Campbell, Charles Howard

Person

Campbell, Charles Howard

A student at The Glasgow School of Art for many years, Charles first appears on the Register for the 1910/11 session living at 24 McAslin Street and working as a boxcutter. The following year he enrols again (now living at 49 Edmund Street, Dennistoun), this time his occupation is given as ticket writer and he continues to re-enroll annually until 1922. He switches from evening classes in life drawing and drawing and painting to Saturday afternoon classes in 1917. By 1914, he is recorded as working as a warehouseman and by 1920 he is a storeman. It is interesting that his address stayed constant throughout his time at the School as his early years and family background suggest a more peripatetic existence. Though born in Ayr, by the time of the 1891 census he was staying with his uncle, William M Alston, at 50 Cecil Street in Govan. Also in the household were three of William Alston's siblings, a niece, Mary A Campbell (then aged 9), Charles Howard Campbell and three female servants. The census records that the Alstons were all born in Australia and Charles sister, Mary was born in China. By 1901, the date of the next census, Charles is living at 68 West King Street in Helensburgh. Mary Alston Campbell, Charles' sister is recorded as Head of household and another sister Margaret, two years younger than Charles, also now appears on the list. In this census, Mary's place of birth is no longer China, but is given as Formosa, Japan (the territory had changed hands by this date) and Margaret, the youngest of the three Campbell children was born in "Perroy Chira" but noted as a British subject, suggesting that this is a misprint, and that 'Chira' should be China. An aunt, Margaret Scott Alston, then aged 58, was also in the household, recorded as 'living on own means' and one female servant. It's an intriguing history and suggests that the Campbell parents were overseas - as diplomats or missionaries perhaps - and sent the children to Scotland to be cared for by relatives.

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