KERR, Thomas Logan (1887-1941), a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, was born on 8 November 1887 and educated there, and was later employed in the office of Sir R. Rowand Anderson, one of leading architects of that city. Kerr studied architecture and building construction at Heriot Watt College after 1900. In 1905 he emigrated to Canada, and settled in Winnipeg where he worked for a succession of firms including J.H.G. Russell (in 1905-1910), for J.H. Semmens (1910 to 1912), and as the manager of the Winnipeg branch office of Brown & Vallance of Montreal in 1913-14. He also appears to have operated his own independent practise there during this period, taking on commissions for residential and ecclesiastical works. After WWI, he was employed as a draftsman for the Winnipeg firm of Jordan & Over, Architects (in 1919-21).
By early January 1922 he had registered with the Manitoba Assoc. of Architects, but in November of that year he decided to move to California (Canadian Engineer [Montreal], xliii, 14 Nov. 1922, 548). In Los Angeles, he spent one year in the office of Walker & Eisen, Architects, then opened his own office in Alhambra, Calif. in partnership with Scott Quintin, in 1923, and lived and worked there for four years. In June 1927, he decided to move back to Canada and settled in Vancouver. There, he was employed as a staff member in the firm of Townley & Matheson, Architects from June 1928 until 1931 when he opened an office there under his own name in December 1931 (C.R., xlvi, 6 Jan. 1932, 21). Kerr died in Vancouver on 13 January 1941 (obit. Province [Vancouver], 13 Jan. 1941, 8; obit. Lethbridge Herald, 14 Jan. 1941, 10; obituary Winnipeg Tribune, 14 Jan. 1941, 20; biog. Donald Luxton, Building The West: The Early Architects of British Columbia, 2003, 472, 508; inf. Architectural Inst. of British Columbia, Vancouver)
THOMAS L. KERR (works in Winnipeg, Man.)
ELM PARK, residence for Joseph Snowden, Kingston Crescent, 1913 (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 31 May 1913, 12)
SARGENT AVENUE, at Agnes Street, apartment block for L. Hallgrimson & H. Lindal, possibly the Vesta Apartments, Agnes Street, or the Vinborg Apartments, Agnes Street, 1913 (Winnipeg Tribune, 10 Feb. 1913, 1; City of Winnipeg b.p. No. 85, 1913)
SHERBROOKE STREET, two apartment blocks for J.E. Grierson, 1914 (C.R., xxviii, 1 April 1914, 84; City of Winnipeg b.p. No. 1542, 1914)
CALVARY EVANGELICAL CHURCH, Alverstone Street at Burnell Street, 1919 (City of Winnipeg b.p. No. 1263, 1919)
McLEAN MISSON HALL, Alexander Avenue, 1920 (City of Winnipeg b.p. No. 2301, 1921)
QUINTIN & KERR (works in Alhambra, California)
ALHAMBRA, CALIF, large industrial building for Alhambra Laundry Co., South Stoneman Avenue, 1923 (Pasadena Evening Post, 6 Aug. 1923, 1; 9 Aug. 1923, 1, descrip.)
ALHAMBRA, CALIF., new offices and printing plant for the Alhambra Evening Post, South Garfield Avenue, 1923 (Pasadena Evening Post, 16 Oct. 1923, 1 & 2, illus. & descrip.)
ALHAMBRA, CALIF, large residence for J. Homer Hough, "...in the Spanish style", overlooking Roses Road at Alhambra Road, in the Oak Knoll unit of the Country Club Crest subdivision, 1924 (Pasadena Evening Post, 31 Jan. 1924, 1)
ALHAMBRA, CALIF., new Alhambra Athletic Club & Gymnasium, North Chapel Street, 1924 (Los Angeles Times, 6 April 1924, Section Five, p. 8; and 6 July 1924, Section Five, p. 4, descrip.)
SAN GABRIEL, CALIF., McKinley Public School, Hale Avenue, 1925 (Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 1925, Section Five, p. 3, illus. & descrip.)
HOLLYWOOD, CALIF., residence for O.E. Grovier, Primrose Avenue, 1925 (Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 1925, Section Five, p. 5, illus. & descrip.)
ALHAMBRA, CALIF., City Hall, North Second Street, 1925 (list of works in A.I.B.C. Application Form from T.L. Kerr, c. 1930)
SANTA MONICA, CALIF., St. Paul's Lutheran Church & Parish House, Washington Boulevard at Lincoln Avenue, 1926-27 (Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 1926, Section Five, p. 1, illus. & descrip.)
SANTA ANITA, CALIF., public school, 1927 (list of works in A.I.B.C. Application Form from T.L. Kerr, c. 1930)
PASADENA, CALIF., Trinity Lutheran Church, Walnut Street at Catalina Avenue, 1926-27 (Pasadena Evening Post, 1 Dec. 1926, 9, illus. & descrip.; list of works in A.I.B.C. Application Form from T.L. Kerr, c. 1930)
LONG BEACH, CALIF, Trinity Church, 1927 (list of works in A.I.B.C. Application Form from T.L. Kerr, c. 1930)
LOS ANGELES, CALIF., Grace Church, 1927 (list of works in A.I.B.C. Application Form from T.L. Kerr, c. 1930)
THOMAS L. KERR (works in Vancouver, B.C.)
WESBROOK CRESCENT, at South West Marine Drive, on the University Lands, residence for Arthur P. Dawe, 1932 (Province (Vancouver), 15 Jan. 1932, 8)
ADERA STREET, at West 52nd Avenue, residence for A. Rodger, occupied by R.E. Clugston, 1933 (City of Vancouver b.p. 43537, 21 June 1933; inf. Patrick Gunn, City of Vancouver)
SOUTH WEST MARINE DRIVE, at West 51st Avenue, residence for Harry H. Reid, 1934 (Daily Province [Vancouver], 18 May 1934, 2)
CLAREBURN APARTMENTS, Burnaby Street near Bute Street, 1936 (inf. Donald Luxton, Vancouver)
PLAZA MOVIE THEATRE, Granville Street near Smythe Street, 1936 (Province [Vancouver], 1 May 1936, 1, descrip.; and 2 Sept. 1936, 19, illus. & detailed descrip.; Vancouver Sun, 2 May 1936, 23, illus. & descrip.; and 1 Sept. 1936, illus. & detailed architectural descrip.; News-Herald [Vancouver], 23 June 1936, 2, illus. & descrip.; and 2 Sept. 1936, 6, illus. & detailed descrip.; dwgs. at Vancouver City Archives)
TERMINAL CITY LAWN BOWLING CLUB, Pine Street, c. 1937 (dwgs. at Vancouver City Archives)
BELMONT HOTEL, Granville Street at Nelson Street, new facade and major interior alterations to existing building, 1937 (The Province [Vancouver], 28 May 1937, 17, detailed descrip.)
THE KINGSWAY, near Dumfries Street, a movie theatre for an unnamed client, at 1441 The Kingsway, 1937 (Vancouver Sun, 9 July 1937, 7, descrip.; C.R., vol. 50, 21 July 1937, 35)
STAR LAUNDRY CO., Richards Street at Helmcken Street, 1938 (Daily Province [Vancouver], 19 Feb. 1938, 14, descrip.)
PARADISE MOVIE THEATRE, on the site of the old Globe Theatre, Granville Street, for R.J. Dawson, new facade with tower, and extensive interior alterations, 1938; facade restored 2022-23 (Vancouver Sun, 23 Sept. 1938, 20; The Province (Vancouver), 11 Nov. 1939, 10, illus. & detailed descrip.)
VANCOUVER, a design proposal for a residence "...of the Tudor type", at an unspecified location, 1938 (The Province [Vancouver], 29 Oct. 1938, 17, illus. & descrip.)
WEST VANCOUVER, residence for Richard Bell-Irving, Onslow Place, Capilano Estates, 1939 (The Province (Vancouver), 9 Feb. 1939, 7, descrip.; Vancouver Sun, 9 Feb. 1939, 12, descrip.)
WEST VANCOUVER, residence for Mrs. S. Richardson, Palmerston Avenue, 1939 (The Province [Vancouver], 30 June 1939, 20, illus. & descrip.)
PRINCESS MOVIE THEATRE, East Hastings Street, extensive alterations to interior of the theatre, for A.B. Calori, 1939 (Vancouver Sun, 5 July 1939, 1)
KIWANIS BOY'S CLUB, Semlin Drive at Pandora Street, 1939 (Vancouver Sun, 25 Aug. 1939, 13, illus. & detailed descrip.)
WEST VANCOUVER, a 30 room hotel, Marine Drive, near Taylor Way, east of the Ferry Wharf, for C.J. Archer Ltd., 1939-40; but not built (Vancouver Sun, 11 Oct. 1939, 2, descrip.; and 18 Nov. 1939, 25, illus. inf. Donald Luxton)
RAINIER HOTEL, Carrall Street, extensive interior renovations, 1939 (Vancouver Sun, 11 Dec. 1939, 13, illus. & descrip.)
LUX MOVIE THEATRE, East Hastings Street near Columbia Street, for A.B. Calori, 1939; demol. (Vancouver Sun, 23 Dec. 1939, 6, illus. & descrip.; Daily Province (Vancouver), 23 Dec. 1939, 12, illus. & descrip.; Canadian Moving Picture Digest, 20 Jan. 1940, 5; dwgs. at Vancouver City Archives)
EDWARD Y. HAMMER LTD., Granville Street, beside the Orpheum Theatre, retail store, 1939-40 (Vancouver Sun, 6 March 1940, 11, illus. & descrip.; Daily Province [Vancouver], 6 March 1940, 9, illus. & descrip.)
ROBSON STREET, store for an unnamed client, 1940 (dwgs. at Vancouver City Archives)
THOMAS L. KERR (works elsewhere)
COQUITLAM, B.C., Wood's Hotel, Brunette Avenue, 1934, and now called Woody's Restaurant, 1934; still standing in 2022 (Vancouver Sun, 11 Dec. 1939, 13, advert. for Thomas Kerr, architect)
COQUITLAM, B.C., Jubilee Hotel, Brunette Avenue, 1934; still standing in 2022 (Vancouver Sun, 11 Dec. 1939, 13, advert. for Thomas Kerr, architect)
WELLS, B.C., The Wells Hotel, Pooley Street at Sanders Avenue, 1934; still standing in 2022 (Daily Province [Vancouver], 17 Aug. 1934, 22, descrip.; Vancouver Sun, 11 Dec. 1939, 13, advert. for Thomas Kerr, architect)
LYTTON, B.C., The Lytton Hotel, Main Street at 6th Avenue, 1934; still standing in 2022 (Daily Province [Vancouver], 18 May 1934, 12, descrip.; Vancouver Sun, 9 June 1934, 27; and 11 Dec. 1939, 13, advert. for Thomas Kerr, architect)
BRIDGE RIVER, B.C., The Minto Hotel, 1934 (Daily Province [Vancouver], 1 June 1934, 1, descrip.; Vancouver Sun, 11 Dec. 1939, 13, advert. for Thomas Kerr, architect)
OLIVER, B.C., The Reopel Hotel, Main Street near Bank Avenue, 1935, for Anthony Reopel, and now called The Desert Arms Hotel; still standing in 2022 (Vancouver Sun, 2 Feb. 1935, 21, descrip.; and 11 Dec. 1939, 13, advert. for Thomas Kerr, architect)
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA, an exhibition pavilion for the British Columbia Lumber & Shingle Manufacturer's Assoc., 1936 (News-Herald [Vancouver], 2 June 1936, 8, descrip.)
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, an exhibition pavilion for the British Columbia Lumber & Shingle Manufacturer's Assoc., 1936 (News-Herald [Vancouver], 2 June 1936, 8, descrip.)
COQUITLAM, B.C., new clubhouse at Burquitlam for the Vancouver Golf & County Club, Austin Avenue at Walker Street, 1938 (Vancouver Sun, 9 April 1938, 15, descrip.; Province [Vancouver], 9 April 1938, 18; and 21 May 1938, 31, illus. & descrip.)
OSOYOOS, B.C., The Rialto Hotel, Spartan Drive at Park Place, 1939; burned 1995 (Vancouver Sun, 11 Dec. 1939, 13, advert. for Thomas Kerr, architect)