotland | Alterations - octagonal wooden clock turret |  | 1901 | Kinnoull Church Hall | Kinnoull | | Perthshire | Scotland | As apprentice/assistant to David Smart |  | After 1907 | Perth County and City Savings Bank, West End Branch | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations |  | After 1907 | Police Buildings | Bridge of Earn | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | After 1907 | Villa for Miss Pennycuick, Upper Craigie | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | Before 1907 | Ledlanet House and Stables | Milnathort | | Kinross-shire | Scotland | |  | 1907 or 1908 | Premises for John Dewar & Son | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Duty Free warehouse and extension of offices |  | 1908 | Masonic Lodge St Andrew No 74 | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | D A Stewart responsible |  | 1908 | Old Academy | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations to Preparatory Department |  | 1908 | Police Buildings | Blairgowrie | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1909 | St Andrew's Parish Church | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Additions |  | 1910 | Kinross Parish Church Manse | Kinross | | Kinross-shire | Scotland | Additions and alterations including enlargement of windows |  | 1910 | Villa for James Gardiner MP | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1911 | Fechney Industrial School for Boys | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations and additions, including laundry |  | 1911 | Villa for G N Gray Esq | Perth? | | Perthshire? | Scotland | |  | Before 1911 | J & D Gowans | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Additions |  | 1913 | Freeland House | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Redecoration |  | 1914 | North British Glass Works | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Three additional buildings |  | Before 1914 | Auchterarder Glass Works | Auchterarder | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | Before 1914 | Auchterarder Golf Clubhouse | Auchterarder | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | Before 1914 | Buildings for John Moncrieff Ltd at Perth harbour | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | Before 1914 | Kinnoull Parish Church | Kinnoull | | Perthshire | Scotland | Stone restoration |  | Before 1914 | Police Building | Dunning | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | Before 1914 | Scones of Lethendy House | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Stone restoration |  | 1919 | Burscough, Ormskirk War Memorial | Burscough, Ormskirk | | Lancashire | England | |  | 1919 | Dunning War Memorial | Dunning | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1919 | Feddal House | Braco | | Perthshire | Scotland | Additions and alterations |  | 1919 | J Pullar & Sons Dyeworks | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Reconstruction |  | After 1919 | Campbell's Dyeworks | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Extension? |  | 1920 | Darnhall Drive Housing Estate | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1920 | Meikleour | Blairgowrie | | Perthshire | Scotland | Additions - new hall and institute |  | 1920 | Perth Fire Station | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1920 | Speycourt Housing Scheme | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1920 or 1930 | Meikleour Hall and Institute | Meikleour Village | | Perthshire | Scotland | Mainly responsible according to 'Buildings of Scotland' |  | 1921 | Auchterarder UF Church Hall | Auchterarder | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1921 | James McEwan & Co's Shop | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Reconstruction |  | 1921 | Printing works and offices for J Young & Son | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1921 | Shop for W Brydson & Co | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1923 | Auchterarder Institute | Auchterarder | | Perthshire | Scotland | Reconstruction and additions |  | 1923 | Gannochy Housing Estate | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1923 | Strowan House | Crieff (near) | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations |  | After 1923 | Perth Masonic Temple | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1924 | Kincarrathie House, cricket pavilion | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1925 | The Filling Station | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1926 | 12-16 St John's Place | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1926 | 8 South St John Place | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Extension |  | 1927 | Finlayson Memorial Hall | Auchterarder | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1927 | Hillside House | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Additions |  | 1927 | Perth Savings Bank | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Extensions |  | 1927 | Royal George Hotel | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Reconstruction |  | 1929 | James Murray Royal Lunatic Asylum, Gilgal house | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Won competition to secure job |  | 1929 | Kinnoull Parish Church | Kinnoull | | Perthshire | Scotland | Interior recast |  | 1929 | The Monument | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Art Gallery and Museum addition to south |  | 1931 | 10-16 King Edward Street | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1931 | Comrie Free Church | Comrie | | Perthshire | Scotland | Furnishings |  | 1931 | Shop, St John Street | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Remodelling of shop front |  | 1932 | Hillside House | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Additions to the north |  | 1933 | Premises of Garvie & Syme | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | New shopfront |  | 1934 | 152-156 South Street | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1934 | Perth UF Church | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1937 | James Murray Royal Lunatic Asylum, staff residences | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1937 | St Finnian's Episcopal Church | Lochgelly | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1938 | Kilspindie Parish Church | Kilspindie | | Perthshire | Scotland | Interior recast |  | 1939 | Blairgowrie Golf Club, Rosemount | Blairgowrie | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1939 | James Murray Royal Lunatic Asylum, nurses' home | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect: | | 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 | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this architect: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | Builder | 26 January 1940 | | | Obituary |  | Municipal Engineering | 25 January 1940 | | | Obituary |  | RIAS Quarterly | 1940 | no 63 | Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) | Obituary |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes |  | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Personal information from J Morrison and H C Miller in 1962 |  | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L v11 no657 (microfilm reel 33); F no2731 (box 11) |  | Smart, Stewart & Mitchell, Perth - in 1960s) | Smart, Stewart & Mitchell Practice Drawings | | |
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