Isobel Hogg Kerr Beattie

Isobel Hogg Kerr Beattie (25 August 1900 – 13 July 1970) was possibly the first woman in Scotland to practice architecture on a regular basis.

Isobel Hogg Kerr Beattie
Born25 August 1900
Died13 July 1970
Applegarth
NationalityBritish
OccupationArchitect

Early life

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Beattie was born in 1900 to Lewis Beattie and Alice Walker Kerr, who were farmers. She graduated from the Edinburgh College of Art (1921–1926),[1] but some of the more technical courses were taken at Heriot-Watt College. In the 1922 merit list she is noted as having taken Building Construction Stage III, gaining 57% in the exam, followed by Stage IV (71%). In 1923 she gained 79% in its Stage V exam and in 1924 took Mechanics and Strength of Materials, 2nd year – one of a number of courses put on specially for the College of Art students – gaining 51%.[2]

Career

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Beattie worked for a time in an office before practising independently from 1928 to 1929. She then returned to the College of Art where she obtained a further diploma. She was admitted as an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1931 while she was working in Edinburgh with the firm, Jamieson & Arnott.[3] She later moved to Dumfries, probably working there independently; she worked in a room in an architectural office in Castle Street, Dumfries.[4]

Death and legacy

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She died in Applegarth in 1970 after an illness.[1] The National Monuments Record of Scotland has a collection of slides related to her work.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Isobel Hogg Kerr Beattie". Dictionary of Scottish Architects. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  2. ^ Heriot-Watt College class merit lists 1916–23 & 1924–27, Heriot-Watt University special collections: HWC 2/12/64a.
  3. ^ "Scotland's trailblazing female architects". Stirling City Heritage Trust. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  4. ^ a b Bailey, Rebecca M. (1996). Scottish architects' papers : a source book. Edinburgh: Rutland Press. p. 206. ISBN 1873190387. OCLC 35137188.