Résumé

Apprentice, Alexander Ross, Architect, Inverness, Scotland, UK, 03/01/1877-1883; Draftsman, T. Roger Smith, Architect, London, England, UK, 1883-c. 1885; Draftsman, N.R. Gough, Architect, London, c. 1885-1886; Principal, John C.M. Keith, Architect, Portishead, Somerset, England, UK, c. 1886-1887; Draftsman, Elmer H. Fisher, Architect, Seattle, WA, 1890; Partner, [Cecil C.] Evers and Keith, Architects, Seattle, WA, 1890-1893. Evers, came to Seattle, in 1889, the year of Seattle's Great Fire. Keith came about the same time and joined Evers in a partnership. The firm maintained offices in the Boston Block (Rooms #37-38 in 1890-1891) and the Butler Block (Rooms 502-504 in 1892-1893). The Depression of 1893 wiped out most work for architects in Seattle, and Keith, like a lot of others, left town that year. He transplanted himself to Victoria, BC, where he and Evers had won a competition for the Episcopal Cathedral there in 1892.

Schooling

Attended, Lincoln Grammar School, Lincoln, England, UK; attended, Clare Mount School, Wirral, England, UK, c. 1876.

Relocation

Born in Nairn, Scotland, in the Highlands. He attended secondary schools in England, but apprenticed with an architect for about six years in Inverness, Scotland. From there, he furthered his career working in the offices of two architects there, before opening his own architectural firm in the southwestern English coastal city of Portishead in Somerset. He stayed here only briefly before migrating to San Francisco, CA, in 1887.

Parents

His father was Episcopal minister Charles McGhee Keith, his mother, Elizabeth Madeline Christie.