Papers of Henry Young Alison, artist and interim director of Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, Scotland, 1889-1972

This collection contains:

Family papers; 1805-1889

Wartime records; 1914-1916

Lectures and speeches; c.1930-1950

Photographs; n.d.

Miscellaneous papers; c.1930-1972

Sketchbooks and drawings; n.d.

Henry Young Alison ( 1889-1972 ), brother of artist David Alison , was born on 21 September 1889 in Dysart, Fife, Scotland. He was a figure and portrait painter and exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy from 1916-1921 .

He trained at the Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, Scotland, under Fra. Newbury from 1905-1912, studying drawing and painting and life classes under Maurice Greiffenhagen, Paul Artot and James Huck, and gained his Diploma in 1911. During the First World War he served in France, but was captured and held as a Prisoner of War. Whilst imprisoned he was wounded in one eye and lost the sight of it (his wartime letters to the Glasgow School of Art survive in the Secretary and Treasurers's letters, 1914-1918 ). He joined the staff of the Glasgow School of Art in 1927 as an assistant in the Drawing and Painting Classes, becoming Supervisor of the Evening School and the General Course in 1932. At Alan Walton's resignation in 1945 he took over as Interim Director .

One important legacy he left to the school is the small staircase in the Library leading to the balcony floor. This was built by Alison and a janitor during the Easter vacation in 1946. He resigned in April 1946 when D P Bliss was appointed as Director.

This archive complements other papers created by Henry Young Alison held in the school's archive (see S&T correspondence, 1910-1918 and 1927-1943 and DIR 11).

These papers include photographs and letters from Alison himself, and also original family records dating from 1805. These were collected by Alison and on his death passed to Daisy Anderson (nee McGlashan - see GSADC 22).

The material is arranged into sub-fonds.

Glasgow School of Art Archives and Collections are open for research by appointment.

An item level list of the collection is available in the search room.

No known copies.

There are no physical characteristics that affect the use of this material.

Fonds level description compiled by Adele Ashley-Smith, Glasgow School of Art Archivist, 2000-2001. Updated by David Powell, Hub Project Archivist, 19 September 2001. Updated by David Powell, Hub Project Archivist, 11 June 2002. Archives Hub description updated by Carrie Skinner, Logjam Project Officer, September 2011

This material has been appraised in line with Glasgow School of Art Archives and Collections standard procedures.

Held by Henry Young Alison and passed onto Daisy Anderson upon his death.

This archive complements other papers created by Henry Young Alison held in the School's archive (see S&T correspondence, 1910-1918 and 1927-1943 and DIR 11 - Young's Papers as Interim Director of the Glasgow School of Art).

Further information concerning Henry Young Alison may be gained from the GSA's collection of newspaper cuttings available in the search room.