COOPER, Harold (1877-1975), architect of Saskatoon, Sask. who arrived there in late 1912 and was recorded in partnership with H. Slater in 1913 as Cooper & Slater, Architects. The following year, both were invited by Frank P. Martin to form a new partnership of Martin, Cooper & Slater, but no references to their work have been found, and WWI interrupted their professional career, with Cooper returning to England and resuming his career in Blackburn, Lancashire. Cooper was born in Blackburn on 18 October 1877 and educated at Blackburn Technical School. He trained under Walter Stirrup, a prominent local architect, from 1892 to 1898, then worked as his chief assistant, and joined another local firm o f Briggs & Wolstenholme in 1900. Elected as an Associate of the Royal Inst. of British Architects in December 1899, he won the RIBA Soane Medallion in 1907, and was surprisingly successful in developing his own career in Blackburn, in partnership with W.H. Slater, receiving awards in several national architectural competitions.
Cooper died at Blackburn on 3 February 1975 at the age of 97 years (inf. Sask. Association of Architects, Member No. 99, Application dated 2 April 1913; biog. and list of works in the Canadian Municipal Journal, ix, July 1913, 301; biog. Royal Inst. of British Architects, Directory of British Architects 1834-1914, pub. 2001, 432).
(works in England)
LYTHAM ST. ANNE'S, LANCASHIRE, St. Anne's Old Links, golf club house, c. 1907
PRESTON, Tennyson Road Cotton Mill, c. 1908 (S.A.A. Application form, Dec. 1913, list of works)
FENISCOWLES, parish hall for a local church, c. 1908 (S.A.A. Application form, Dec. 1913, list of works)
BLACKBURN, Bangor Street Council School, 1909 (Electrical Review [London], lxiv, 19 March 1909, 478; Canadian Municipal Journal, ix, July 1913, 301, biography and list of works by Cooper)
PLEASINGTON, Pleasington Golf Club House, 1910 (S.A.A. Application form, Dec. 1913, list of works)
COMPETITIONS
BLACKPOOL, ENGL., competition for a new Public Library, 1908. Dozens of architects submitted plans, and Cooper & Slater received Second Prize (Architect & Contract Reporter [London], xxix, 24 Feb. 1909, 167, illus.; Canadian Municipal Journal, ix, July 1913, 301, biography and list of works by Cooper) ). The competition was won by Cullen, Lochhead & Brown of Scotland
MIDDLESBOROUGH, ENGL., Public Library, 1909. A remarkable total of 203 designs were submitted. Cooper & Slater received Third Prize for their refined Edwardian design (Architect & Contract Reporter [London], xxix, 9 June 1909, 537-38, descrip.; 541, illus. & descrip.)
MANCHESTER, ENGL. Blackeley Estate, 1911. Cooper won the competition for this town planning project (Architect & Contract Reporter [London], xxxv, 12 Jan. 1912, 19; Canadian Municipal Journal, ix, July 1913, 301, biography and list of works by Cooper)
MANCHESTER, ENGL., Library and Art Gallery, 1911. More than 200 designs were sent in for this national competition, and the firm of Cooper & Slater was one of 6 architectural offices awarded final prizes. The winner was A.G. Henderson of Scotland .
CARDIFF, WALES, Technical College, 1911. Cooper & Slater received Second Prize in this major competition (Architect & Contract Reporter [London], xxxv, 12 Jan. 1912, 19; Canadian Municipal Journal, ix, July 1913, 301, biography and list of works by Cooper). The competition was won by Jones & Thomas .