Created between 1935 - 1951 (and later up to about 1975), many of these works were kept quietly in cardboard storage for over 50 years.

About

This site was created to preserve, archive, and share the work of Richard L. Morrison. It offers a glimpse into the hand-drawn artistry that shaped art, architecture, and engineering in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, and 70s before the arrival of digital tools.

Alongside technical drawings and conceptual renderings, this archive also highlights Morrison’s more personal artwork. From childhood drawings that offer a glimpse into public school assignments of the 1930s to expressive landscapes inspired by the mountains of Utah, this collection reflects the life of a skilled designer and that of an everyday person, father, and grandfather.

This body of work serves as a quiet time capsule, revealing and documenting a creative's life journey.

A Life in Art & Architecture

1927 - 1945

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, R.L. Morrison (1927-2009) spent his early years living a semi-nomadic lifestyle, often accompanying his father, a surveyor and highway engineer, in the field. In 1940, the family settled in Ogden, Utah. After graduating from Ogden High School in 1945, Morrison enlisted in the U.S. Navy. On September 7, 1945, just five days after the official end of World War II, he was received aboard the U.S.S. Prichett as a Fireman Second Class in the Naval Reserve.

1946 - 1955

Following the end of World War II and his honorable discharge in 1946, Morrison worked on a surveying crew, spending time in the natural landscapes that would later influence his work. He soon began his studies at Weber College (now Weber State University), and later enrolled in the University of Utah's College of Fine Arts, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1953 and a Bachelor of Architecture in 1955.

1956 - 1977

After graduation, Morrison joined Keith Wilcox & Associates and contributed to the development of Solitude Mountain Resort in the Wasatch Mountains, which began construction in 1956 and opened in 1957. In 1963, he relocated with his family to California and worked for several architectural firms, including Ned H. Abrams & Associates (1964) and Allen Walter & Associates (1965-1966). In 1966, he joined Bechtel Corporation in San Francisco, where he spent over a decade working on large-scale power plants, including coal-fired and nuclear facilities.

1978 - 2009

After a decade with Bechtel Corporation, Morrison established his architectural firm, R. L. Morrison & Associates, in Cupertino, California, where he continued to work until his retirement. He remained active in architecture and the arts throughout his life, often drawing inspiration from the outdoors and his personal religious beliefs. His interests in camping, backpacking, scouting, and skiing can be seen in both his creative work and professional projects.

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