A unique sixteen-volume photographic archive of a major NYC architectural firm

[ARCHITECTURE]

Sixteen-volume photographic record of architectural projects executed by the firm of Morris and O'Connor. New York: 1920s-1930s. Sixteen uniform spring-backed albums. 14 1/2 x 11 1/2 inches (37 x 29.5 cm); each album with between 24 and 36 toned gelatin silver prints (by Fischer and others) of buildings, interiors, (and, in some cases, plans) on guarded card mounts, each image 9 1/2 x 7 5/8 inches or the reverse, for a total of approximately 450 photographs, all carefully labeled in pencil on the mounts in a fine architect's fine script; the first volume with a single-sheet index of the projects and volume numbers. Light wear, but generally in attractive condition; with the firm's label.

Benjamin Wistar Morris (1870-1944) was among the foremost New York architects of the pre-WWII era, working in a variety of historically allusive styles, including (most notably) Tudor English Renaissance Revival and French Ecole des Beaux-Arts styles. His partner, Robert B. O'Connor, was his son-in-law and a Princeton graduate (1920); he was also a graduate of the Ecole de Beaux Arts The firm was favored with the patronage of J. P. Morgan, for whom they designed the great Annex to the Pierpont Morgan Library (see volume 13); the also designed the Wadsworth Atheneum (same volume). For John D. Rockefeller they designed the scheme for a location of the Metropolitan Opera House at Rockefeller Center, which was never completed; photographs of the plans occupy volume 10. Volume XI shows the interiors of the Cunard Building and the Queen Mary that they produced. The Continental Bank & Trust Building and the Seamen's Bank for Savings occupy most of volume 2A. The number of major New York landmarks in which they had a hand is remarkable, but they also created many major landmarks in Westchester and beyond. The sheer quality of the architectural photography used in these works is also worthy of note. This archive is likely unique; labels within the front covers show that this was the firm's own, and likely sole, copy.
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