| Collection | GB 0231 University of Aberdeen, Special Collections |
| Level | Fonds |
| Ref No | UNIVERSITY 1494 |
| Alt Ref No | A3 - A8, MSU 1364 |
| Title | University plans: King's College, King's College Chapel, Marischal College and the University of Aberdeen |
| Date | 1834 - 1964 |
| Extent | 598 items: 10 linear meters |
| Creator Name | There are numerous creators of material in this collection, a small selection is listed below:
Charles Carmichael, (1864 - 1890), architect
William Kelly, (1861 - 1944), architect
James Cromar Watt, (1862 - 1940), artist and architect
[James] Fenton Wyness, (1903 - 1974), artist, architect and historian |
| Administrative History | There are numerous creators of material in this collection, biographical details for only the main creators has been listed below:
Charles Carmichael was born in Aberdeen on 11 September 1864 and was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School. Carmichael trained in architecture with John Russell Mackenzie and Duncan McMillan then transferred to the practice of Matthews and Mackenzie. He emigrated to South Africa sometime in the mid 1880's where he formed a partnership with Charles Murray and William M Philip who were both engineers. Carmichael died in South Africa on 15 June 1890.
William Kelly was born in Aberdeen on the 22nd December 1861, to Francis Bonnyman Kelly, a tailor, and his wife Jane Tough. After schooling at William Rattray's school, Kelly studied maths and natural philosophy at King's College (1876 - 1878). He was articled to the local firm of William and John Smith and when his period of articles was finished in 1883, he moved to London. His career in London is relatively undocumented; in 1886, he returned to Aberdeen, setting up an independent practice on Belmont Street. A year later, he entered into partnership with William Smith but this partnership was dissolved in the early 1890s and in 1893, he married Mary Carmichael, thus becoming the brother-in-law of Aberdeen architects Charles and Duncan Carmichael. Kelly won a prestigious commission to be the architect of Aberdeen Savings Bank on Union Terrace in 1896. He was elected ARSA in 1911 and was awarded the LLD by Aberdeen University in 1919, in recognition of his work at King's College Chapel. He also held the newly created post of Aberdeen Corporation Director of Housing from 1918-1923. One of his most popular architectural works was his design of the leopards on Union Bridge, known as 'Kelly's Cats'. After his retirement in 1928, he maintained a consultancy role for landed clients and pursued his lifelong antiquarian interests by assisting with the publications of his historian friend, Dr W Douglas Simpson. He died on the 10th March 1944. See - Dr W Douglas Simpson, 'A tribute offered by the University of Aberdeen to the memory of William Kelly, LL.D, A.R.S.A' (Aberdeen University Press: 1949).
James Cromar Watt was born in Aberdeen in 1862 and educated at Aberdeen Grammar School. He trained to be an architect at the Royal Academy, studied abroad, then gave up architecture for decorative arts, particularly enamelling, possibly influenced by work in Turkey, Greece and Egypt. He was awarded an honorary LL.D. by Aberdeen University in 1931. He died in 1940.
[James] Fenton ('Tony') Wyness was born in Aberdeen on 15 August 1903. He studied at the School of Architecture, Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen, where he was awarded a diploma and the Byrne Scholarship in 1926. He entered the office of Robert Leslie Rollo as an assistant in 1927 and finally set up a private practice in 1929. Wyness was an accomplished historian and archaeologist, he published extensively in books and magazines, especially the Deeside Field of which he was editor. He died on the 12 March 1974. |
| Custodial History | A group of 81 plans and drawings relating to the building of King's College, Aberdeen (1855 - 1888) with letters and papers relating to the maintainance of the buildings of Marischal College and King's College, Aberdeen (1858 - 1887). This material was deposited with the University on the 9 March, 1934 by His Majesty's Office of Works, Storey's Gate, Westminster. A copy of the letter relating to the transfer is held in the deposit file. |
| Source | A large majority of these documents were passed from the University of Aberdeen's estates department to the Special Collections Centre. A selection of material relating to King's College Chapel's east window and butress' by William Kelly was sent via Kelly to the University Library in 1934. A copy of a handwritten list, by Kelly, of the plans sent is held in the deposit file. Additional plan transferred via Graham Hunter, Ledingham & Chalmers (formerly MSU 1364) |
| Description | The University's collection of plans relating to King's College, King's College Chapel, Marischal College and the University of Aberdeen is a rich resource into the history of the University's buildings. The plans range from the detailed architectural drawing of James Cromar Watt to utility plans used by the estates teams. This extensive collection dates the 1850's through to the mid 1960's; unfortunately many of the items are not dated.
King's College
Elevations and plans relating to King's College include: the development of the library in 1868, class rooms, the quadrangle, gates and railings, Divinity and Humanity Manses, Old Town Brewery and housing for the Professor of Theology. The plans include proposed alterations and additions as well as projects which were undertaken to completion.
King's College Chapel
Elevations and plans relating to King's College Chapel include works by Charles Carmichael, William Kelly, George Washington Wilson, James Cromar Watt and Fenton Wyness. The series includes: views of the chapel exterior, consecration crosses and the lantern tower, the interior ceiling, pulpit, canopy, rood screen, coats of arms, windows, screen elevation, stalls, war memorial and founders tomb. The series also includes some correspondence from William Kelly regarding the War memorial and the minutes of the War memorial committee.
Marischal College
A small group of elevations and plans from Marischal College, which relate to proposed alterations to the building exterior and teaching spaces.
University of Aberdeen
The smallest of the sub-groups of this collection, this group includes elevations and plans of: a proposed block of houses in Tillydrone; alterations to utility plans of systems such as drainage and ventilation at the New Zoology building, Forestry Department and New Medical School at Foresterhill; proposals for a new boat club by the architects George Bennett Mitchell and Son's. |
| Accruals | Yes |
| Arrangement | Previously arranged as part of the general maps and plans collections of the Special Collections Reading Room and have an alternative reference numbering system, which has been maintained:
A3 - A4a: Kings College
A5, A6, A7: King's College Chapel
A8: Marischal College |
| Access Status | Open |
| Physical Description | Large format items are up to 2000mm x 570mm.
Supports: tracing paper, typing paper, writing paper, ruled and woven papers, blue architectural linens, blueprints, dyelines, textile backings, photographs (albumen, gelatine and salt paper prints).
Media: inks, colour washes, gouache, graphite, photomechanical printing, type written and coloured crayon.
Some items are in a fragile condition and are not suitable for production. |
| Related Material | L ff Aa P105 Vie comprises mainly printed and photographic material relating to King's College and Marischal College. |
| Publication Note | See Bibliography in Geddes, J (ed) (2000) King's College Chapel, Aberdeen, 1500-2000, Northern Universities Press, 2000. |