Collection of material from the Smith family of architects, Aberdeen, Scotland

Description Collection of material from the Smith family of architects, Aberdeen, Scotland

Date 1820 to 2002

Collection Collection of material from the Smith family of architects, Aberdeen, Scotland

Catalogue Number 551 409

Category All Other

Scope and Content The collection comprises of 2 materials books compiled between 1817 and 1828, general notes and correspondence concerning work undertaken at Keithhall and Kinkell Parish Manse c1820, 3 drawings by John Smith Junior, 2 drawings by William Smith Junior, 1 other drawing, 1 photograph of William Smith Junior, 1 of John Smith Senior, the graduation certificate for William Smith Junior, the sermon from the death of William Smith Junior, 3 texts of biographical notes and articles from the Leopard Magazine, Aberdeen, 3 texts of correspondence between Miss Nora Smith and the RCAHMS, a receipt from the RCAHMS from the accrual of the collections, 1 text containing references to John Smith Junior from the tribute offered by the University of Aberdeen to the memory of William Kelly and 3 complete sketchbooks and 1 incomplete sketchbook belonging to John Smith Junior.

Archive History The collection was deposited with RCAHMS in 2002 as accession 2002/202. It had been in the possession of Nora E Smith, the great grand-daughter of John Smith Junior, and was gifted by her. 1 drawing was bought by the RCAHMS at auction, accession 2011/110. 5 drawings are from a separate accession. Further material is believed to have been accessioned into the archive in the 1960s.

System of Arrangement The collection is divided into groups based on the format of each item.

Access Conditions There are no restrictions governing access to the collection.

Administrative History The Smiths were a four generation dynasty of architects in Aberdeen comprising of William Smith Senior (?-1812), John Smith Senior (1781-1852), William Smith Junior (1817-1891) and John Smith Junior (1847-1887). Both John Smith Senior and William Smith Junior were the City Architects of Aberdeen. The Smith architects were known for their skill in working granite and were influential in the development of the modern Granite City alongside Archibald Simpson. While Simpson's buildings were more flamboyant, the Smith designs had a more subtle, balanced grace. John Smith Senior was known as 'Tudor Johnnie' due to the coping style he used on bridges he designed while his son William Smith Junior added a more modern vision to the practice which directly led them to the commission to rebuild Balmoral castle in the 1850s. Little is known about William Smith Senior. He was known as 'Sink 'em' and had a workshop in Longacre. He was responsible for Gilcomston Chapel and houses along Marischal Street, both in Aberdeen. It is acknowledged that he had exceptional abilities both in design and construction and was an exceptional worker of dressed granite. John Smith Senior attended Aberdeen Grammar School and served an apprenticeship with his father as an operative mason. When he was 20 he went to London to work at the offices of James Playfair and study architectural design. He returned to Aberdeen in 1804 in a terrible storm in which his boat nearly sank in Aberdeen Harbour. In 1805 his first major commission was for a large house on Union Street for Patrick Milne. In 1806 he planned St Nicholas Street and its connection to George Street. He went on to build up the largest business in architecture, building and cabinet-making in the North East, based at the family home of 142 King Street and in 1824 was appointed the first City Architect of Aberdeen. In this position he designed many notable buildings including Aberdeen Record Office (1832), new wings for Robert Gordon's College (1830), Aberdeen Lunatic Asylum (1833), Advocate's Hall (1836), numerous schools and churches in Aberdeenshire, alterations to many bridges, including the Bridges of Dee and Dyce and alterations and additions to Balmoral Castle as well as several other castles. He was superintendent of work for the City of Aberdeen, attending to such matters as street lighting, cleaning and executions, as well as being an agent for the Imperial Insurance Company. Over the course of his career, his style ranged from neo-Greek to gothic to Tudor. He worked closely with civil engineer and quarry-master John Gibbs on many occasions as well as partnering with rival architect Archibald Simpson several times throughout his career. William Smith Junior was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and Marischal College. He studied sketching and composition under James Giles before joining the family practice to undertake his articles and was apprenticed to Robert Kerr, later Professor of Architecture at King's College, London. He then spent 18 months in London as an assistant to Thomas Leverton Donaldson,founder of the Royal Institute of British Architects. This was followed by a 2 year trip to Italy and Greece. On his return to Aberdeen he worked in the family practice as a senior assistant and was made a partner in 1845. His first commission was the adaption of Trinity Hall from neo-Tudor to granite in 1846. This caught the attention of the royal family and the practice submitted sketches for improvements to Balmoral Castle which did not extend beyond sketch plans but which was expanded in 1852 to a completely new house and outlying buildings. The new house was constructed between 1853-1859 followed by the other buildings. Due to his father's increasing bad health, William increasing took over his work as City Architect and succeeded him upon his death in 1852. He designed numerous schools, houses, hospitals, municipal buildings and churches in Aberdeenshire. The Smith practice was merged with former pupil William Kelly's practice upon the death of William's son John in 1887. This partnership was dissolved shortly before William's death in December 1891. John Smith Junior attended university in 1863 and went on to work in his father's practice to take his articles. He acted as an assistant until 1879 when he was made partner. Plagued by poor health throughout his life, he pre-deceased his father in 1887, leaving no meaningful inheritance-his sons were unable to afford to go to university and the Smith architectural dynasty ended.

Accruals No further accruals are expected.

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