Benjamin Wistar Morris (architect)

Benjamin Wistar Morris III
Morris in 1925
Born	(1870-10-23)October 23, 1870 Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Died	December 4, 1944(1944-12-04) (aged 74) New York City, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Columbia University
Occupation	Architect
Spouse	Alice Fenwick Goodwin
Children	2

Benjamin Wistar Morris (sometimes III or Jr.; October 23, 1870 – December 4, 1944) was an American architect from Oregon who worked primarily in New York City.^[1]

Early life and education

Morris was born in Portland, Oregon on October 23, 1870, to Benjamin Wistar Morris, Episcopal Bishop of Oregon and Washington, and his wife Hannah.^[1][2] He attended the Bishop Scott Academy in Oregon, and then St. Paul's Preparatory School in Concord, New Hampshire.^[1] Intending to become a minister, he attended Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, but he later decided to become an architect and graduated from Columbia University in 1894.^[1] In 1895 and 1896 he continued his studies at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.^[1] Upon his return to the United States, Morris joined the firm of Carrère and Hastings, where he assisted in preparing the successful entry for the design of the New York Public Library.^[1]

Professional life

Morris designed the Wells Fargo Building, the first skyscraper in Portland, Oregon

Morris started his own practice in 1900.^[1] He later formed the firm of Morris, Butler and Rodman, but soon withdrew from the practice and worked alone until 1910, when he formed a partnership with Christopher Grant LaFarge as LaFarge & Morris.^[1] That firm lasted until 1915.^[1] Morris later formed Morris & O'Connor with his son-in-law, Robert B. O'Connor.^[1][3] Morris worked with O'Connor until Morris' death in 1944.^[1][4]

In 1913, Morris was elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), serving as president of the New York chapter.^[1] He also served on the New York City Art Commission, and was a member of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts from 1927 to 1931.^[1] Morris became a full Academician in the National Academy of Design in 1941.^[5]

Works

In his native Portland, Morris designed the Wells Fargo Building in 1907.^[1] It is considered the city's first skyscraper.^[6] He designed many important buildings in Connecticut and New York, including the Cunard Building (with Carrère and Hastings), the Union League Club of New York, and 48 Wall Street, as well as the interiors of the Queen Mary^[1] and the Harmonie Club. In addition, he designed residences in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn and Long Island for watch case manufacturer Joseph Fahys.^[7]

Later life and death

Morris died on December 4, 1944, in New York City; he was survived by his wife, Alice Fenwick Goodwin, daughter Mary Wistar O'Connor, and son Benjamin.^[1][2][3] He was interred at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford, Connecticut.^[2]

References

1. Ritz, Richard Ellison (2002). "Morris, Benjamin Wistar, III". Architects of Oregon: A Biographical Dictionary of Architects Deceased – 19th and 20th Centuries. Portland, Oregon: Lair Hill Publishing. pp. 288–289. ISBN 0-9726200-2-8.
2. "Benjamin Wistar Morris (1870 – 1944)". Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
3. "Robert B. O'Connor, Architect, Dies at 97". The New York Times. November 17, 1993. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
4. Thomas E. Luebke, ed., Civic Art: A Centennial History of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, 2013): Appendix B, p. 549.
5. "National Academicians: M Past Academicians". National Academy of Design. Archived from the original on September 23, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
6. Culverwell, Wendy (November 18, 2007). "Portland's first skyscraper passes the century mark". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
7. MacKay, Robert B.; Baker, Anthony K.; Traynor, Carol A. (11 April 1997). Long Island country houses and their architects, 1860-1940. W. W. Norton & Company. pp. 187–. ISBN 978-0-393-03856-9. Retrieved 31 October 2011.