LAWSON, Francis James (1860-1952), a prominent architect in Calgary, Alberta who was active in the following offices:
F.J. Lawson, Calgary, 1904
Lawson & O'Gara, Calgary, 1905-08 (with James J. O'Gara)
F.J. Lawson, Calgary, 1909
Lawson & Fordyce, Calgary, July 1909 - 1918 (with George Fordyce)
F.J. Lawson, Calgary, 1919-20
Lawson lived and worked in that city for over 30 years. Born in Inverness, Scotland on 24 July 1860, he was educated there and in nearby Aberdeen, then served a five year apprenticeship with Dr. Alexander Ross (1834-1925), a leading architect in Inverness in the north of Scotland. After completing his training, he remained with Ross to work as a draftsman for two years, then moved to London to work in other architectural offices. Lawson emigrated to Canada om 1894 and settled in Winnipeg where he worked in the office of the Melville Brothers, Architects (Alexander Melville and William N. Melville), and he remained there until 1902 when he moved to Calgary, Alta. He worked alone under his own name, and in a succession of partnerships with James J. O'Gara and with George Fordyce, and became one of the first professional architects to join the Alberta Association of Architects in January 1907.
Lawson also trained his son Lieut. Francis Lawson in his Calgary office, and encouraged him to obtain a formal education at McGill University in 1910-14. His son was later killed in action during WWI in 1916, and this event may have had a significant impact on the career of his father, since no references to the work F.J. Lawson as an architect can be found after 1917. His name as “architect” appears tin Calgary City directories from 1920 onward until after 1940, but it is unclear who he was affiliated with, and why no projects by him have been found during this period. Lawson died while on a family visit in Toronto, Ont. on 5 April 1952 (obituary Calgary Herald, 7 April 1952, 15; biog. in Calgary, Alberta- Merchants & Manufacturers Record, 1911, p. 200; biog. A.O. MacRae, History of the Province of Alberta, 1912, Vol. 2, p. 1015-16; inf. Douglas E. Cass, Glenbow Museum, Calgary; inf. Mrs. Christina Woolatt, Victoria, B.C. [daughter of F.J. Lawson]. The Glenbow Museum holds a small collection of original architectural drawings by Lawson, and by Lawson & Fordyce, dating from the period of 1909 to 1911. The Canadian Architectural Archives (C.A.A.) at the University of Calgary also hold several sets of original drawings by Lawson, and by Lawson & Fordyce which now form part the Stevenson-Raines Collection.
F.J. LAWSON (works in Calgary unless noted)
UNDERWOOD BLOCK, 1st Street West at Pacific Avenue, a block of eleven stores for Thomas Underwood, 1904 (Daily Herald [Calgary], 6 July 1904, 3, descrip.)
EXCHANGE BLOCK, Centre Street at Atlantic Avenue, a six storey "skyscraper" with offices and hotel, for Thomas J.S. Skinner, 1904 (Daily Herald [Calgary], 13 July 1904, 4, descrip.; Vancouver Daily World, 27 July 1904, 2, descrip.; Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 11 Nov. 1904, 8, illus. & descrip.)
OKOTOKS, ALTA., residence for Dr. Welsh, 1904 (Daily Herald [Calgary], 12 Aug. 1904, 3, t.c.)
LAWSON & O'GARA (works in Calgary unless noted)
13th AVENUE WEST, residence for Alfred C. Russell, 1905 (C.R., xvi, 29 March 1905, 8)
SPRING LAKE, ALTA., St. Boniface Roman Catholic Church, Township Road 440 near Highway 855, 1905-08; completed in 1912; still standing in 2023 (C.R., xvi, 29 March 1905, 5; inf. Alberta Register of Heritage Places, Designation statement, but lacking attribution to the architects Lawson & O'Gara)
FORT MACLEOD, ALTA., Roman Catholic Convent, 1905 (C.R., xvi, 29 March 1905, 5)
7th AVENUE WEST, residence for Mrs. George May, 1905 (Daily Herald [Calgary], 27 March 1905, 4, t.c.; C.R., xvi, 26 April 1905, 10)
ST. MARY'S ROMAN CATHOLIC HALL, 18th Avenue West, beside St. Mary's Church, 1905 (C.R., xvi, 26 April 1905, 10)
McDOUGALL BLOCK, 1st Street East at 8th Avenue, a three storey brick commercial block for David McDougall, 1905 (Daily Herald [Calgary], 17 April 1905, 2, t.c.; C.R., xvi, 26 April 1905, 4, t.c.)
YALE HOTEL 9th Avenue East at Centre Street, a five storey hotel for Thomas J.S. Skinner, 1905; demol. 1974 (Daily Herald [Calgary], 29 April 1905, 9, t.c.)
14th AVENUE WEST, apartment block for A.L. Beer, 1905 (Daily Herald [Calgary], 10 June 1905, 11, t.c.)
4th AVENUE WEST, residence for John Irwin, 1905 (Daily Herald [Calgary], 1 June 1905, 9, t.c.; C.R., xvi, 14 June 1905, 5)
7th AVENUE WEST, residence for William H. Manarey, 1905 (C.R., xvi, 14 June 1905, 5)
FORT MACLEOD, ALTA., interior decoration of Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, 1905 (C.R., xvi, 14 June 1905, 5)
7th AVENUE, at 1st Street East, a three storey commercial block for Thomas S. Clouston, 1905 (Daily Herald [Calgary], 19 Aug. 1905, 9, t.c.; C.R., xvi, 6 Sept. 1905, 2, t.c.)
4th AVENUE WEST, at 4th Street, residence for Thomas H. Burns, 1905 (C.R., xvi, 6 Sept.1905, 2; Daily Herald [Calgary], 24 Nov. 1905, 4, descrip.)
13th AVENUE WEST, residence for F.T. Weir, 1906 (Daily Herald [Calgary], 8 Jan. 1906, 7, t.c.)
BRAEMAR LODGE, 4th Street West, major additions to, and conversion of, the existing Lodge into a tourist hotel, for Miss A.E. Mollison, 1906 (Daily Herald [Calgary], 10 Feb. 1906, 4, t.c.; C.R., xvi, 14 Feb. 1906, 2, t.c.; dwgs. at Univ. of Calgary)
PINCHER CREEK, ALTA., Union Bank, Main Street, 1906 (Daily Herald [Calgary], 31 March 1906, 6, t.c.; Lethbridge News, 3 April 1906, 3, t.c.; C.R., xvii, 7 Nov. 1906, 2, t.c.)
6th AVENUE WEST, a large residence for Mrs. A,. Allan, 1906 (Morning Albertan (Calgary), 16 March 1906, 3, t.c.; Daily Herald [Calgary], 14 April 1906, 4, detailed descrip.)
BOWDEN, ALTA., public school, 1906 (Daily Herald [Calgary], 25 April 1906, 5, t.c.; C.R., xvii, 2 May 1906, 2)
DIDSBURY, ALTA., Union Bank, 20th Street at 20th Avenue, 1906; still standing in 2023 (Daily Herald [Calgary], 19 April 1906, 4, t.c.; C.R., xvii, 30 May 1906, 4, t.c.)
BANFF, ALTA., residence for W.J.G. Stephen, 1906 (C.R., xvii, 30 May 1906, 4)
12th AVENUE WEST, residence for S.A. Skead, 1906 (C.R., xvii, 30 May 1906, 4)
HOLY CROSS ROMAN CATHOLIC HOSPITAL, 2nd Street West, major addition, 1906 (Daily Herald [Calgary], 27 June 1906, 11, t.c.; C.R., xvii, 30 May 1906, 4)
(with Arthur R. Denison, of Toronto) W.R. BROCK CO. LTD., Eighth Avenue at 2nd Street West, a large warehouse block, 1906 (Daily Herald [Calgary], 25 July 1906, 7, t.c.)
BANFF, ALTA., The Banff Hotel, for Rattray & McDougall, 1907 (Morning Herald [Calgary], 1 Jan. 1907, 2, t.c.)
14th AVENUE EAST, residence for Mrs. A. Costegan, 1907 (Morning Herald [Calgary], 20 Feb. 1907, 6, t.c.)
FORT MACLEOD, ALTA., store for Reach & Co., 1907 (C.R., xviii, 24 April 1907, 4, t.c.)
PINCHER CREEK, ALTA., residence for Hugh Owen, 1907 (Daily Herald [Calgary], 7 June 1907, 3, t.c.)
BANFF, ALTA., additions and alterations to public school, 1907 (C.R., xviii, 19 June 1907, 2, t.c.)
CALGARY GENERAL HOSPITAL, 2nd Avenue North at 8th Street North, 1907; completed 1908 by F.J. Lawson (C.R., xviii, 16 Oct. 1907, 2; and xix, 20 May 1908, 28; Morning Albertan [Calgary], 4 July 1908, 5, illus.)
F.J. LAWSON (works in Calgary unless noted)
4th STREET WEST, residence for George J. Bryan, 1908 (Morning Albertan [Calgary], 28 July 1908, 3, t.c.)
COLLEGE LANE, residence for Mrs. M. McInnes, 1908 (Morning Albertan [Calgary], 9 Oct. 1908, 5, t.c.)
20th AVENUE WEST, near 7th Street, on American Hill, residence for Louis P. Strong, 1908 (Morning Albertan [Calgary], 23 Oct. 1908, 7, t.c.)
6th STREET WEST, apartment block for Daniel W. Gilles, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 3 May 1911, 55; dwgs. at Univ. of Calgary)
4th STREET WEST, at 23rd Avenue, apartment block for Mrs. C.E. Baird, 1911 (dwgs. at Univ. of Calgary)
CLARESHOLM, ALTA., Union Bank, 50th Avenue West, near 1st Street West, 1911; still standing in 2023 (C.R., xxv, 10 May 1911, 56; dwgs. at Univ. of Calgary)
MOLSON'S BANK, 8th Avenue West, 1911-12 (C.R., xxv, 23 Aug. 1911, 66, t.c.; dwgs. at Univ. of Calgary, Stevenson-Raines Coll. 11 M44)
BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, 8th Avenue West, additions and alterations, 1911 (C.R., xxv, 21 July 1911, 63)
MEDICINE HAT, ALTA., Hull Block, Toronto Street at 4th Avenue, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 20 March 1912, 69; dwgs. at Univ. of Calgary)
10th STREET WEST, in Mount Royal, residence for Judge William C. Simmons, c. 1913 (dwgs. at Univ. of Calgary)
LAWSON & FORDYCE (works in Calgary unless noted)
HIGH RIVER, ALTA., commercial block for George Lane, Fourth Street at Railway Street, 1909 (Calgary Herald, 7 July 1909, 3, t.c.; dwgs. at Univ. of Calgary)
HIGH RIVER, ALTA., a private residence and stable for C.A. Gigot, 1909 (Calgary Herald, 7 Sept. 1909, 2, t.c.)
FINDLAY APARTMENTS, 1st Street West at 14th Avenue, a 3 storey apartment block for James Findlay, 1909 (Calgary Herald, 3 Sept. 1909, 1, descrip.; Morning Albertan [Calgary], 6 Sept. 1909, 2, t.c.; and 28 Feb. 1910, 69; dwgs. at Univ. of Calgary)
CENTRE STREET, at 5th Avenue, southeast corner, a terrace of five houses for G.C. King, 1909 (Calgary Herald, 9 Aug. 1909, 2, t.c.; and 20 Aug. 1909, 5, descrip.; Morning Albertan [Calgary], 28 Feb. 1910, 69; dwgs. at Univ. of Calgary)
BRAEMER LODGE HOTEL, 4th Avenue S.W., a large three storey addition, 1909-10 (Morning Albertan [Calgary], 5 Nov. 1909, 6, descrip.)
COCKSHUTT PLOW CO. LTD., major alterations to warehouse, 9th Avenue West, 1909-10 (Morning Albertan [Calgary], 10 Nov. 1909, 7, t.c.)
CARMANGAY, ALTA., hotel for R.A. McNaughton, likely The Grange Hotel, Carman Street at Pacific Avenue, 1909; still standing in 2023 (dwgs. at Univ. of Calgary)
MIRIAM BLOCK, 8th Avenue West at 3rd Street West, warehouse for Ellis & Grogan, 1909 (Morning Albertan [Calgary], 28 Feb. 1910, 69; dwgs. at Univ. of Calgary)
ROSEDALE, residence for Elisha A. Dagg, 12th Avenue West at 7th Street West, 1910 (Morning Albertan [Calgary], 6 May 1910, 2, t.c.)
NEILSON BLOCK, 8th Avenue, major additions and alterations for Mrs. Hugh Neilson, 1910 (Calgary Herald, 28 May 1910, 2, t.c.)
4th AVENUE WEST, residence for J.T. MacDonald, 1910 (Calgary Herald, 31 May 1910, 2, t.c.)
WILLOW CREEK, ALTA., residence for George Lane, 1910 (dwgs. at Glenbow Museum, Langlands Coll.)
8th STREET WEST, at 14th Avenue, terrace of four houses for C.J. Winn, 1910 (dwgs. at Univ. of Calgary)
SHRINER'S MASONIC HALL, 17th Avenue West near 4th Street, for the Al-Azhar Temple, 1910 (Morning Albertan [Calgary], 6 April 1910, 1, descrip.; dwgs. at Univ. of Calgary)
CLARESHOLM, ALTA., commercial block for Milnes & Noble, 1910 (dwgs. at Univ. of Calgary)
HOUNSFIELD HEIGHTS, residence for Harold W. Riley, 8th Avenue West near 16th Street, 1910 (Calgary Herald, 28 July 1910, 2, t.c.; dwgs. at Univ. of Calgary)
CASTOR, ALTA., public school, 1910 (dwgs. at Univ. of Calgary)
12th AVENUE WEST, residence for Issac K. Kerr, 1910 (Calgary Herald, 1 Oct. 1910, 2, t.c.; dwgs. at Univ. of Calgary)
MOUNT ROYAL, residence for William M. Connacher, Colborne Crescent, 1910-11 (Calgary Herald, 5 Nov. 1910, 2, t.c.; dwgs. at Univ. of Calgary)
WESLEY METHODIST CHURCH, 7th Street West at 14th Avenue West, 1911 (Morning Albertan [Calgary], 10 Feb. 1911, 1, illus. & descrip.; dwgs. at Univ. of Calgary)
CALGARY GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB, near Elbow Drive and the Elbow River, clubhouse, 1911; locker house, 1913 (Calgary Herald, 20 April 1911, 1 & 9, illus. and plans; and 10 June 1913, 2, t.c.; C.R., xxv, 7 June 1911, 61; dwgs. at Univ. of Calgary; inf. Robert Hamilton, of Hamilton, Ont. )
(with Allen & Collens) KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 6th Avenue West at 4th Street, 1911-13 (C.R., xxv, 22 Nov. 1911, 60; and xxvi, 6 March 1912, 66)
5th AVENUE WEST, residence for V. Scully, 1912 (Calgary Herald, 17 July 1912, 3, t.c.)
HOUNSFIELD HEIGHTS, HILLHURST, residence for H.W. Riley, 1912-13 (Morning Albertan [Calgary], 3 Aug. 1912, 14, t.c.)
CALGARY GENERAL HOSPITAL, Nurse's Home, , 2nd Avenue North, 1917 (dwgs. at Univ. of Calgary, Stevenson-Raines Coll. 17c 344) A
COMPETITIONS
SASKATOON, SASK., major addition to Alexandra School, Avenue G near 20th Street, 1908. He is almost certainly the same Mr. Lawson who was one of four architects who sent in plans for this project (Daily Phoenix (Saskatoon), 24 April 1908, 6). The winner was David Webster of Saskatoon.
CALGARY, ALTA., King George Hotel, 1911. Lawson & Fordyce were one of 6 architectural firms from Calgary who were asked to submit plans (Morning Albertan [Calgary], 8 April 1911, 5). The winner was James A. MacDonald of Calgary.