Basic Biographical Details

Name: William George Hay Black Bruce (or William George Bruce)
Designation:  
Born: 1903
Died: 11 October 1981
Bio Notes: William George Hay Black Bruce (generally known as William George Bruce) was born in 1903 and studied at Gray's School of Art, Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen from 1920. After two years' full-time study there he continued to attend evening classes whilst seeking office experience in the firm of Wilsons & Walker. He returned to full-time study in 1925 and passed the qualifying exam in July 1926, enabling him to be admitted ARIBA on 29 November that year, his proposers being Robert Gordon Wilson Junior, John Wilson Walker and Alexander Marshall Mackenzie. His nomination papers give only his private address, but his declaration dated 3 January 1927 accepting his admittance was witnessed by Robert Gordon Wilson Junior, suggesting he may have returned to the Wilsons & Walker office.

Sometime before 1931 he moved to Belfast where he became one of the Government of Northern Ireland's senior architects, working under the Ministry of Finance. He emigrated to Canada with his family in 1948, settling in Ontario and joining the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. He was working at 284 Burnett Avenue, Willowdale, Ontario immediately prior to his sudden death on 11 October 1981. His wife Catherine M Bruce survived him.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 361, Watson Street, Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivate1926 *After 1926 
Item 2 of 3284, Burnett Avenue, Willowdale, Ontario, CanadaBusinessAfter 19481981 
Item 3 of 3RR No 4, Harriston, Ontario, CanadaPrivate1970 *  

* 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 3Wilsons & Walker1 July 192230 June 1925Apprentice(?)Apprentice, improver or assistant - unclear
Item 2 of 3Wilsons & Walker1926(?)Before 1931Assistant(?)Possibly returned to this office at this time
Item 3 of 3Ministry of Finance Architect's Department, (or Department of Works & Public Buildings) Government of Northern IrelandAfter 1927Before 1948Senior AssistantInitially assistant, rising to senior assistant

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Alexander Marshall Mackenzie29 November 1926for Associateship
Item 2 of 3John Wilson Walker29 November 1926for Associateship
Item 3 of 3Robert Gordon Wilson (junior)29 November 1926for Associateship

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1www.russborough.com2005www.russborough.com Port Hope, Ontario: Website of Lord Russborough's Annex 

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 no3976 (box 5) (includes letter from wife Catherine M Bruce, announcing his death)