Basic Biographical Details Name: | James Smith | Designation: | | Born: | 1879 | Died: | 25 June 1946 | Bio Notes: | James Smith was born in 1879 and educated at Hillhead High School and Allen Glen's School. He was articled to John Bennie Wilson, Glasgow from October 1894 until the November 1898, studying at the Glasgow School of Art and Royal Technical College. He assisted in the School in 1898 and 1899, and was awarded a travelling studentship before obtaining a temporary appointment with the Caledonian Railway's architectural department in March of the latter year. This ended in June 1900 when he found a place in the office of William Leiper, but a year later the Caledonian re-engaged him. He passed the qualifying exam in 1906 and was admitted ARIBA on 3 December that year, his proposers being Leiper, James Milne Monro and John Archibald Campbell. His home address at that date was 1 Blythswood Drive, and his nomination papers state that he had spent time in Oxford in the previous year, presumably sketching.
He left the Caledonian Railway in November 1908 and emigrated to Argentina to work in the architectural department of the Great Southern Railway, being appointed their chief architect in 1911 but with the freedom to undertake private commissions. He was still in the same office when he was elected FRIBA on 1 December 1924, his proposers being James Westbrook Farmer, Eustace Lauriston Conder and David Bateman Hutton.
Smith was a prominent Freemason, and was for many years an Elder of the St Andrew's Scots Church in Buenos Aires. He retired in 1938 and died at Temperley, Argentina, on 25 June 1946, leaving a widow, Elizabeth Reynolds, and four daughters. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 1, Blythswood Drive, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1906 * | | | | 365, Avenida Fernandez, Temperley FSI, Buenos Aires, Argentina | Private | 1924 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA ProposalsThis proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | Matthew Cormie | Late 1930 or early 1931 | for Licentiateship - letter of recommendation | | Sydney George Follett | Early 1931 | for Fellowship |
Buildings and DesignsThis 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 | | 1901 | Craigievar Castle | Craigievar | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Survey drawings. It was perhaps this James Smith - the journal reports that James Smith who was a student at GSA in 1899 drew up the plans. | | 1901 | Glasgow Central Station | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Extension - as assistant in Caledonian Railway Architect's and Engineer's Department | | 1903 | Wemyss Bay Railway Station | Wemyss Bay | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | As assistant in Caledonian Railway Architect's and Engineer's Department |
ReferencesPeriodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | RIBA Journal | 13 January 1947 | v54 | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | p151 - obituary |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A v17 p39 (microfilm reel 19); F no1987 (microfilm reel 16) |
|