Résumé

Principal, R.T. Garrow, Architect, Vancouver, BC, Canada, c. 1926; His obituary, published in the Seattle Times, stated the following about his career: "Mr. Garrow, who was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, came to Seattle 45 years ago from Canada. He served as architect in the construction of many large structures, including the Dexter Horton Building, the Seattle and Renton plants of the Boeing Airplane Co., Cushman Dam, the Spring Apartment-Hotel and the Georgian Hotel in Vancouver, B.C. He was general superintendent for the Austin Co. for many years." (See "Rites Set for R.T. Garrow, Architect," Seattle Times, 03/13/1952, p. 29.)

College

Coursework, Gray's School of Art, Aberdeen, Scotland; Diploma, Gordon Architectural School, Aberdeen, Scotland,

Relocation

Garrow was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and studied at Robert Gordon's Technical College and at Gray's School of Art in that city. Following college, he found work as a draftsman for the Aberdeen architect James Souttar, where he worked four years (1903-1907). He relocated to Vancouver, BC, Canada, in 1907, obtaining employment with the firm of Hooper and Watkins, Architects. The firm sent him to Victoria, BC, in 06/1907, to supervise this satellite office. He also worked a portion of his time for Skene and Christie, Contractors, as an Architectural Assistant and Construction Manager. (See "Garrow, Robert Thompson." Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada, 1800-1950, accessed 04/03/2015.) Following war-time committments, Garrow resettled in Vancouver in 1918. He applied for admittance into the Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC) on 09/20/1920, and operated a solo practice there from 1918 until 1922. He came to the US to work for the Puget Sound Bridge & Dredging Company in Seattle for four years, 1922-1926. He went back to Vancouver, BC, to work on the Hotel Georgia commission with John Graham, Sr., in 1926. He worked in Vancouver, BC, until 1932, at which time he came back to work in the Seattle area. He worked on his own and for various other employers, including the Cleveland-based Austin Company, a construction company known for completing large-scale building and infrastructure projects. He died in the Eastside city of Bellevue, WA, in 1952. His last home address was 4612 91st Place NE, Bellevue, WA.

Parents/Immediate Family

Family members that survived him included two sisters, Mrs. M. Anderson, Aberdeen, Scotland, and Mrs. Pierre Champion, Paris, France, and two brothers, Dr. Frederick Garrow, Aberdeen, Scotland and John Garrow, Redlands, CA.

Spouse

He married Ella Garrow, who survived him.

Biographical Notes

Garrow was a Mason, a member of the Vancouver and Quadra Lodge No. 2, A.F.& A.M., Victoria, BC.