Basic Biographical Details

Name: James Alexander Wyllie
Designation:  
Born: 15 May 1890
Died: 1974
Bio Notes: James Alexander Wyllie was born on 15 May 1890, the son of Glasgow architect and civil engineer James Brown Wyllie and his wife Rosa Donaldson McCalman. He studied at Hillhead High School, Glasgow Academy and Glasgow High School, and was articled to his father's firm of Wyllie & Blake from 1904 to 1911, remaining as chief assistant after completing his apprenticeship. In 1913 the partnership with Blake was dissolved and James B Wyllie took his son into partnership as James B Wyllie & Son, retaining the office at 219 St Vincent Street.

James Alexander Wyllie joined the Royal Engineers in 1915 and served overseas during the First World War. He was discharged in January 1919 and returned to his father's practice, 'having complete and absolute control of the Architectural work executed by the firm', as stated in his later LRIBA nomination papers. In 1925 the firm 'was forced to give up business owing to the dearth of work in the Building Industry', and Wyllie sought employment in the Property Department of the Lanarkshire Education Authority and Lanark County Council. Whilst there he was permitted to carry on a small private practice involving public and domestic work.

In 1941 he was appointed Master of Works in the War Damage Repair Department. He left that post in 1942 and either then or shortly thereafter joined the staff of the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society (SCWS) in Glasgow. He was still there when he was admitted LRIBA on 14 November 1944, his proposers being John Maurice Arthur, Alexander Wright and Alexander Cullen. At that time his home address was 'Ingleby', 18 Letham Drive, Newlands, Glasgow.

Wyllie died in Exeter in 1974. His death was registered between April and June of that year.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 23, Doune Quadrant, Kelvinside, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1890  
Item 2 of 2Ingleby/18, Letham Drive, Newlands, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1944 *After 1955 

* 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 7Wyllie & Blake19041911Apprentice 
Item 2 of 7Wyllie & Blake19111913Chief Assistant 
Item 3 of 7James B Wyllie & Son19131925PartnerWith the exception of war service, 1915 to January 1919
Item 4 of 7Lanarkshire County Architect's Department19251941ArchitectIn Property Department
Item 5 of 7Lanarkshire Education Authority Architect's Department19251941Architect 
Item 6 of 7War Damage Repair Department19411942Master of Works 
Item 7 of 7Scottish Co-Operative Wholesale Society (SCWS) Architectural Department (CWS Ltd Architecture & Design)1944 * Architect 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3John Maurice Arthur14 November 1944for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 3Alexander Cullen (junior)14 November 1944for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 3Alexander Wright14 November 1944for Licentiateship

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2England and WalesBirths, marriages and deaths  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L no5666 (combined box 93)