Collection DC 094 - Papers of Dorothy Doddrell

Dorothy Doddrell was born on 2 July 1894. In 1901 Dorothy lived with her father Arthur, who worked as a commission agent, his wife Florence, and their son Richard who was four years older than Dorothy. There was also a governess – Janet McKay – who lived with the family at their home in Blysthwood Drive. This was still Dorothy’s address when she was studying at The Glasgow School of Art. Her father died in December 1913 but the family continued to live there until at least the early 1920s.

She first went to The Glasgow School of Art in 1912-13. During that year and the following year (1913-14) she took day classes in Drawing and Painting.

In 1914-15 she took Design classes. It was during this year that she was selected to design The Glasgow School of Art’s Roll of Honour to commemorate staff and students who served in the First World War. She also received a Design and Decorative Art Minor Travelling Bursary of £8 6s 3d this year and is recorded as helping with the tea room at the Belgium Tryst at The Glasgow School of Art in January 1915.This was a two-day event with exhibitions, music and shows, organised by students to raise funds for Belgians suffering from the impact of the First World War.

Read more about the Belgium Tryst on The Glasgow School of Art Archives and Collections blog at http://www.gsaarchives.net/2017/04/gsa-first-world-war-fundraising-home-front-part-2.

In 1915-16 she took day Design cIasses and is listed in the records as an Art Student. She was successful in getting another Design and Decorative Art Minor Travelling Bursary, this time for £8 10s.

In 1916-17 she took Life classes both during the day and in the evening, and was awarded The Glasgow School of Art Diploma in Design and Decorative Art. She also won second place – awarded for the greatest progress made during the session - in the Design Room Sketch Club competition presented in the name of Professor R Anning Bell.

Even though she had graduated, in 1917-18 Dorothy Doddrell continued to attend day Design classes. She was also one of three women to win a “Maclaren” Bursary. No specific sum is mentioned but the bursary was the outcome of a donation from Mr William F De Bois Maclaren (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_de_Bois_Maclaren) "the yearly interest of which is to be used in helping poor and deserving students, or in any other scheme, approved of by the Governors" according to the Annual Report 1916-17.

She was also listed in the 1918-19 Calendar under prize winners for 1917-18 for her design for the Roll of Honour, which was created in 1925.

In 1923-24 she did evening classes in Etching. The Glasgow School of Art Archives and Collections holds some examples of her calligraphy work from the 1920s.

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Robert Anning Bell RA, RWS, LLD (1863-1933) born 14 Apr 1863, Soho, London, died 27 Nov 1933.
Robert Anning Bell was a painter, modeller for coloured relief, illustrator and designer of stained glass and mosaics. He studied at Westminster and the Royal Academy Schools. From 1911 he was the Professor of the Design Section at Glasgow School of Art. He was based in London and visited the School when required. From 1903 to 1911 he had been a visiting lecturer to the School and had also been one of the external examiners, so his influence on the section was strong. In 1918 he became Visiting Director of Studies to the Design School, a post he retained until his death in 1933. He also held teaching posts at the Royal College of Art, London and University College, Liverpool.

Maurice Grieffenhagen (15 Dec 1862-26 Dec 1931) was a painter of portraits and idyllic subjects, and a poster designer, decorator and illustrator, born in London, of Baltic German descent. he entered the R.A. Schools 1878; and won the Armitage Medal and other awards. From 1887 he was much engaged in book illustration, particularly for Rider Haggard's novels and for periodicals. He was influenced by Rossetti and the Venetians. He exhibited at the R.A., chiefly portraits, from 1884; A.R.A. 1916, R.A. 1922, and also exhibited at Munich, Dresden, Ghent and elsewhere. He taught at Glasgow School of Art 1906-1929. He decorated the British Pavilions for the Paris Exhibition 1925 and Antwerp 1930, but died in London the following year.
Greiffenhagen was appointed as Professor of the Life Classes (with responsibility for Drawing and Painting, Composition and so on) in 1906 and retired from the School in 1929. Greiffenhagen worked at the School for six months of every year. He kept a house in London and visited GSA when necessary to set work and check the progress of his students, leaving much of the actual teaching in the hands of his assistant professors, David Forrester Wilson and others. Greiffenhagen had to be present for examinations, the end of the year diploma show and at other formal occasions but for the most part he was allowed plenty of time to himself to ensure that his own career as an artist did not suffer. He was elected to the Royal Academy in 1922 at the same time as another GSA staff member Robert Anning Bell, and a luncheon was held for School staff to celebrate the occasion.