James Campbell Reid was born in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland on 20 April 1878 and was articled to Robert Turnbull (1839-1905} of Thomson & Turnbull in Glasgow from 1893 to 1897. He then trained with a firm of builders and contractors from 1897 to 1901. During these years he was also employed as an assistant to Charles Gourlay (1865-1926) at the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College. From 1902 and 1903 he worked as a draughtsman by various firms, and attended lectures at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
He commenced practice as an architect in Glasgow in 1905 and formally qualified in the profession the following year. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1907 and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1912. His address was given as 328 Golfhill Drive, Glasgow in 1907 and 1912; 209 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow in 1907 and 1919; and 6 Burlington Street, Regent Street, London in c.1920 and 1923. He died at 3 Nottingham Place, St. Marylebone, Middlesex [now London] on 30 November 1923.
"Wynfield", Linlithgowshire; houses in Stirlingshire; warehouse and commercial buildings in Glasgow; golf club, Cathkin Braes, Rutherglen; Theatre, Victoria Road, Glasgow. Domestic work In Glasgow and neighbourhood. Hotel, Rue St. Anne, Paris.
For an additional detailed list of architectural projects by James Canpbell Reid see the Dictionary of Scottish Architects 1660-1980
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