Robert Mackay Fripp was an architect who lived at 2061 Beach Avenue from 1910 to 1914.
His wife, Christina, lived at 1054 Denman Street in 1919.
Family Background
Robert Mackay Fripp was born in Clifton, near Bristol, England, on December 16, 1858.
His parents were George Arthur Fripp (1813-1896) and Mary Percival (1825-1887). George Fripp was a well-known painter in England. For a time he was court painter to Prince Albert and Queen Victoria..
Thomas William Fripp (1864-1931) was Robert’s brother, and he was a successful artist and photographer in British Columbia.
Early Life
Robert’s early schooling was at Belsize Manor and Lancing College in England.
In 1874, he began to study architecture. For three years he was articled to J.S. Dodd, an architect in Reading, Berkshire.
He also studied at the Kensington Art School and the British Museum, and he worked with Sir Horace Jones, who was an architect for the City of London.
To Australia and New Zealand
In 1880, Robert went to Australia, where he worked in various offices in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.
In 1881, he moved to New Zealand.
By 1882, he was practicing as an architect in Auckland, New Zealand.
Marriage to Christina Nichol
While Robert was living in Auckland, he married Christina Nichol on February 28, 1887. (some sources say February 27)
To Vancouver
Robert carried on an architectural practice in New Zealand until 1888, when an economic downturn caused a drop in the need for architects.
He travelled to North America, and he arrived in Vancouver in 1888.
Further Travels
The Fripp family stayed in Vancouver until about 1896, when they went back to New Zealand for about two years.
By 1898, Robert was back in Vancouver.
From 1901 to 1908, he travelled and worked, mostly in England and California.
By 1908, he was again in Vancouver, where he stayed until he died on December 16, 1917.
Christina Fripp died in Santa Monica, California on March 9, 1923.
Professional and Social Life
Robert was interested in a great variety of issues relating to art, architecture, civic pride, and society in general. He tended to have strong opinions, which sometimes led to difficult relations with artists, architects, and other professionals.
He was also active in many sports, including cricket, rowing, shooting, and football.
He made several allegiances with professional associations. In 1901, he became a fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, but he later resigned. In 1906, he became a certified architect in California. In 1910, he was made a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
He was president of the Canadian Handicrafts Guild in Vancouver, and vice-president of the Arts Historical and Scientific Association.
He designed a wide variety of houses, as well as many larger projects, including the Provincial Home for Old Men in Kamloops, British Columbia.
Unfortunately, although some of his buildings still exist, many were demolished and they now live on only as drawings and photographs.
From time to time there have been debates about his architectural skills. He had good training and a broad experience in England, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. He is not as well-known as other Vancouver architects from his era, such as Samuel MacLure, Thomas Fee, and William Tuff Whiteway, and this is unfortunate, because he made a significant contribution to Vancouver’s cityscape.
Robert and Christina had five children.
Alice Marion Fripp
Alice Marion Fripp was born in Vancouver on May 19, 1888.
She did not marry.
She died in New Westminster, British Columbia on October 19, 1928, and she was buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver.
Robert Arthur William Fripp
Robert Arthur William Fripp was born in Vancouver on May 16, 1889.
He died on August 6, 1889, and he was buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver.
Dorothy (or Dorothea) Fripp
Dorothea Fripp was born in Vancouver on April 27, 1890.
She married Frank Bellamy in 1919. He had served in the First World War, and he died later in 1919 from war wounds. He was buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver.
In 1920, Dorothy was staying in California with Frank Dukinfield Jones and his wife Mona Beryl (née Perry).
Dorothy died on April 1, 1938. She was buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver.
George Mackay Fripp
George Mackay Fripp was born in Vancouver on August 25, 1891.
He did not marry.
He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the First World War, and he died in France on April 17, 1917.
Clifford Russell Fripp
Clifford Russell Fripp was born in Vancouver on July 23, 1899.
On January 14, 1925, in Vancouver, he married Rosalie Marion Morris. She was born in Vancouver on October 11, 1892. Her parents were Maxmilian Patricio Morris (1862-1928) and Leah Harris (1870-1936). Maxmilian ran a business in Vancouver, and he was the Vancouver consul for Chile.
Clifford died in Vancouver on April 22, 1942, and he was buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver.
After Clifford died, Rosalie became the president of M.P. Morris Ltd.
By 1954, Rosalie was married to Cyril Harry North, who was an export manager dealing in British Textiles. Cyril was born in London, England on May 18, 1888. He died in North Vancouver, British Columbia on November 18, 1970.
Rosalie died in North Vancouver on August 21, 1984, and she was buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver.
Sources
George Arthur Fripp (Father of Robert Mackay Fripp)
George Arthur Fripp, Wikipedia article, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Arthur_Fripp.
George Arthur Fripp (13 June 1813 – 17 October 1896); https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KZ2P-B2V.
“England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J91V-YBJ : accessed 12 Jun 2013), George Arthur Fripp, 1813.
“England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NN28-W2G : accessed 12 Jun 2013), Geo. Arthur Fripp, 19 Jul 1813.
“England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2JB1-F7Q : 31 December 2014), George Arthur Fripp, 1896; from “England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, Hampstead, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
“British Columbia Marriage Registrations, 1859-1932,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JDZ6-KLJ : accessed 12 Jun 2013), George Arthur Fripp in entry for Thomas William Fripp and Gertrude Maude Muriel, 1897.
“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FLVG-JPV : accessed 12 Jun 2013), George Arthur Fripp in entry for Thomas William Fripp, 1931.
Mary Percival (Mother of Robert Mackay Fripp)
Mary Percival (21 September 1825 – 24 September 1887); https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/K81Y-KFF.
“England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2VS8-VF6 : 31 December 2014), Mary Percival Fripp, 1887; from “England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, Hampstead, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
Robert Mackay Fripp
Although he often called himself “R. Mackay Fripp,” I have called him “Robert” to distinguish him from other members of the family who also had “Mackay” as part of their name.
“Robert Mackay Fripp in the 1890s: Peripatetic Pacific Rim Architect,” by Michael Milojevic, School of Architecture & Planning, University of Auckland; AHA: Architectural History Aotearoa (2007) volume 4, pages 59-75; https://ojs.victoria.ac.nz/aha/article/download/6746/5891.
“Robert Mackay Fripp,” Howay and Scholefield, British Columbia from the Earliest Times to the Present, Vol 3, pages 291-292; http://archive.org/stream/britishcolumbiaf00schouoft#page/291/mode/1up; http://archive.org/stream/britishcolumbiaf00schouoft#page/292/mode/1up.
“Fripp, Robert Mackay,” Who’s Who in Western Canada, 1911, pages 179-180; http://www.ourroots.ca/e/page.aspx?id=643173; http://www.ourroots.ca/e/page.aspx?id=643174.
“R. Mackay Fripp,” Vancouver Daily World, Souvenir Edition, [1891], page 22, http://archive.org/stream/cihm_16312#page/n48/mode/1up.
“Robert Mackay Fripp,” Donald Luxton, Building the West, Vancouver, Talonbooks, 2003, pages 158-162; page 504.
Edward Mills, “The Buildings of Samuel Maclure: In Search of Appropriate Form: Book Review,” society for the Study of Architecture in Canada Bulletin (June 1990), Volume 15, No. 2, pages 52-53. Page 53 includes an outline of Robert Mackay Fripp’s architectural background.
The Arts & Crafts Tradition in Vancouver, [Exhibition Catalogue], Cartwright Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia, July 24-September 14, 1986, page 8. [Reference to R. MacKay Fripp, who was critical of the builder-speculator pattern book houses and the lack of much cultural sophistication that he found in Vancouver. In 1900, with others, he established the Arts & Crafts Association to “encourage artistic feeling and knowledge and to bring the designer and the workman or craftsman into close relationship.” It failed to generate much interest.]
“For Indigent, Aged and Infirm Persons: The Provincial Home for Old Men,” [Undated. Refers to events up to 1975.] [Formerly available on Kamloops museum website.]
“Robert Mackay Fripp,” Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada, 1800-1950, http://www.dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org/node/1577.
1901 Census of Canada Page Information, BC, Burrard (#1), Vancouver City, D-2, Page 8, family 82, lines 16-21, Robert Fripp, http://automatedgenealogy.com/census/View.jsp?id=36133&highlight=16&desc=1901+Census+of+Canada+page+containing+Robert+Fripp
1911 Census of Canada, British Columbia, Vancouver, 3 Vancouver City, page 10, family 104, lines 23-28, R W [sic] Fripp, http://automatedgenealogy.com/census11/View.jsp?id=63744&highlight=23&desc=1911+Census+of+Canada+page+containing+R++W+Fripp.
“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FLK8-36B : accessed 08 Aug 2013), Robert Mackay Fripp, 1917.
Robert Mackay Fripp, death notice, Vancouver Province, December 17, 1917, page 21: “Fripp – Robert Mackay, at the residence, 2056 Fourth avenue east, December 16, 1917. Funeral from residence, 2 p.m. Tuesday, 18th.”
“R. Mackay Fripp Dies: Well-known Architect Passes Away Quite Suddenly Sunday,” Vancouver Province, December 17, 1917, page 7:
“Mr. R. Mackay Fripp, F.R.I.B.A., the well-known local architect, died at his residence, 2056 Fourth avenue east, on Sunday morning. Mr. Fripp came to Vancouver just after the fire and had entrusted to his care the preparation of plans for many of the larger buildings and residences of the city. He was also a prominent sportsman, and took a great interest in football, rowing and shooting. He was one of the pioneer members of the Rowing Club.
Mr. Fripp was regarded as an authority on architectural metters, and was frequently heard on public platforms on this and kindred subjects. He is survived by his widow, one son and two daughters. His other son, Pte. George Fripp, was killed recently in France, having gone overseas with the 11th C.M.R.’s.
The funeral is to be held from the family residence on Tuesday at 2 p.m.
A brother, Mr. T.W. Fripp, is a prominent artist of Mission City, another brother was a war artist, while the father was a noted artist of the Royal Academy in London.
One of the buildings designed by the late Mr. Mackay Fripp, which occasioned a good deal of admiring comment when it was erected years ago, is the structure containing O’Brien Hall, at the corner of Homer and Hastings streets. Mr. Fripp took a lively interest in the election, and the day before his sudden death sent a letter to The Province on the political issues of the day.”
Christina Fripp (née Nichol) (Wife of Robert Mackay Fripp)
Vancouver Province, March 12, 1923, page 17: “Fripp: Died at Santa Monica, California, on the 9th instant, Mrs. R.M. Fripp, widow of the late R.M. Fripp of this city. Interment in California.”
Alice Marion Fripp (daughter of Robert Mackay Fripp)
“British Columbia Birth Registrations, 1854-1903,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JDZK-Z2G : accessed 07 Aug 2013), Alice Marion Fripp, 1888.
“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FL2F-V9D : accessed 08 Aug 2013), Alice Marion Fripp, 1928.
Alice M. Fripp, Find a Grave, Mountain View Cemetery and Crematorium , Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Plot: OLD/2/02/002/0009; http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=fripp&GSfn=alice&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=26304185&df=all&.
Robert Arthur William Fripp (son of Robert Mackay Fripp)
British Columbia Birth Registrations, Registration Number: 1889-09-115545, Robert Arthur William Fripp.
“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FL26-YQ3 : accessed 07 Aug 2013), Robert Arthur William Fripp, 1889.
“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FL26-YQ7 : accessed 07 Aug 2013), Robert Arthur William Fripp, 1889.
R.A.W. Fripp, Find a Grave, Mountain View Cemetery and Crematorium, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Plot: OLD/2/02/002/0009, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=fripp&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GScntry=10&GSob=n&GRid=26264312&df=all&.
Dorothy (or Dorothea) Fripp (daughter of Robert Mackay Fripp)
“British Columbia Marriage Registrations, 1859-1932,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JDZP-8LR : accessed 07 Aug 2013), Frank Bellamy and Dorothy Fripp, 1919.
“Frank Bellamy,” Regimental number: 29077, Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 626 – 55, Date of Birth: 11/1889, http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=36754&interval=20&&PHPSESSID=cb5gb728e0ip3lvaju7h0s71p3; http://data2.archives.ca/cef/well2/234972a.gif; http://data2.archives.ca/cef/well2/234972b.gif
Canadian Virtual War Memorial, In memory of Sergeant Frank Bellamy who died on December 2, 1919, http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/collections/virtualmem/Detail/420682?FRANK%20BELLAMY.
Frank Bellamy, Find a Grave, Mountain View Cemetery and Crematorium, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Mountain View Cemetery and Crematorium, Plot: JONES/*/45/016/0007, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=bellamy&GSfn=frank&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=26260936&df=all&
“United States Census, 1920,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MHQJ-3RT : accessed 07 Aug 2013), Dorothy Bellamy in entry for Frank D Jones, 1920.
“British Columbia Marriage Registrations, 1859-1932,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JD8P-62V : accessed 07 Aug 2013), Frank Dukinfield Jones and Mona Beryl Perry, 1913.
“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FLGR-55Y : accessed 07 Aug 2013), Dorothy Bellamy, 1938.
Dorothy Bellamy, Find a Grave, Mountain View Cemetery and Crematorium, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Mountain View Cemetery and Crematorium, Plot: OLD/2/02/002/0011, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=bellamy&GSfn=dorothy&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=26264314&df=all&.
George Mackay Fripp (son of Robert Mackay Fripp)
British Columbia Birth Registrations, Registration Number: 1891-09-115555, George Mackay Fripp.
Soldiers of the First World War, Canadian Expeditionary Force, George Mackay Fripp; Regimental Number: 116093; Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 3316 – 8; Date of Birth: 25/08/1891, http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=400804&interval=20&&PHPSESSID=u31ltk2heujrfmpn2l5s4e0ue6; http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gpc004/337444a.gif; http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gpc004/337444b.gif
Canadian Great War Project, Private George Mackay Fripp , Died: April 17, 1917, http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/searches/soldierDetail.asp?Id=31461
Canadian Virtual War Memorial, Private George Mackay Fripp, who died on April 17, 1917, http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/collections/virtualmem/Detail/497191
Commonwealth War Graves Commission, G. Fripp, http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/497191/FRIPP,%20G
“Native Son Killed: Pte. Charles [sic] MacKay Fripp Dies of Wounds Received in Action,” Vancouver Province, April 21, 1917, page 22: “Mr. and Mrs. R. MacKay Fripp, 2056 Fourth avenue east, received a cable this morning notifying them of the death of their son, Pte. Charles [sic] MacKay Fripp, in a French hospital, following gunshot wounds received in action. Pte. Fripp was a native son of Vancouver and was in his 25th year. Before going overseas he was associated with his father, who is a well-known architect of the city. He was a member of the Rowing Club and a favourite with a large circle of young men of the city. His parents have the sympathy of many friends in their bereavement.”
Clifford Russell Fripp (son of Robert Mackay Fripp)
British Columbia Birth Registrations, Registration Number: 1899-09-119086, Unknown Fripp; Date: 1899/07/23.
“British Columbia Marriage Registrations, 1859-1932,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JD8R-VKW : accessed 08 Aug 2013), Clifford Russel Fripp and Rosalie Marion Morris, 1925.
British Columbia Marriage Registrations, Registration Number: 1925-09-289455; Clifford Russel Fripp and Rosalie Marion Morris.
“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FLR5-S8P : accessed 08 Aug 2013), Clifford Russell Fripp, 1942.
Maximilian P. Morris (father of Rosalie Marion Morris)
“California Death Index, 1905-1939,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKSM-3XLP : 8 November 2017), Maxmilli P Morris, 1928; citing 62863, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento; FHL microfilm 1,686,046.
“California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP71-FPM1 : 26 September 2019), Maxmillian P Morris, 1928.
“California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGT5-TVHC : 22 August 2018), Maxmillian P Morris, 1928.
Leah Lilly Harris (mother of Rosalie Marion Morris)
“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986; 1992-1993”, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FL5V-YQ4 : 8 November 2017), Leah Lilly Morris, 1936.
Rosalie Marion Morris (wife of Clifford Russell Fripp)
“British Columbia Birth Registrations, 1854-1903,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JDZX-H8B : 11 March 2018), Rosaly Marion Morris, 11 Oct 1892; citing British Columbia Archives film number B13810, Vital Statistics Agency, Victoria; FHL microfilm 2,114,718.
“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FGMM-XPL : accessed 08 Aug 2013), Rosalie Marion North, 1984.
Cyril Harry North (husband of Rosalie Marion Morris)
“British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FLYK-37V : accessed 08 Aug 2013), Rosalie Fripp in entry for Cyril Harry North, 1970.
British Columbia Death Registrations, Registration Number: 1970-09-015576, Cyril Harry North.
[North], Harry Cyril, Find a Grave, Mountain View Cemetery and Crematorium, Vancouver, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada, Plot: OLD/2/02/002/0011, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=cyril&GSfn=harry&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=26372932&df=all& [Note: this is probably Harry Cyril North: the burial plot is in the same group as the rest of the Fripp family plots.]
Rosalie Marion North, Find a Grave, Mountain View Cemetery and Crematorium, Vancouver, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada, Plot: OLD/2/02/002/0012, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=north&GSfn=rosalie&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=26372933&df=all&.
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