Jeff Morrison is a photographer and writer who has been taking pictures since his parents gave him his first camera at age nine. He has a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in art from Eastern Michigan University and over thirty years of experience as a graphic artist. Jeff has given more than 100 presentations to audiences of all sizes and groups of all kinds since his first book was published in 2019 and has always been very well received. His fast-paced presentations are packed with pictures that bring often-overlooked examples of architectural sculpture down from the heights and out into the open for up-close appreciation. His stories, which range from examination of the meaning of sculptural details found on buildings throughout Michigan to details about the lives of the artists and architects who created them, are always interesting and often amusing. Choose from three different one-hour (plus Q and A) presentations—”Guardians of Michigan: Architectural Sculpture of the Pleasant Peninsulas,” “Guardians of Detroit: Architectural Sculpture in the Motor City,” and “Gargoyles, Grotesques, Graveyards and Ghosts.”

Jeff’s first book, Guardians of Detroit: Architectural Sculpture in the Motor City, was published by Wayne State University Press in 2019. It won a State History Award for Outstanding Michigan History Publication from the Historical Society of Michigan and was honored as a 2020 Michigan Notable Book by the Library of Michigan. His second book, Guardians of Michigan: Architectural Sculpture of the Pleasant Peninsulas, was published by The University of Michigan Press in 2022. It was honored as a 2023 Michigan Notable Book by the Library of Michigan and received the Stuart D. and Vernice M Gross Award for Literature in Regional History from Saginaw Valley State University. Jeff lives in Oxford, Michigan, with his lovely wife Susie.

For more information, contact Jeff via email at GuardiansOfMichigan@gmail.com, by phone at 248.245.3131 or visit www.GuardiansOfMichigan.com.

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“Gargoyles, Grotesques, Graveyards and Ghosts” 
Join photographer and historian Jeff Morrison as he shows more than 200 pictures of some of the most macabre examples of architectural sculpture to be found in the state of Michigan. You’ll visit churches, cemeteries, mansions and more, and learn about the meaning behind the sculpture found on these structures, and the artists, artisans and architects that made these buildings possible. You will also hear interesting stories about some people who may have stayed behind after their mortal lives ended, including jealous spouses, the possible second life of a murder victim, and the story of a ghost that wasn’t a ghost after all. The presentation is based on information that came to light while Jeff was researching and writing his award-winning books, Guardians of Detroit: Architectural Sculpture of the Motor City (Wayne State University Press, 2019) and Guardians of Michigan: Architectural Sculpture of the Pleasant Peninsulas (The University of Michigan Press, 2022). Program length: 1 eerie hour plus Q and A.

“Guardians of Detroit: Architectural Sculpture of the Motor City” 
In 1850, a little over 20,000 people lived in Detroit. By 1900 the population had topped 285,000 and by 1930 there were more than 1.5 million people living and working in what had become the Motor City. The rapid population and industrial growth that occurred during this time led to a building boom of massive proportions when the dominant building design styles called for a high degree of sculptural ornamentation. Join award-winning photographer and historian Jeff Morrison for a tour of Detroit’s unparalleled treasure trove of architectural sculpture. You’ll see hundreds of photos of unique architectural sculpture from some of Detroit’s most iconic buildings and get a close look at several long-overlooked gems. You’ll also hear the stories of the artists, entrepreneurs and architects that created these buildings and learn the hidden meaning behind these wonderful pieces of architectural art. The presentation is based on Jeff Morrison’s first book, Guardians of Detroit: Architectural Sculpture in the Motor City. Published by Wayne State University Press in 2019, Guardians of Detroit won a State History Award for Outstanding Michigan History Publication from the Historical Society of Michigan and a Michigan Notable Book Award from the Library of Michigan. Program length: 1 fast-paced hour plus Q and A.

“Guardians of Michigan: Architectural Sculpture of the Pleasant Peninsulas”
Photographer and historian Jeff Morrison has spent years criss-crossing Michigan, seeking out the most interesting and unusual examples of architectural sculpture he could find on the buildings of the Great Lakes State. His presentation includes over 250 pictures of easily overlooked and difficult-to-see sculpture from more than thirty buildings, including photos of architectural art that is difficult or impossible to see without the benefit of binoculars or telephoto photography. In one case, close-up pictures of architectural sculpture not visible from the street for more than 100 years are presented. You’ll visit towns from Ann Arbor to Ontonagon and look at a wide variety of buildings including schools, churches, skyscrapers, courthouses, and more. The main focus is on the architectural sculpture found on each structure, what the sculpture represents, and the artists that created the sculpture, but other interesting stories and details relating to the history of the structure and the people behind the construction of each building are also provided. The presentation is based on Jeff Morrison’s books, Guardians of Detroit: Architectural Sculpture of the Motor City (Wayne State University Press, 2019), which won a State History Award from the Historical Society of Michigan for Outstanding Michigan History Publication and a Michigan Notable Book Award from the Library of Michigan, and Guardians of Michigan: Architectural Sculpture of the Pleasant Peninsulas (The University of Michigan Press, 2022) which won a Michigan Notable Book Award from the Library of Michigan and the Stuart D. and Vernice M. Gross Award for Literature in Regional History from Saginaw Valley State University. Program length: 1 fast-paced hour plus Q and A.