Collection DC 016 - Papers and photographs of Holmes Gray, student at the Glasgow School of Art, Scotland

Key Information

Reference code

DC 016

Title

Papers and photographs of Holmes Gray, student at the Glasgow School of Art, Scotland

Date(s)

  • 1949-1996 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent

2 Cubic Feet

Content and Structure

Scope and content

The collection includes:

  • Photographs, essays and notes made and taken by Holmes Gray while at the Glasgow School of Art, including correspondence between the GSA and Gray, 1949-1956
  • Notes given to designers for technical guidance from Johnson, Matthey & Co. Ltd, 1954
  • Recollections of Glasgow School of Art by Holmes Gray, 1996
  • Photographs of pieces designed by Gray post-GSA for Spode, Royal Worcester and others; c1949-1996
  • Correspondence with Stoke-on-Trent College, 1964-1986
  • Correspondence re: training as a part-time teacher, 1977-1986
  • Letter informing Holmes Gray of election as Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers & Commerce [copy], 1987
  • Letter from Commemorative Collector's Society re: address by Holmes Gray, 1997

This material may contain sensitive information about individuals that is protected by the Data Protection Act. Until this material has been checked for sensitive information, it will not be available for researchers. Once this Data Protection work is complete the collection will be open for access, however any sensitive information will be closed and inaccessible for 75 years from the date of creation.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

This material has been appraised in line with Glasgow School of Art Archives and Collections standard procedures.

Accruals

System of arrangement

The material is arranged in the order in which it was deposited.

General Information

Name of creator

(1929-2003)

Biographical history

Holmes Gray was born in Dennistoun, Glasgow, Scotland, in 1929 and grew up in Glasgow. He did his National Service in the Royal Navy where he was awarded a Royal Navy grant to attend drawing classes at Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland. On finishing his service he studied at the Glasgow School of Art from 1949-1954, at diploma and post-diploma level. He studied under Johnny Miller in the first two years and then studied ceramics from 1951 under Johnny Crawford (ceramics was then part of the Sculpture Department, the Head of which was Benno Schotz). He was awarded the Haldane Travelling Scholarship in 1953-54. After leaving Glasgow School of Art he worked for Johnson, Matthey & Co Ltd, potters, Stoke-on-Trent, England, and other successful Stoke potters such as Spode and Royal Worcester.

Archival history

Custodial history

Unknown.

Physical Description and Conditions of Use

Conditions governing access

Glasgow School of Art Archives and Collections are open for research by appointment. For further details, please refer to our Access Policy @ https://gsaarchives.net/policies

Conditions governing reproduction

Application for permission to reproduce should be submitted to The Archives and Collections at The Glasgow School of Art.

Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of material.

For further details, please refer to our Reprographic Service Guide @ https://gsaarchives.net/policies

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

Language and script notes

Physical Description

There are no physical characteristics that affect the use of this material.

Finding aids

Related Material

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

No known copies.

Related materials

Further information concerning John Holmes Gray may be gained from the GSA's collection of newspaper cuttings available in the search room.

Related descriptions

Notes area

Note

Collection Historical Note

The material listed here represents written and photographic records of his work completed whilst at The Glasgow School of Art and after. Of particular interest to the School's history is the photograph of the clay model for the ceramic figure of a fireman, based on a drawing made at the time of a fire in the ceramics department in 1952, and the photographic negative of a sketch of the westend of the School, drawn and printed under the guidance of Gordon Huntly, by Holmes Gray and then transferred by the old stick-down method onto a plate. The plate was sold by D P Bliss, Director of the School of Art, and given to the School in 1953.

Alternative identifier(s)

Keywords/Tags

Place access points

People and Organisations

Genre access points

Status

Level of detail

Processing information

  • Fonds level description compiled by Adele Ashley-Smith, Archivist, 2000-2001.
  • Updated by David Powell, Hub Project Archivist, 17 September 2001.
  • Updated by David Powell, Hub Project Archivist, 14 May 2002.
  • Fonds level description imported from the Archives Hub 24 August 2006.
  • Archives Hub description updated by Carrie Skinner, Logjam Project Officer, September 2011
  • Catalogue imported into Archon software and edited by Michelle Kaye, Archon Project Officer, May 2014.
  • Catalogue exported from Archon and imported into AtoM during system migration, 2018-2019.

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

Sources

Archivist's note

Finding Aid Authors: The Glasgow School of Art Archives and Collections.

Archivist's note

© Copyright 2014 GSA Archives. All rights reserved.

Accession area

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