Benjamin Wistar Morris (sometimes III or Jr.; October 23, 1870 – December 4, 1944) was an American architect from

Oregon Oregon () is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary with Idaho. T ...

who worked primarily in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

Early life and education

Morris was born in

Portland, Oregon Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the list of cities in Oregon, largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, Columbia rivers, Portland is ...

on October 23, 1870, to Benjamin Wistar Morris, Episcopal Bishop of Oregon and Washington, and his wife Hannah. He attended the Bishop Scott Academy in Oregon, and then St. Paul's Preparatory School in Concord, New Hampshire. 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 Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

in 1894. In 1895 and 1896 he continued his studies at the

École des Beaux-Arts École des Beaux-Arts (; ) refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The term is associated with the Beaux-Arts style in architecture and city planning that thrived in France and other countries during the late nineteenth centur ...

in Paris. 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.

Professional life

Historic Wells Fargo Building - Portland Oregon

Morris started his own practice in 1900. 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. That firm lasted until 1915. Morris later formed Morris & O'Connor with his son-in-law, Robert B. O'Connor. Morris worked with O'Connor until Morris' death in 1944. In 1913, Morris was elected a

Fellow A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...

of the

American Institute of Architects The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to su ...

(AIA), serving as president of the New York chapter. 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. Morris became a full Academician in the

National Academy of Design The National Academy of Design is an honorary association of American artists, founded in New York City in 1825 by Samuel Morse, Asher Durand, Thomas Cole, Martin E. Thompson, Charles Cushing Wright, Ithiel Town, and others "to promote the f ...

in 1941.

Works

In his native Portland, Morris designed the

Wells Fargo Building Wells Fargo Building may refer to: * Wells Fargo Building (Denver, Colorado), a Denver Landmark * Wells Fargo Building (Englewood, Colorado) * Wells Fargo Building (Davenport, Iowa) * Wells Fargo Building (Portland, Oregon) *Wells Fargo Building (P ...

in 1907. It is considered the city's first skyscraper. 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 48 Wall Street, formerly the Bank of New York & Trust Company Building, is a 32-story, skyscraper on the corner of Wall Street and William Street in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City. Built in 1927–1929 in the Neo ...

, as well as the interiors of the '' Queen Mary'' and the Harmonie Club. In addition, he designed residences in

Clinton Hill, Brooklyn Clinton Hill is a neighborhood in north-central Brooklyn, a borough of New York City. It is bordered by the Brooklyn Navy Yard and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway to the north, Williamsburg to the northeast, Classon Avenue and Bedford–Stuyves ...

and Long Island for watch case manufacturer Joseph Fahys.

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. He was interred at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford, Connecticut.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, Benjamin W. 1870 births 1944 deaths Architects from New York (state) Architects from Portland, Oregon Burials at Cedar Hill Cemetery (Hartford, Connecticut) Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation alumni Fellows of the American Institute of Architects St. Paul's School (New Hampshire) alumni