Basic Biographical Details

Name: George Thow Smith
Designation:  
Born: 25 July 1874
Died:  
Bio Notes: George Thow Smith was born on 25 July 1874, the son of warehouseman James Smith of 11 Gladstone Place, Aberdeen. He was articled to W & J Smith & Kelly on 9 September 1891 and during his apprenticeship attended evening classes at the Art School in Aberdeen, as well as spending time measuring and sketching at Elgin Cathedral, St Machar's Cathedral in Aberdeen, and other old buildings, and travelling further afield to London, York, Durham, Hamburg, Lubeck, Luneberg and elsewehere. At the end of his articles in October 1897 he moved to London where he entered the office of Robert Weir Schultz as an assistant, enabling him to study at the Royal Academy Schools under Richard Phené Spiers from the following year. There he gained two silver medals. Whilst with Schultz he occasionally assisted Francis William Troup.

On 4 January 1904 Smith was appointed architectural assistant in the LCC Architects' Department. He was still there when he was admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, his proposers being Troup, Spiers and David Theodore Fyfe.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 211, Gladstone Place, Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivate1874After 1895Place of birth
Item 2 of 27, John Street, Bedford Row, London, EnglandPrivate1911 *  

* 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 4W & J Smith and Kelly9 September 189125 October 1897Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4Robert Weir SchultzOctober 18973 January 1904Assistant 
Item 3 of 4Francis William TroupAfter 1897Before 1904AssistantOccasional assistant while in Schultz's office
Item 4 of 4London County Council Architects' Department (LCC Architects' Department)4 January 1904After 1911Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3David Theodore Fyfe20 July 1911for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 3Richard Phené Spiers20 July 1911for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 3Francis William Troup20 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 81891Aberdeen Lunatic Asylum  AberdeenScotlandNew hospital section - as apprentice to W & J Smith and Kelly
Item 2 of 81891Aberdeen Royal Infirmary  AberdeenScotlandNew ward block - as apprentice to W & J Smith & Kelly
Item 3 of 81891(?)House for William Falconer  AberdeenScotlandProbably involved, as apprentice to W & J Smith & Kelly
Item 4 of 81891(?)Villa with tower at CorseCorse AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 5 of 81895House for John Ellis  AberdeenScotlandPossibly involved, as apprentice to W & J Smith & Kelly
Item 6 of 8189630 Rubislaw Den South  AberdeenScotlandAs apprentice to W & J Smith & Kelly
Item 7 of 81899InholmesHartley Wintney HampshireEnglandAs assistant to Robert Weir Schultz
Item 8 of 81902Pickenham HallSwaffham (near) NorfolkEnglandExtensive rebuilding and enlargement - as assistant to Robert Weir Schultz

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Bailey, Rebecca M1996Scottish architects' papers: a source book Edinburgh: The Rutland Pressp258
Item 2 of 2Who's Who in Architecture1914    

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA MSS Collection  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v14 no923