James McKissack was born in Glasgow, Scotland on 31 May 1875. His father, John McKissack (c.1844-1915), was a partner in the Glasgow architectural practice McKissack & Rowan, From 1889 he was an apprentice with the firm and, following the dissolution of the partnership in 1890, completed his apprenticeship with his father. He also attended Glasgow School of Art from 1890 to 1894. In 1900 he joined his father as a partner as John McKissack & Son. Following the death of his father in 1915, he continued the firm under its original name until his own death twenty-five years later. McKissack was particularly known as a designer of cinemas.
James McKissack was elected a member of the Glasgow Institute of Architects in 1907 and was admitted a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (LRIBA) in 1911.
In addition to his work as an architect. he also had a keen interest in photography and was a member of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Photographic Federation. 'Cancer of Empire', a book on the slums of Glasgow by William Bolitho (London: G.P. Putnam, 1924) was illustrated with photographs by McKissack. He died in Glasgow on 24 June 1940
Schools at Strathclyde Eastbank, Wellshot (additions); large warehouses for Glasgow Corporation; Sheriff Court House, &c, Dunoon; business premises, Largs; "Langavat", Kilmacolm; headquarters for 4th V.B.S.R., Glasgow; business premises for Glasgow Eastern Cooperative Soc, Shettleston Co-operative Soc, and at Barrhead, &c, &c. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1914]
See also:
Dictionary of Scottish Architects 1660-1980 [link below]
Tom Widdows. James McKissack - Cinema Architect [link below]
Bruce, Peter. ‘The Impact of the Talkies on Scottish Cinema Architecture’. Visual Culture in Britain vol. 20, issue 3, 2019 pp.202-220 [abstract: The consequences of the introduction of sound for the architecture of cinema buildings is considered with a focus upon examples in Scotland completed in the 1929–30 period. The influence of the building acoustics pioneer, Hope Bagenal, in the design of the New Victoria cinema in London and its consequences for subsequent cinemas in Scotland, designed by Alister G. MacDonald (1898–1993), David Stokes (1908–90) and James McKissack (1875–1940) is explained and contextualized]
Clementsmith, Sue. The Art Deco World of Charles J. McNair and James McKissack. A Tale of Glasgow Picture Houses and Their Design, 2 vols. B.Arch. dissertation, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, 1987 [Location: University of Dundee]
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 2: L-Z. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001
Who's Who in Architecture 1914. London: Technical Journals Ltd., 1914