Sim Bruce Richards was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma in 1908, and moved to Phoenix, Arizona with his family in 1920. Richards began studying architecture, then art, at UC Berkeley in 1930. During his time in Berkeley, Richards was designing and weaving rugs; Frank Lloyd Wright saw the rugs in San Francisco and invited him to work at Taliesin, in Spring Green, Wisconsin. Richards was a part of the Taliesin Fellowship from May 1934 until September 1935. Richards eventually moved to the San Diego area, where he worked with Harold Abrams, William Templeton Johnson, and was a civilian architect for the Navy during World War II. In 1949, Richards set up his own architecture firm and worked mainly in residential architecture in the greater San Diego area. His residential work was in unpainted cedar or redwood on both the interior and exterior of the structures, as well as using natural stone and brick to create custom fireplaces, walls, and gardens. Richards worked with artists like James Hubbell to create residential works of art specifically for his clients. At the time of his death in 1983, Richards and Esther McCoy were working on an exhibition of Richards work to be displayed at the San Diego Natural History Museum.

60.0 Linear feet (models, papers, paintings)

Open for educational and research use; copyright Sim Bruce Richards family.

Partially processed collection; contact repository for information regarding access.