Alison, Henry Young, 1889-1972, Interim Director, Glasgow School of Art, Scotland

Henry Young Alison, son of Walter Alison, was born on 21 September 1889 in Dysart, Fife. He trained at Glasgow School of Art from 1905-1912, studying drawing and painting under Maurice Greiffenhagen, Paul Artot and James Huck, gaining his Diploma in 1911. During the First World War he served in France but was captured and held as a prisoner of war. Whilst imprisoned he was wounded in one eye and lost the sight of it.

He joined the staff of Glasgow School of Art in 1927 as an assistant in the Drawing and Painting Classes, becoming Supervisor of the Evening School and the General Course in 1932. On Walton's resignation in 1945 he took over as Interim Director. He resigned in April 1946 when D.P. Bliss was appointed.

Alison was a figure and portrait painter, and exhibited at the RSA from 1916-1921. He died in 1972.

Alison's brother, David Alison, also studied at Glasgow School of Art and was a successful painter.

One important legacy he left to the school is the small staircase in the Mackintosh Library leading to the balcony floor. This was built by Alison and a janitor during the Easter vacation in 1946.

1911: Diploma from Glasgow School of Art

1945-1946: Interim Director of Glasgow School of Art

List of sources for the biographical information:

Ferguson, H., Glasgow School of Art: The History, first ed, (Glasgow, The Foulis Press of Glasgow school of Art, 1995)

Authority record created according to the National Council on ArchivesRules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names (NCA Rules)1997 and International Council on Archives: Ad Hoc Committee on Descriptive StandardsInternational Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families (ISAAR)CPF1995.

Personal name authority record compiled for the GASHE project by John O'Brien, Glasgow University Archive Services, 26 July 2002