Papers of John D. Revel, Director of Glasgow School of Art, 1925-1932

• Reference:GB 1694 GSAA/DIR/7
• Dates of Creation:1927-1932
• Name of Creator:
  Revel John D. (1884-1967)
• Language of Material:English
• Physical Description:
  0.03 metres

• Scope and Content

  Correspondence relating to Glasgow School of Art staff 1930, folder of speeches, seating plans, lists of diplomas awarded and arrangements for diploma awarding ceremonies 1927-1928, 1930 and correspondence with other educational institutions including Jordanhill College, the Educational Institute of Scotland and the Royal Technical College in Glasgow, 1930-1932

• Administrative / Biographical History

  John D. Revel was born in Dundee in 1884. He studied at Dundee School of Art, becoming an Art Pupil Teacher. After qualifying as a teacher he taught for two years in Shipley, Yorkshire before becoming the Principal Teacher of architecture in Preston, Lancashire. In 1906 he gained an open Scholarship to the RCA and in 1911 left the College with a degree in architecture, a degree in painting and the award of a travelling Scholarship for painting. After a year abroad he was offered and took up the post of Headmaster at Chelsea School of Art.

  He also saw service in the First World War in Mesopotamia and India, becoming an official artist to the Expeditionary Force (water-colour paintings survive from this time). He specialised in portraiture and landscape. Revel was elected a member of the International Society of Painters, the Royal Portrait Society and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters.

  In 1925 he took up the post of Director at Glasgow School of Art. Under his directorship the Extension Building (now the Assembly Hall) was built and the School saw an upsurge in student and social events, notably the development of the Student Representative Council, the growth of the Glasgow School of Art Dramatic Club and the birth of the Kinecraft Society. Revel kept up the tradition of teacher/headmaster/director by occasionally taking the architect's drawing class. The degree course in Architecture produced its first graduates during his time as director, quite a few of whom were women.

  He left the Art School in 1932 under unhappy circumstances, which are still unclear. One story is that he had a breakdown brought on by trauma from his wartime experiences. However it seems more likely that he made enemies on the Board of Governors, by opposing their opinions and policies.

  Revel returned to England, where he continued to paint and show work regularly in major exhibitions. He died in 1967.

• Arrangement

  The material is arranged into series and then arranged chronologically.

• Access Information

  Directors' papers which are over 30 years old are available for public consultation. Permission from the director is needed for access to those less than 30 years old.

• Appraisal Information

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