Overview
James M. Morley (1922-2011) was a professional photographer, writer, and US Geological Survey cartographer. The youngest of three children, he was born in Berkeley, California, and raised by Sylvanus Griswold Morley and Drusilla Murphy. After high school, Morley attended UC Berkeley where he studied and was the Art Editor of the Daily Cal student newspaper. During World War II, he enlisted in the military and served in the US Army in the Pacific Theater.
After the war, Morley pursued a career with the U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior. His career helped nurture his interests in mountaineering and camping, and he devoted lots of time to photographing railroads, natural landscapes, and western history. Morley also worked as a freelancer for the San Francisco Chronicle. His photography has appeared in many publications over the years, including “The Central Pacific & The Southern Pacific Railroads” by Lucius Beebe. Morley authored / co-authored two of his own books titled “Gold Cities: Grass Valley and Nevada City” and “Muir Woods: The Ancient Redwood Forest Near San Francisco”.
