Joseph Boyd was born in 1873, probably in Scotland, and studied a Stow College for Science in Glasgow, and, from 1890 to 1895, at Glasgow School of Art. He commenced practised as an architect in Glasgow in 1899. In c.1930 he joined Bryden & Robertson, a practice in Glasgow founded by Andrew Francis Stewart Bryden (1876-1917) and Andrew Robertson(1868-1932) in 1906. Following the death of Robertson in 1932, Boyd took over the business which was renamed Bryden, Robertson & Boyd.
Boyd was admitted a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (LRIBA) in 1925. He was also a Fellow of the Institute of Architects (F.I.Archts.) and a Member of the Society of Architects (MSA). His address was given as 16, Jamieson Street, Govanhill, Glasgow in 1899; 276, Langside Road, Crosshill, Glasgow, Scotland in 1919 and c.1923; 58, West Regent Street, Glasgow in 1923 and 1926; 122, Hatton Gardens, Cardonald, Glasgow in c.1930 and c.1931; and 147, Bath Street, Glasgow in c.1932 and 1939. He died at his home, 122, Hatton Gardens, Cardonald, Glasgow on 2 January 1946.
Architectural projects included tenements for Messrs A Stewart in Ibrox, Glasgow (1906); Crosshill Picture House on Victoria Road, Glasgow (1918); alterations and additions to "Woodburn", Auchinloch, near Glasgow (1923); Westway Cinema, Paisley Road West, Glasgow (1933); alterations to Glasgow Maternity Hospital (1935); Regent Cinema, 72, Renfield Street, Glasgow (1937); and the Super Cinema in Hillington, Glasgow (1937)
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001