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Papers of James Shearer, architect, Fife, Dunfermline, Scotland
551 136
Description Papers of James Shearer, architect, Fife, Dunfermline, Scotland
Collection Papers of James Shearer, architect, Fife, Dunfermline, Scotland
Catalogue Number 551 136
Category All Other
Scope and Content A large collection of personal and office papers relating to the life and works of this architect, including: family photographs; an extensive collection of notebooks and sketchbooks containing his reminiscences, notes for jobs in hand and drafts for lectures, publications and literary projects; series of Memo Books 1948-1962 with jottings on each day's activities and expenses; office files relating to jobs including works for the Carnegie Trust Dunfermline, (Library, Birthplace and Memorial Museum), Hydro Electric Board, etc; press-cutting files on varied subjects; folders of photographs of executed works (including restoration of Brucefield House, Aberfoyle Pavilion, etc); typescripts of publications and lectures, including an appreciation of the architect, H L Honeyman; printed literature relating to the work of the Carnegie Trust in Dunfermline; an album of photographs recording a visit to France and Italy in 1956; a file of letters of congratulation on the award of his OBE, etc. NMRS Survey of a Private Collection. List, with selectively photocopied items, from a box of personal papers. Includes a letter of recommendation from T. Hislop Ure, 1903; Shearer's curriculum vitae, 1916; photographs of Shearer; and a 'Report on Housing' for Dunfermline Town Council, 1914. Set of Photographs of profile portraits of John James Burnet's office staff, c1890. Source: 'Scottish Architect's Paper; A Source Book' by RM Bailey
Archive History Main component of collection was presented by Mrs M M Shearer per Roger Emmerson, 1987. Further material (Shearer's curriculum vitae, 1916) was lent for copying by Mrs M M Shearer, 1987. Photographs of profile portraits of John James Burnet's office staff c1890 presented by M M Shearer 1995, ex Shearer's personal papers.
Related Material Please see Coll 551 243 Records of Shearer and Annand, architects, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland for related material.
Access Conditions Access is open subject to conservation requirements. Please consult the archive team upon request to view material.
Administrative History James Grant Shearer (1881-1962) OBE, RSA, FRIBA, FRIAS, was an apprentice to Dunfermline-based architect T Hyslop Ure from 1897 until 1901, before moving to the Glasgow and London offices of J J Burnet (1857-1938) to complete his training. He began his own architectural practice in 1907 in premises at 11 Bonnar Street, Dunfermline, where he remained until c1920. In 1912 he went on a study tour of Germany. Between c1920-31 the practice was based in Queen Anne Street, Dunfermline, before moving to 11 Maygate, Dunfermline. As well as leading his architectural practice, Shearer held two important town-planning commissions. From 1937 to 1938 he was employed as a part-time planning consultant by Dunfermline Town Council, and from 1944 to 1947 he acted as planning consultant to Clackmannanshire County Council. He is known to have turned down similar roles at Inverness, Forres and Lerwick in 1943, 1946 and 1947 respectively. His major achievement in this field was the Dunfermline Advisory Town Plan of 1946. (Source: 'Creating a Future for the Past: The Scottish Architects' Papers Preservation Project', p114)
Accruals No further accruals are anticipated.
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/1176435
