WHITBURN, James Boulton (1882-1931) was born in Woking, England. on 27 December 1882 and articled with Clamp & Drower in 1899-1904. He gained practical experience as Clerk of Works for a local builder in Woking, then emigrated to Canada in 1911. In 1913 he opened an office in New Westminster, B.C. and later specialized in the design of school buildings. His expertise led to his appointment as Architect to the New Westminster School Board, but his name may also be linked to designs for schools in Burnaby and Surrey. In 1921 he was appointed as architect of the Surrey School Board (Vancouver Daily World, 1 Aug. 1921, 12). Whitburn died in New Westminster on 2 February 1931 (obit. British Columbian [New Westminster], 2 Feb. 1931, 1 & 4; Province [Vancouver], 2 Feb. 1931, 16; R.A.I.C. Journal, viii, April 1931, 172; D. Luxton, Building the West: The Early Architects of British Columbia, 2003, 486, 523; inf. Architectural Inst. of British Columbia)
(New Westminster)
JOHN ROBSON PUBLIC SCHOOL, Eighth Street, 1926-27; demol. 2014 (C.R., xl, 12 May 1926, 52; The Province [Vancouver], 4 Jan. 1927, 12)
(with Townley & Matheson) COLUMBIA THEATER, for Famous Players Corp., Columbia Street at Front Street, 1927 (C.R., xli, 19 Jan. 1927, 50, t.c.)
FOURTH AVENUE, residence for James B. Whitburn, architect, 1927 (J.D. Scott, Once in the Royal City: The Heritage of New Westminster, 1985, 126, illus.)
T.J. TRAPP TECHNICAL SCHOOL, Eighth Street at Ontario Street, 1928 (Vancouver Sun, 19 Jan. 1928, 3; Province [Vancouver], 2 Feb. 1931, 16, list of works in obituary; inf. J.D. Scott, Once in the Royal City: The Heritage of New Westminster, 1985, 122)
SPENCER PUBLIC SCHOOL, major addition, 1928 (Vancouver Sun, 19 Jan. 1928, 3)
LISTER PUBLIC SCHOOL, major addition, 1928 (Vancouver Sun, 19 Jan. 1928, 3)
RICHARD McBRIDE PUBLIC SCHOOL, Richmond Street at Hospital Street, rebuilding of the school after a fire, 1929 (C.R., xliii, 6 March 1929, 51; J.D. Scott, Once in the Royal City: The Heritage of New Westminster, 1985, 123, illus.)
TRAPP MOTORS LTD., Columbia Street at McInnes Street, 1929 (C.R., xliii, 17 July 1929, 60)
(Elsewhere)
SURREY, B.C., Cloverdale Elementary School, 56th Avenue, 1921-22 (inf. City of Surrey Heritage Register)